Markham designated for French services under provincial language act

YorkRegion.com
July 9, 2015
By Laura Finney

Bonjour, Markham. Ontario is now expanding the French languages services in the city.

Starting July 1, 2018, all Ontario government offices in Markham will offer French language services under the French Language Services Act.

“We’re extremely proud to have this bestowed upon the city on behalf of all the francophones within Markham,” said Mona Babin, executive director of the Association des francophones de la region de York.

According to the province, over 4,000 francophones live in the City of Markham, and 16,000 live in York Region.

“The perception is that people in Quebec are all French and outside of that people are fluently English, and that is not the case,” said Babin.

Markham will join other cities, such as Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.

When an area becomes designated under the act, the province provides French-language services equivalent in quality and availability to the services that are offered in English.

This decision will not only help those who speak French, or those who are more comfortable speaking French, it also will help preserve culture and heritage explained Babin.

“The big thing behind this law is to hold on to your culture,” she said. “If I look at Markham it has a heritage area in Thornhill, a heritage area in Markham, a heritage area in Unionville. I can tell you they are extremely active and people hold on to heritage very closely.”

Additionally, French is a part of Canada’s history, and Ontario’s.

This year the province will be celebrating 400 years since francophones first came to Ontario.

“This year marks 400 years of French presence in Ontario, and its wonderful to see that in this special year Ontario is expanding access to French-language provincial services on par with English services,” said Michael Chan, MPP for Markham-Unionville. “Expanding French services is an important part of building up Markham’s economic, social and cultural prosperity.”

Eight provincial ministries or agencies have offices in Markham, including the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Markham’s designation under the act is a result of strong local community support, said the province, and Babin wanted to thank both the Ontario government and the municipal government for their support.

“As the most diverse city in Canada Markham is proud to receive the Province of Ontario’s official French Language Services Designation that enables services to be provided to our residents by provincial agencies,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “This initiative will ensure Canada’s official languages are encouraged in our community.”

On July 13, Markham will be displaying a French exhibit called Lafrancophonie ontarienne: d’hier a demain’ at the Civic Centre for four weeks.