[mountygrl]

Hey Gang,

first of all, i admire every anglophone who tries to learn and speak french! keep it up! (by the way, i'm francophone)

Now, the other day in my intercultural class, we were talking about different cultures in Canada. A girl raised her hand and said the following (in french) :
" I just think it's unfair that when we Quebec people go to Ontario, we can't get french service so we have to speak english but when english people come to Quebec, WE can give them english service!" Now what frustrated me about this is that sometimes Quebec people forget that they're not the only ones battling to save the french language. There are francophones all over the country, of course they're not a majority. But do you guys know what i mean? And yes, i sometimes get frustrated because i don't get service in french and this is Ottawa! the nation,s capital! but then, i realize that alot of you try very hard to learn french and i must admit, french is so damn complicated!

And another thing! I work at the RCMP stables and we get alot of tourists from Quebec of course. What frustrates me is when they ask me (and i've been asked this question many many times, even by 10 yr olds) " you speak french and you're from Ontario????" ...AAARrrrrgghhh!! what the hell do you think!?! That if you're francophone it,s because you were born in Quebec???

anywho, i feel better now. lol

[DMP08]

Firstly, welcome to the site. Secondly, you have a good point. People often forget about NB. I work at Safeway, and have taken french in school for 3 years. Our city is VERY tourist oriented in the summer. The last summer, this group of young french Canadians were trying to struggle to ask where something was from one of my coworkers. I could see they (as well as my coworker) were having problems. So I walked over and calmly asked "Es-que vouz aidez?" (sorry for spelling, that was my down side in French). The group of french canadians instantly got a big smile on their face. I could pick up enough to help them, after saying to them "Parle moins rapide" Basically to ask to go slower so I can try and keep up. They loved it, I fealt special too.

[mountygrl]

very cool

[Stellar]

My brother used to work in grocery store in Pentiction and then later on moved to Toronto. He was hired in a high end restraint because he was able to speak French and English! So all you young kids out their wanting to make some money, speak French it will help you a lot in the world.
Just thought I might say that!

[Streaker]

A lot of people forget that there are about a half-million Franco-Ontarians. I have a friend from Sudbury, now living here in Montreal, who could totally relate to you, mountygrl!

As for myself, being a semi-bicultural but mostly anglo Montrealer there are times when I wonder if anyone out there realises that there are still about a million anglos in Quebec!

PS Bienvenue au site!!

[Rev_Blair]

Thee are francophone communities all over the country. There are a lot of them here in Manitoba, but even Alberta and Saskatchewan have areas where French is still the first language of most of the people in town.

[Canadian1]

MG as the rev said there are pockets of French in Alberta, there are towns littered all over Alberta that are primarily French. Seeing as there were a lot of French settlers in the 1800's, we do a bit of camping throughout Alberta and we have stayed in a number of towns that were originally settled by French. Plamondon is one, just up the road from there is a place called Lac Labiche, another town is Beaumont which is just outside Edmonton, I stopped there looking for directions and the guy I talked with had a very thick French accent.

Having lived in a predominantly Acadian village in New Brunswick I have been discriminated against, when I was 18 we immigrated from Toronto to bum shoot NB and when we went into town for whatever we were referred to as those Anglais! in effect we were treated like second class citizens.

When I joined the Army in the early 80's I was posted to Lahr in Southern Germany for three years, where I met my future love interest who it turns out I am still with! she was and still is very French. Through time she has lost most of her accent, and her brother who lives North of Montréal has told her on occassion that she now has a mostly English accent. She too has been shunned by certain French types, one who looked down on her due mainly to the fact that she married an Anglais!!!!!!!!!!

[mountygrl]

Unfortunately, the french-english thing causes alot of stupid, unecessary conflicts. I'm franco-ontarian and i'm dating an anglophone. Lucky for me, he speaks french.

[canadian1971]

Bonjour....Im from Nfld.....a little town called Isle la Mort...all my family is from there or Rose Blanche...or Port aux Basque....my point is that all these are french named communities...but you would probably have to look pretty hard to find some1 who spoke french...and even if you did...can you imagine some1 speaking French with a thick newfie accent? lol....The Port aux Port peninsula(?)...now theres a French community..if you dont speak French..then you probably shouldnt go there...not that theyre assholes or anything, but they just wont make much of an effort to talk to you...how would you say" lord thunderin jesus bye'" in French anyhow!!.....little story....In Nfld., it shames me to admit, but growing up we were pretty harsh on the French, for no reason other than ignorrance. When I attempted to drive to B.C. my car broke down in Quebec...It was 3 in the morning.....I had to goto a police station to find some1 who spoke English...and they were very helpful....By 3:30 2 guys showed up...towed my car to thier shop and spent about 6 hrs changing the differential in my car( the rear axle for all you mechaniclly challenged persons)....the only English spoken to me was "$230 bill, $200 no bill"....Naturally..being a poor Newfie I said "No bill!!! Merci !!!"....Needless to say..my views on Quebec and the people that live there changed for the better that day.