Between 1982 and the year 2000, the French
community of Alberta experienced a particularly
active period in its history. This included such
milestones as The Piquette Affair and The Mercure
Affair, the establishment of homogeneous francophone
schools and the establishment of numerous
organizations such as la Société acadienne de
l’Alberta (1986), L’Association des juristes
d’expression française (1990) and the opening of
Le Centre Marie-Anne-Gaboury in 1990. In 1991, the
Société francophone de communication established
FrancAlta, the French internet service. The
Association multiculturelle francophone de l’Ablerta
(1989) and Alliance jeunesse famille de l’Alberta
(1999) were both established in order to meet
the needs of the community’s growing multicultural
diversity.
The needs of the elderly were considered as being
particularly important during this period and in
1995 the administrations of Manoir Saint-Thomas
created in 1982 and of Manoir Saint-Joachim
established in 1981 were consolidated. In 1990, the
Fédération des aînés francophones de l’Alberta
(FAFA) was established. The FAFA is composed of four
different regional offices and includes some 1100
members.
Various youth groups initiated a number of
interesting projects during this period. In 1982,
Jean-Pierre Grenier, a student at Faculté
Saint-Jean, designed the Franco-Albertan flag which
was made public in 1982 by Francophonie Jeunesse
de l’Alberta (FJA). The first Parlement
jeunesse de l’Alberta was organized in 1992. The
same year, the Jeux francophones de l’Alberta
encouraged all young francophone athletes to
demonstrate their skills and their team spirit. La
Société des jeux francophones was incorporated in
1994 and FJA hosted the first Jeux francophones
de l’Ouest which were held in Beaumont in 1995.
Two new associations regrouping Franco-Albertan
artists were established during this period.
Incorporated in 1997, the Société francophone du
centre d’arts visuels wants to ensure the
development of the French community’s visual
artists. The Centre de développement musical
(CDM) established in 1995 works with the community’s
young musiciens and singers who are now able to
record in the CDM’s new studio opened in 2000.
Amongst the community’s successes during this
period are many projects of a financial nature. In
1986, a group of francophone investors purchased the
Centre 82 on Whyte Avenue. The Chambre économique
de l’Alberta was incorporated in 1997 and the
Fondation Fernando Girard was created in 1991.
During this period many rural communities
celebrated the 75th anniversary of their fondation :
Bonnyville (1982), Rivière-la-Paix (1987) and the
Sacré-Coeur Parish of Donnelly (1997). The Lac La
Biche Mission was declared a provincial historical
site in 1987 and a national historical site in 1989.
Elsewhere, Franco-Albertans celebrated the official
opening of their new cultural centre: Lethbridge
(1982), Saint-Paul (1984), Morinville-Legal (1985),
Saint-Isidore (1987) and Plamondon (1994). Saint-Isidore’s
well-known Barbar was officially opened in
1989 and Calgary’s beautiful Cité des Rocheuses
was opened in October 1997.
New services were also implemented in various
French speaking towns across Alberta. Saint-Isidore
opened its medical clinic in 1992. That same year,
Saint-Paul created its first Centre francophone
d’alphabetisation en Alberta. In 1996, Rivière-la
Paix organized its first community radio station.
From 1982 to the year 2000, the Franco-Albertan
community broadened its scope of services to include
all ages and a greater number of regions. |