Lesson 2 of 3 · 4 min read
English and French are Canada's official languages, spoken by Anglophones and Francophones across the country, including Acadians and Quebecers.
English and French are Canada's two official languages, and the federal government is required by law to provide its services in both.
Canada is home to about 18 million Anglophones — people who speak English as their first language — and about 7 million Francophones, whose first language is French. French speakers live across the country, though most are concentrated in Quebec.
Acadians began settling in Canada in 1604, mainly in what is now the Maritime provinces. Between 1755 and 1763, more than two-thirds of Acadians were forcibly deported by the British, an event remembered as the Great Upheaval. Despite this history, Acadian communities and culture survive today.
Francophone communities exist outside Quebec as well, including in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Manitoba. New Brunswick is the only province in Canada that is officially bilingual.
The vast majority of Quebecers are French-speaking, and most are descendants of 8,500 French settlers who arrived in the 1600s and 1700s. In 2006, the House of Commons recognized that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada, acknowledging Quebec's distinct culture and identity while affirming its place within the federation.
Key facts
English and French are Canada's official languages.
There are 18 million Anglophones (people who speak English as a first language) and 7 million Francophones (people who speak French as their first language) in Canada.
The federal government is required by law to provide services in both English and French.
Acadians began settling in Canada in 1604; more than two-thirds were deported between 1755 and 1763 in an event known as the Great Upheaval.
New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
The House of Commons recognized in 2006 that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada.
Most Quebecers are descendants of 8,500 French settlers who arrived in the 1600s and 1700s.
Answer all 3 to mark this lesson done.
1. Approximately how many Anglophones and Francophones live in Canada, according to the guide?
2. Which province is the only one that is officially bilingual?
3. What did the House of Commons recognize in 2006?
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