2. Overview of the Winnipeg Francophone Community
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2.1.1 History
The Winnipeg Francophone community has a long history. Settling at the junction of the Red and Assiboine rivers in the 18th century, the community witnessed Canada’s population shift toward the West3. The community is concentrated in the city of St. Boniface where the main provincial institutions are located St. Vital and St. Norbert. St. Boniface was integrated into the city of Winnipeg in the early 1970s. The Winnipeg Francophone community is rooted in its history and can thus be viewed as a founding community: it is at the centre of Manitoban reality.
2.1.2 Demographics
In 2001, Winnipeg had a population of 24,855 people having French as the first official language spoken, a drop of 1,340 since 19964. This official language community accounts for 4.1% of the total Winnipeg population of 612,165. It also represents 57.3% of the Francophone community of Manitoba. This high concentration is unique to Manitoba, with the exception of the territories’ capitals which have much smaller populations.
2.1.3 Language
As with other official language communities, maintaining the language is a challenge for Winnipeg Francophones. The Language Continuity Index that compares persons speaking French at home (11,023) with those for whom French is their mother tongue (28,213) was 0.42 for Winnipeg in 2001. The vast majority of Winnipeg Francophones are bilingual (96.8%).
2.1.4 Age
The Winnipeg Francophone population is aging; youth (0 to 14) make up 10.4 %, while seniors (65 and older) account for 19.8% of the population. This situation is unfavourable when compared to the Anglophone majority in the region.
2.1.5 Origins
18.2% of the Winnipeg Francophone population were born outside Manitoba, and 5.5% outside Canada. In comparison with the Anglophone majority of Winnipeg, or even with other Canadian official language communities, the Francophone community appears to be quite homogenous.
2.1.6 Socioeconomic Conditions
The income level of Winnipeg Francophones compares favourably with that of the Anglophone majority, and the education level is virtually the same.
The Winnipeg Francophone community benefits in some ways from its location in the provincial capital, as most of the Franco-Manitoban organizations’ head offices are located there (64, according to the Annuaire des services en français du Manitoba)5, mainly in St. Boniface, thus increasing the territorial and institutional density of the community6. A multitude of local organizations serve the Francophone community:
| Franco-Manitoban community |
| Amicale de la francophonie multiculturelle du Manitoba |
| Association des résidants du Vieux Saint-Boniface |
| Association étudiante du Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface |
| Bureau du tourisme Riel |
| Caisse populaire de Saint-Boniface |
| Centre culturel franco-manitobain |
| Cercle Molière |
| Chambre de commerce francophone de Saint-Boniface |
| Collège Louis-Riel |
| Collège universitaire Saint-Boniface |
| Corporation de développement économique de Saint-Boniface Inc. |
| École Christine-Lespérance |
| École Lacerte |
| École Précieux-Sang |
| École Roméo-Dallaire |
| École Taché |
| Entreprises Riel Inc |
| L’Entre-temps des Franco-Manitobaines |
| Fort Gibraltar – Festival du Voyageur inc. |
| Foyer Valade (long-term care facility) |
| Le 100 Nons (musique) |
| Maison des artistes visuels francophones |
| Maison Gabrielle-Roy Inc. |
| Musée de Saint-Boniface |
| Paroisse catholique de la cathédrale |
| Paroisse catholique des Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens |
| Paroisse catholique Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption à Transcona |
| Paroisse catholique Saint-Eugène |
| Société historique de Saint-Boniface |
| St. Boniface General Hospital |
| St. Boniface Health Centre |
| Taché Centre (long-term care facility) |
There is no federative or umbrella organization that brings together all the Winnipeg Francophone community organizations. Nevertheless, as they are established in this region, the Société franco-manitobaine and other large provincial organizations partly play this role. It should be noted that the Government of Manitoba’s 1999 French Language Services Policy recognizes as designated bilingual regions the three Winnipeg Francophone neighbourhoods: St. Boniface, St. Vital and St. Norbert.
