Taking roots

1843–1887

The French-speaking population prior to 1842 was made up of Canadien patriarchs and their Métis offspring. But from 1842 onwards, the arrival of missionaries laid the foundations for the formation of permanent communities around missions, which were located around trading posts and forts. These missions provided religious direction and coveted services in the fields of education, medicine and social services. In 1870, after the entry into Confederation of what would later become Alberta, a period of modest colonization of French Canadians expatriated to the United States, Quebec and French-speaking Europeans began. In 1885, French was the language of 27% of non-Aboriginal residents of Alberta, and 60% of Northern Alberta residents.

+ Missions
+ Confederation
+ Colonization