Why is it important to speak French in Ottawa?

 

 

There are many reasons why it is not only important but essential to speak French in Ottawa. On one hand, it is the capital city of Canada – therefore the parliament as well as many departments and government agencies are located in this place, and are always in need of bilingual personnel. On the other hand, multiple attractions in French take place along the year in Ottawa. And you can make part of them if you speak English, but you might really enjoy them as a francophone. So, if you want to learn French with us, and learn more about the importance of speaking French in Ottawa, we invite you to read the following post.

 

 

  1. Ottawa is a key city to Francophones

Many Franco-Ontarians are concentrated in the capital city. The proportion of residents with French as a mother tongue is significantly higher in Ottawa than in all other major Canadian cities except Montreal. In fact, you can celebrate Franco-Ontarian day each year on Septembre 25 – to discover this celebration, visit: franco-ontarian-day

 

  1. French language government services are always available in the capital city.

Since 2021, there is a Bilingualism Policy that states that all city services be provided in both English and French in Ottawa. For more information about government services in Ontario, visit:  Ontario.ca.

 

  1. Many positions in the Federal government must be filled by bilingual employees.

If you already speak French, it is possible to find a job in any of the many departments and 250 designated agencies that provide services in French. If you need to improve your French – or even start from zero/scratch – we can help you find the best way to learn this beautiful language in Ottawa, at the Alliance Francaise.

 

 

  1. Francophone live music, festivals and events take place all year long in this city.

  • Contact Ontarois: The largest French-language performing arts market outside Quebec brings together hundreds of artists and presenters.
  • Festival Franco-Ontarien: Annual Francophone musical extravaganza held in late September in Parc Major’s Hill.
  • Muséoparc Vanier: This unique museum is dedicated to the preservation and progress of Francophone history and culture through various exhibits and events, including the Sugar Festival at its operational onsite sugar shack.

 

 

After having read all these advantages for the francophone community in the capital city, living without French in Ottawa is probably not the best idea. So, if you want to know where to learn (or continue learning) French in Ottawa and join this growing community of french speakers in Canada, you are just one click away from it: french-group-courses