Characteristics
According to the 2016 census, more than 597,000 Ontarians report French as their first official language.
Nearly 18% of the province’s Francophones are immigrants.
French presence in Ontario officially dates back to August 1, 1615, when Champlain met the Huron-Wendat chief at Toanché (now Penetanguishene).
The Franco-Ontarian flag was designed and hoisted for the first time in front of the University of Sudbury on September 25, 1975.
Francophone spokesbody
As the spokesbody and political voice of the 611,500 Franco-Ontarians, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (the Assemblée) works to remain relevant and in tune with the Franco-Ontarian community. Ontario has the largest number of Francophones in North America outside of Québec, and they live in all four corners of the provinces. The diversity and distribution of the Franco-Ontarian community makes the Assemblée’s work both complex and exciting, as it strives to represent the realities of each location and to speak with a strong and unified voice.
Twitter : @MonAssemblee
Immigration
There are three Francophone immigration support networks tasked with connecting, consulting with and coordinating the province’s many service providers and other Francophone immigration partners: East, North and Centre-South-West. The Economic and Social Council of Ottawa-Carleton (CESOC) is another organization that promotes and fosters the reception and settlement of Francophone immigrants. Many programs and activities are offered that promote the socio-economic development of Francophone immigrants and support them in their settlement plans.
Twitter : @rsifeo / @ReseauduNord / @Cesoc1
Tourism
At over a million square kilometres, Ontario is a land of unparalleled diversity, with upwards of 400,000 lakes, rivers and streams, 12 million inhabitants, 80 cultures and several millennia of history. A stay in Ontario can be spent in almost any imaginable way: explore cosmopolitan theatres, bustling stores, fabulous restaurants, Aboriginal heritage, fascinating historical sites, tons of attractions, fantastic festivals, natural marvels, captivating outdoor adventures and far, far more.
Information at www.ontariotravel.net/en, Twitter : @OntarioTravel
Education
ELF (Éducation en langue française en Ontario) communicates and fosters Francophone culture, offering a unique experience to the people who attend its institutions. There are 12 French language school boards in the province, that serve over 105,600 students.