French Influence on Canadian Culture

France had a huge impact on Canada, read why....

The French have had a significant impact on the Culture of Canada. It was very early in their development as a country that the leaders of Canada realized they weren’t going to be able to make it without the support of the French. The French and Native Candian War took place from 1754 to 1763. By this time the French has close to 60,000 colonists in the area of Canada. They lost the battle to Great Britain but they were able to remain in some areas of Canada.

Under the Quebec Act passed in 1774, the French Canadians as they were known at that time were allowed many rights. For example they were able to keep their own language, religion, and laws. These rights were given in an attempt to make the people more loyal to Britain. Yet it didn’t happen as there was too much land claimed and that was what led to the start of the American Revolution.

Fast forward to the last few decades and you will still find the French influencing the culture of Canada. In 1965 their complaints about not being accepted completely in Canada was heard. As a result a new flag was introduced that had no British connections to it. French has also been a language used all over Canada for a very long time. In 1969 it became an official language there. In fact, it shares the status of main language there with English now.

You will find several regions throughout Canada today where there is more French influence alive than others. In fact, you may not realize just where you are immediately upon entering them. That is because they are so deeply integrated into the ways of the French culture that it dominates that particular society.

Throughout history the French have has quite an influence on Canada and its culture. While the credit that is deserved in this area isn’t always given it has to be understood. What has taken place to create the overall culture of Canada is a mixture of many different cultures.

French is just one of them and so they often tend to blend together with the lines that once separated them being hard to identify. In fact, each year when Canada Day is celebrated in July the various honors to different influences are generally given. It is also a day for all of these influences to be united.