Category: 1960 . . .

In the 1960s, French-Canadians were affirming a new political, economic and cultural autonomy. Quebec in particular affirmed a nationalist vision under the slogan “Maitres chez nous” or “Masters of our own house.” The federal government responded with the launch of a commission on bilingualism and biculturalism in order to study the relations between Canada’s two official languages: English and French. In Alberta: a wind filled the sails of education and politics.

After nearly 80 years of oppressing the teaching of French, the 1960s saw a loosening of the regulation of French education. In April 1968, the Alberta government authorized the teaching of French for half of the school day. In 1976, the province allowed use of French as the teaching language for 80% of the day. From 1968 to 1982, a growing number of anglophone students sought to study in French in 27 bilingual schools of Alberta, later designated as French immersion schools. These changes in policy allowed for the teaching of language, but not of culture. Francophone students had to wait as the other students first learned the language.

In 1982, the Canadian government repatriated the constitution and passes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Article 23 of the charter guarantees three rights: the right to instruction in the language of the minority, the right to educational establishments and the right, for the community, manage these establishments. But interpretations of what these rights mean differed between francophones and government authorities. In 1983, a group of parents under the banner of the Association de Georges et Julia Bugnet decided to sue the government. At the same time, a non-denominational private school named École Georges et Julia Bugnet opened its doors in Edmonton. A group of parents formed and ad hoc committee with the goal of obtaining a publicly funded francophone Catholic school. As such, École Maurice-Lavallée in Edmonton and École Saint-Antoine in Calgary opened in 1984 and École Heritage in Jean-Côté in 1988. With the victory Mahé/Bugnet case in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1990, more francophone school opened throughout the province. The Mahé/Bugnet decision confirmed the rights previously mentioned and affirmed that management schools by and for francophones was a right. Several years of conflict and negotiation resulted in amendments to School Act as the first law tabled by the new premier Ralph Klein in 1993. Today there are 40 francophone schools in Alberta serving over 7 000 students and managed under four school boards.

In 1964, the legislative assembly incorporates the ACFA as the official voice of Albertan francophones. In 1981, father André Mercure affirmed in court that article 110 of the North-West Territories Act was still in effect in Alberta, meaning that Alberta is obligated to legislative and judiciary bilingualism. Before the decision was rendered, a Franco-Albertan member of the legislative assembly, Léo Piquette, made headlines by asking a question in the Assembly to the minister of education Nancy Betkowski. The speaker of the assembly, David Carter iconically demanded: “En anglais s’il-vous-plait ! ” Over 500 people of all ages and from all regions showed up at the grounds of the legislature to protest in support of Mr. Piquette. A committee was set up to which elected to allow all languages including French until the Supreme Court would render its decision. On February 25, 1988, The Supreme Court of Canada found that article 110 was, in fact, still in effect, but that the province needed only to pass a law reverse any obligation and this was done on July 7, 1988, making English the only official language in Alberta. A formalized procedure was set up, in the legislative assembly, for the use of French if a two-hour notice is given and an English translation available for members. In 2015, Mr. Gilles Caron requires the decision to be reviewed and the Supreme Court upheld its status quo. Finally, in 2017, the government of Alberta introduced a policy concerning the francophone community in Alberta and the importance of providing services in French where the needs are made clear.