A new pilot project headed by Canada’s Federal government is including Prince George.
The Welcoming Francophone Community initiative includes 14 cities across the country, where $12.6 million over the next three years will be put into creating programs and activities that will help French-speaking residents to be integrated and feel belonged.
This funding was announced in Budget 2018 by the Federal Liberals.
It’s also part of Canada’s Francophone immigration strategy, which was detailed as a collaborative approach at all levels of government for the retention of French-speaking newcomers.
“The Welcoming Communities Initiative is another tool for achieving this as it enables our organizations and institutions to create activities that build the relationships and bridges, and the collective ‘we’ that we want. Moreover, we are confident that the national strategy announced today will finally make it possible to meet and even exceed the targets set for Francophone immigration,” said Jean Johnson, President of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) in a statement.
Prince George is home to several facilities and events celebrated by its Francophone community.
This includes the French-Canadian Association of Prince George (Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George), the FrancoFUN Winter Festival every February, early education opportunities through Le Coin des Petits, and the annual June St-Jean Baptiste Celebration.
