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Community Profile
The Island FrancophoniePrince Edward Island was born in French, in 1720, when the first permanent European settlement was established on the site that is currently known as Port-la-Joye–Fort Amherst. At the time, the Island was a French colony known as Île Saint-Jean. When the deportation began in 1758, close to 4,100¹ Acadians inhabited the Island. Only a hundred or so remained a year later. It was by way of the Treaty of Paris, in 1763, that the territory was officially transferred to Britain.
Today, close to 23% of the Prince Edward Island population identifies itself as being of French or Acadian origin². According to the 2011 Census, more than 12% of the total population identifies itself as being bilingual.
The Island Francophonie is dynamic, diversified and present in all areas of Island society. Many community organizations support the development of the community in such areas as seniors, culture and heritage, economic development, education, employability, women, immigration, youth, early childhood, health, etc. The community spokesgroup is the Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin.
On the Island there are six (6) school and community centres located in the following six (6) regions: West Prince, Évangéline, Summerside/Miscouche, Rustico, the greater Charlottetown area and Eastern Kings. The centres are essential gathering places for the community. The French schools are managed by the French Language School Board.
Symbols of Acadie
The flag
National Acadian Day
National anthem
Insignia and motto
(1) LOCKERBY, Earl, The Deportation of the Prince Edward Island Acadians, Nimbus Publishing Limited, 2008
(2) Department of Finance, Energy and Municipal Affairs, 39th Annual Statistical Review, Government of Prince Edward Island, June 2013
