Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta
A grouping of a wide variety of Franco-Albertan organizations had been considered by the members of the Société du parler français in 1912. Nothing was realized until 1925 after World War I. There were several complicating factors.
- The Roman Catholic clergy under the leadership of Archbishop O'Leary had little desire to be involved with a formal Francophone support organization.
- The rural Francophones had supported the United Farmers of Alberta in government. This created a rift between the urban and rural French community.
- The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste lost influence and it had been a politically aware support group.
The organization of the Alberta wide support group was underway on 13 December 1925 with a meeting of 400 people called by le club Jeanne-d'Arc. On 17 July 1926 the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (ACFA) was established
The ACFA continues to protect and serve the rights of French-speakers in Alberta.
- published the first edition of la Survivance
- organized a series of bimonthly radio concerts broadcast from Edmonton
- promoted a competition for the top students of the French program organized by the Association des Éducateurs bilingues de l'Alberta.
- urged and accepted naming a bilingual agronomist was named by the Alberta government
- founded an organization for school children, "l'Avant-garde de l'ACFA"
At age 80+ the ACFA membership is no longer represented by parish circles as it was in the beginning. Now, local circles and regional offices answer for the membership at the Francophone community level.
