Spotlight Staff
Recruits to serve on a new Alberta Advisory Council on the Francop- honie are being welcomed by the provincial government.
The council will help ensure the Franco- phone community, in all its geographical, cultural and demographic diversity, is represented and that French-speaking Albertans have a voice in the Franco- phonie Policy’s ongoing implementation, says a news release dated Feb. 1.
“The French Policy was created to help improve government support for Alberta’s diverse and fast-growing population,” says Culture and Tourism Minister Ricardo Miran- da responsible for the Francophone Secretariat.
“This is a great opportunity to advise the government on how it can be more inclusive.
“Members will also help the province collaboratively deliver on the policy’s objective to make life better for Albertans.”
Deadline to apply is Feb. 28.
The council will advise the minister on the implementation of the new policy.
A total of 10 members will be appointed in fall 2018, drawn from a cross-section of people who represent the diversity and vitality of Alberta’s Francophone community.
Announced in June 2017, the Francophonie Policy sets out guiding principles that the province will use to maintain current services and supports in French and to create new ones based on available resources.
The policy also aims to promote greater recognition of the past and present contributions of Alberta’s Francophonie.
For more information and to apply for a member of the Alberta Advisory Council on the Francophonie, go to boards.alberta.ca.
Quick facts:
-After English, French is the most spoken language in Alberta (Census 2016).
-More than 268,000 Albertans speak French and more than 418,000 Albertans are of French /Canadian-descent (Census 2016).
-Alberta’s Franco- phone population has increased more than 12 percent since 2011 (Census 2016).
-Alberta has one of the fastest growing French speaking populations in Canada and the third largest French-speaking population in the country, outside of Quebec.
-Population growth is estimated to be highest in Alberta and the territories, with growth between 25 and 50 per cent by 2036 (Stats Canada).
-Enrollment in French schools has increased 200 per cent in Alberta since 1996.
-There are 31 communities in Alberta that have a French speaking presence, a French-language school, a cluster of organizations or facilities and/or a francophone cultural center.