Francophone Discoveries Communities

Prince Edward Island

Features

The Acadian community in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) has existed for over 300 years. In 2021, 4,350 people in the province had French as a first language, and 19,385 people were bilingual. P.E.I., Canada’s smallest province, is located in the Maritimes, the provinces of which share a common Acadian heritage.

Organization representing the Francophone population

The SAF’Île or Société acadienne et francophone de l’Île was founded in 1919. At a conference to set up an association in charge of “raising funds for the education of Acadian youth,” the need for such an organization was acknowledged. While its main objective was to raise funds for Acadian youth education, SAF’Île also sought to foster the full development of French and Acadian life in P.E.I. Through generous support, SAF’Île was able to build a more solid foundation, allowing it to become what it is today, the main organization representing P.E.I.’s Acadian population.

Immigration

The P.E.I. Coopérative d’intégration francophone is the reception and settlement organization for Francophone newcomers to the province. Its main mandate is to assist French-speaking newcomers who come to settle in P.E.I. to facilitate their social, economic, educational and cultural integration. The Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité (RDÉE) de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard also offers support services to foster economic immigration and facilitate access to the labour market for Francophone immigrants.

Tourism

A trip to P.E.I. is about more than red cliffs, quiet sandy beaches, gentle green hills, fresh seafood, creative artisans and world-class golf! It’s all that, and a little something extra. You’ll be welcomed with open arms into the boats, studios, homes and hearts of the Acadians who call the province home. Discover Francophone attractions such as the Acadian Museum, the Bottle Houses in Cape-Egmont and the Farmers’ Bank of Rustico Museum, which symbolize Acadian heritage.

For more details, visit Salut Canada.

Education

In terms of French as a primary language, P.E.I. has six French-language schools, five French-language early childhood centres and one college, the Collège de l’Île, which offers several college programs in French. For those interested in learning French, there are organizations whose mission is to facilitate access to French-second-language courses. This is true of Canadian Parents for French, located in Charlottetown, which works with several of the Island’s immersion schools.