Characteristics
In 2016, the community had over 3,000 people with French as their mother tongue and more than 26,000 with conversational knowledge of French.
The province’s first Francophone school opened in the village of La Grand'Terre in 1984.
The official Newfoundland-Labrador Francophone flag was first hoisted in 1987.
Francophone spokesbody
The Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et Labrador (FFTNL) was created in 1973. At that time, a French immersion program was launched because the provincial government had refused to subsidize the development of Francophone schools. In the following years, Francophones made several positive strides, such as building school and community centres and signing agreements with the federal government. The FFTNL works to defend and promote the rights and interests of the Francophone and Acadian community in Newfoundland-Labrador. It defends the rights of Francophones in minority-language situations. Its mission is to promote the Francophonie in the province and facilitate its development.
Immigration
Newfoundland-Labrador warmly welcomes all newcomers to the province and acknowledges their social, cultural and economic contributions (in French or in English). The FFTNL believes it is crucial to be open to the world and to contribute to the development of every individual in order to grow as a community. It is committed to the integration of newcomers. It knows that it takes courage to settle in a new country, but the province offers a wide array of stimulating opportunities, and the contributions of Francophone immigrants are extremely beneficial to its French-speaking community.
Twitter : @VIVREaTNL
Tourism
Newfoundland-Labrador is a province imprinted with Francophone history. In the early 16th century, Jacques Cartier stopped off in Newfoundland, and there are towns and cities with names that recall the Bretons, Normands and Basques who lived there. Come and discover ancient Viking longhouses, the national historic site Port au Choix, the Dorset soap stone quarries, the Mary March museum and the Cabot Tower. From West to East, from Labrador to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, a world of discovery awaits you!
Education in French
The Conseil scolaire francophone de TNL is in charge of providing a complete education in French, from kindergarten to Grade 12. Five public non-confessional schools are under its stewardship in Labrador, on the Port-au-Port peninsula and in Saint John's. French immersion programs are also available in 72 schools in the province. Beginning in kindergarten, students are invited to learn in French and to make French part of their everyday lives.
Information at www.csfp.nl.ca, Twitter : @csfp_tnl