Changing Opinions of French Canada

By educator Olivia Haramboure

Over time, people in British Columbia have thought different things about French Canada and French Canadians. This way of thinking has changed as the years have passed. This playlist uses newspapers from the BC Archives to show how writers in the Times Colonist and people who wrote letters to the newspaper have thought about French Canada and French Canadians. Some of these writings were cut out from the newspaper and notes were added by a member of the Club Canadien-Français. They wanted to show that there was a strong dislike of French Canadians in these writings.

Prejudice against a group of people is called discrimination. Francophobia is a type of discrimination or prejudice against French people. In Canada, francophobia is usually discrimination against French Canadians. Like other types of discrimination, francophobia can come in the form of laws and policies, but it can also be an act, or how we talk about someone. Why do you think that opinions of French Canadians would change over time in British Columbia?

Explore continuity and change in British Columbian opinions of French Canada by exploring the video, written documents and lesson plans in this playlist.

Watch a Webster! episode about a past politician’s opinion on French language rights in Canada.
Webster! Full Episode March 29, 1984

From 00:00-04:17 minutes Secretary of State Serge Joyal, is interviewed about French language rights. Joyal says “We want to make sure Canadians can address their government in the languages of their choice.” Is this something that Canadians can do now? Note the language that Jack Webster uses in these interviews, “I’ll concede…” for example. What do you think his biases are regarding the idea of bilingualism? How can you tell?

Read newspaper clippings and letters, from BC Archives, about how French Canadians were treated at different times in history. The documents in this playlist are examples of how French-Canadians were discussed in British Columbia newspapers in 1944. What do you think about the overall tone? What was going on in history during this time? Why do you think the CCF (Club Canadien Français de la Colombie Britannique) would have saved these newspaper clippings in their archives?

Historical Thinking Concept Continuity and Change
Learn more about continuity and change and how historians use this idea to better understand history.

Historical Thinking Concept Primary Source Evidence
Learn more about how to use primary sources.