Looking at French Culture and Art in BC Archives

By educator Chelsea Pacheco

Art has allowed French Canadians to celebrate their culture through expression in theatre, music, celebratory parties, and food. Within the BC Archives, proof of cultural appreciation through the arts is embedded within historical records.

In 1980’s Vancouver and Victoria, French Canadians in BC were encouraged to participate in events through clubs such as the Alliance Française de Vancouver and the Société Francophone de Victoria that encouraged engagement with French arts. Some events marked celebrations such as the Québécois holiday La Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste. As well, La Chaise Rouge was a café meetup for French-speaking people to gather, and camps for children including Camp de Jour promoted French language acquisition.

Through adversity during times when speaking French was discouraged, French Canadians came together to find joy in French language and culture. This playlist explores BC Archives records that document artistic and celebratory expressions of French culture in BC.

How can the arts contribute to identity and culture?
• Look at posters and images from a variety of French Celebrations hosted in British Columbia.
• Read a French news article about the well-known celebration La Fête de Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the national Québécois holiday.
• Teach about Francophone culture through the arts from past to present.