Join us in celebrating La mois de la francophonie (Francophonie Month) in March with virtual events and cultural activities.

This year’s theme, Cultivate Your Roots, invites you to explore a vibrant Francophone culture that is constantly evolving.

Take some time this monthto discover the richness of Canada’s Francophonie by joining your colleagues in discovering French by completing quizzes, watching videos, conversing in French and much more. Also, make sure to check out our Difference en français website to learn how to incorporate more French into your day-to-day work.

Activities

Fun Francophone Facts

Stories

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Regional Events and Information

Make sure you check out the Francophone Health webpage in your region for more information about Mois de la Francophonie events.

History of French in Manitoba

Over the years, Manitoba’s Francophone community has evolved into a vibrant, structured and thriving community. Despite the challenges it has faced in its history, Manitoba’s Francophone community has thrived and today numbers approximately 112,000 Manitobans. The French language and culture have been entrenched in Manitoba’s history since the very beginning. French was the language of the Canadian Voyageurs (fur traders) in the 18th century, French was one of the languages of the Métis peoples, French was the language of the Roman Catholic clergy who worked in the Red River Colony from 1818, and French was the language of the French-Canadians who arrived more than a century ago from Québec, the New England States, and Europe.

French-speaking Métis, French-Canadians and European Francophones share a common identity: one of being from this country, a country where the French language and culture are constitutionally equal with the English language and culture.

Francophone culture wasn’t always widely accepted in Manitoba, with some of the worst moments coming from unconstitutional laws adopted by the Manitoba Legislature in 1890s. But, the feeling of Manitoba being home to Francophones in spite of these challenges has helped shape a strong Franco-Manitoban culture and community. Today, with officially recognized Federal and Provincial rights, Francophones now have the necessary tools to ensure that the French presence continues to be an important part of Manitoba.

The Franco-Manitoban Flag

The Franco-Manitoban flag was unveiled in 1980 following a contest organized by the Conseil jeunesse provincial. Following a popular vote, Francophones chose the design proposed by Franco-Manitoban graphic artist Cyril Parent.

• The white background of the flag represents the boundless prairie sky that dominates the Manitoban landscape.
• The red band represents the Red River, where Manitoba’s first Francophones settled at the start of the 19th century.
• The yellow band symbolizes the endless wheat fields and the importance of agriculture in the development of Francophone communities.
• Sprouting up from within the two bands of colour is a green plant shoot in the form of a stylized  “F”, the symbol of a vibrant and flourishing Francophone community that is firmly rooted in the Canadian prairie.

Notable Francophones from Manitoba

• Louis Riel: Canadian politician, founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people.
• Rosemary Barton: Canadian political journalist, currently serving as the chief political correspondent for CBC.
• Maria Chaput: former member of the Canadian Senate was the First Franco-Manitoban woman appointed to Senate (2002-2016).
• Jonathan Toews: professional ice hockey centre who served as captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL.
• Raymond Théberge: Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada and formerly the President and Vice-Chancellor of the Université de Moncton.
• Gabrielle Roy: author, member of the Royal Society of Canada and one of the major figures in French-Canadian literature.
• Daniel Lavoie: singer, songwriter, actor, producer, poet, and radio host.
• Étienne Gaboury: internationally renowned Franco-Manitoban architect (Royal Canadian Mint building, Esplanade Riel, Saint Boniface Cathedral, Canadian Embassy in Mexico City, etc.).
• Marcel Desautels: philanthropist, former president and CEO of the Canadian Credit Management Foundation and of Creditel of Canada Ltd. and member of the Treasury Board of Canada.
• Travis Hamonic: professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Calgary Flames and currently for the Ottawa Senators  of the NHL.
• Lucille Starr: singer, songwriter, and yodeler.
• Marc-Amable Girard: second Premier of Manitoba, and the first Franco-Manitoban to hold that position.
• Jayson Tyler Brûlé: journalist, entrepreneur, and magazine publisher. He is the editor-in-chief of Monocle.
• Laurent Poliquin: award-winning Franco-Manitoban poet.
• Léo Robert: Francophone advocate, president of the SFM during the 1983 language crisis and was the first superintendent for the DSFM.
• Raymonde Gagné: politician and academic, former president of the Université de Saint-Boniface who was named to the Senate of Canada to represent Manitoba.