2.3. Best Practices by Target Sectors
In the course of the study, the task force attempted to identify some best practices that help enhance the vitality of the Winnipeg Francophone community in the four sectors selected. This section completes the overview of the Winnipeg Francophone community with a list of outstanding best practices.
2.3.1. Community Governance
The discussions about Winnipeg Francophone community governance revealed that the provincial Francophone organizations play a key role. The following best practices were identified in this sector:
- The Société franco-manitobaine plays an incubator role in setting up Francophone organizations to meet emerging community needs. For example, when the community identifies a new sector needing intervention, the Société franco-manitobaine takes the leadership role until a group is established and becomes fully self-sufficient.
- The Société franco-manitobaine periodically brings together the main actors involved in issues that require cooperation or joint action.
- When a Francophone organization is vulnerable for any reason, the other organizations will lend a helping hand to bring it back on course and ensure its sustainability.
2.3.2 Health Care
- The Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface has developed health care professional training programs, in nursing, health care aide and social work. The Collège’s participation in the Consortium national de formation en santé strengthens its training capacity.
- The Conseil communauté en santé plays a planning and coordination role. Its Winnipeg resource centre provides translation services, language training and other resources for all Manitoba health offices, institutions, organizations and programs, including St. Boniface General Hospital, St. Amant Centre, Taché Centre, Foyer Valade and L’Arche Winnipeg.
- The French Language Services Regulations enacted pursuant to the Regional Health Authorities Act allowed for the bilingual or Francophone designation of some institutions. In Winnipeg, under these regulations, Foyer Valade was designated a Francophone long-term care facility and Taché Centre was designated a bilingual long-term care facility because of its bilingual board of directors and mandate.
- Some social services are provided by, among others, Pluri-elle, a consultation and literacy agency, L’Entretemps des Franco-Manitobaines, a transition house for abused women and families, St. Amant Centre, an institutional and community services agency for people with mental disabilities, Flavie-Laurent Centre, a centre for people in need.
- The St. Boniface General Hospital has joined a partnership with the Institut de recherche contre les cancers de l'appareil digestif in Strasbourg, France.
- The St. Boniface Health Centre in primary health care, with its fully bilingual staff and board of directors, also plays the role of Health Links.
- The Board of Directors of the St. Boniface General Hospital (acute care) decided to identify bilingual positions in its own institution and to procure simultaneous interpretation services (French to English).
2.3.3 Immigration
- Under a federal-provincial-community partnership, the Société franco-manitobaine provides l’Accueil francophone, a reception and integrating service for recent newcomers, whether new immigrants or migrants from other provinces. These services are provided at the Bilingual Service Centre of St. Boniface.
- For the first time, the current Chair of the Société franco-manitobaine is an immigrant.
2.3.4 Access to Government Services
- The Bilingual Service Centre of St. Boniface is a one stop facility where clients can access the services of various levels of government in both official languages.This initiative is a first in Manitoba in Canada and a model for other provinces and territories.
- An early childhood and family centre was created at École Précieux-Sang in St. Boniface by Coalition de la petite enfance. This coalition includes: the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine, the Fédération provinciale des comités de parents du Manitoba, the Société franco-manitobaine and Enfants en santé Manitoba; it receives financial support through the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services. The centre provides the French school with a complete range of integrated prenatal to school-age resources and services for all parents.
- Manitoba Public Insurance has designated its St. Mary’s Road claim centre in Winnipeg as bilingual. It provides service to Francophone clients according to the active offer principle. At present, over half the claim centre staff is bilingual. In time, the centre will become a completely bilingual unit, as unilingual employees retire or are transferred elsewhere.
- The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission has designated four of its service points in the Winnipeg region bilingual.
Notes
3 York University, TFO, Centre d’études acadiennes and Regina University, Francophonies canadiennes. Identités culturelles.
4 The following data cover Census Division 11 in Manitoba and are drawn from Highlights: Profiles of Official Language Communities.
5 Société franco-manitobaine, Annuaire des services en français du Manitoba.
6 We refer, for example to the Société franco-manitobaine, the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, the Conseil jeunesse provincial, the Conseil de communauté en santé, etc.
