Heritage Community Foundation PresentsAlberta Online Encyclopedia
Cultural Life
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The ties that bind the Franco-Albertan community together can be found in the cultural spaces its members share. Common language, religion, histories and artistic interests identify them as one group among many, especially in a country as diverse as Canada. The majority of residents in St. Vincent speak French and are of French descent. However, they have not been isolated from other ethnic groups, as settlers from a multitude of backgrounds, including Irish, Polish and Ukrainian, also settled the region.
Although a small hamlet, St. Vincent is situated near the centre of Alberta’s largest Francophone community. As a result, residents have access to a variety of cultural resources. In nearby St. Paul, there are many organizations committed to preserving Francophone theatre, music and dance. Likewise, St. Vincent’s roots as a French-speaking, Roman Catholic settlement are evidenced by the activities of its residents. Large public religious festivals, such as the Fête-Dieu and the Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, were important annual community events, and more modern events have supplanted religious feast days.
In 1927, a chapter of the Association canadienne-francaise de l'Alberta (ACFA) was established in St. Vincent. Local needs were often met through fund raising at baseball tournaments and parish picnics; in this way residents were able to establish a small lending library, which was eventually operated out of a private residence.
For more on the towns of St. Vincent and St. Paul, visit Peel’s Prairie Provinces.