Associations & Institutions
French language services, community activities and cultural events are all possible thanks to the dedication of volunteers and members of non-profit organizations. Within the francophone community, dozens of committees and boards work together, coordinating events and hosting activities which allow people to live in French.
List of organizations with a province-wide mandate specializing in a variety of sectors:
The Assemblée Communautaire Fransaskoise (ACF) represents and speaks on behalf of the francophone population of Saskatchewan. Its role is to defend the rights and aspirations of the francophone community, and to ensure its development in a variety of sectors. Among other services, the ACF offers community development, settlement of newcomers and employment assistance, coordinates the Bonjour Saskatchewan media campaign as well the Coalition for the promotion of the French language and francophone culture in Saskatchewan.
The Association des juristes d'expression française de la Saskatchewan (AJEFS) is a non-profit organization comprised of over fifty lawyers, judges, translators, clerks, teachers and law students. Its mission is to ensure the establishment, the development, the promotion and the advocacy of legal services in French to its members, the community and government bodies. The AJEFS offers an information services center on legal matters.
The Association des parents fransaskois (APF) works towards the holistic development of Fransaskois children and youth, as well as the support of Fransaskois families. To accomplish this mission, the APF works in collaboration with other organizations and institutions associated with educational and family support services. The APF works so that families can thrive, favouring an environment that promotes collaboration between the home, preschool / school and the community.
The Conseil Culturel Fransaskois (CCF) represents the Fransaskois arts and cultural sector. It seeks to create a vibrant cultural life and an environment conducive to the emergence of francophone artists. Its action is defined in close consultation with representatives from the arts and cultural communities by creating partnerships with the arts industry. The CCF has established a fruitful collaboration within the educational sector, providing innovative cultural programming.
The Association Jeunesse Fransaskoise (AJF) is a non-profit organization working with Francophone youth in Saskatchewan. The AJF organizes activities in French for its members, and there is no fee to belong. The mission of the AJF is to enable young people to live in French through athletic, cultural and leadership-based activities and training. The AJF organizes, among other events, the Francophone Youth Parliament, Francofièvre, Rock-Mobile dances, Team Saskatchewan at the Canadian Francophone Games, and much more.
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is an initiative for parents who wish to ensure that their children have the opportunity to become bilingual within the school system in Canada. As a non-profit organization, the CPF operates through a national network of volunteers in ten provincial and territorial offices and in one hundred and fifty chapters in over 150 communities. The organization is committed to the advocacy and the establishment of French-second–language opportunities for young Canadians. Their activities range from organizing conferences and events to creating opportunities for employment and exchanges among youth, in French.
Collège Mathieu provides postsecondary college level education and continuing education in French. Collège Mathieu offers specialized courses and training on demand for credited or non-credited programs. Collège Mathieu is the only francophone collegiate institution in Saskatchewan offering technical and vocational training programs that promote employability as well as adult education. An educational resource centre, Le Lien, allows the public to borrow books, magazines, games, music and movies in French.
The Conseil des Écoles Fransaskoises (CEF) prepares students to be proud francophone citizens. Its mandate is to provide students with a quality education in French as a first language. Students are provided with diverse programming in French, enriching their educational background and also the cultural vitality of the francophone community.
The Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan is the agency responsible for economic development within the francophone community. The CÉCS offers a range of programs and services to meet the needs and challenges identified in diferrent sectors. In order to target the needs of the Fransaskois, the CÉCS has five offices located in Moose Jaw, Bellevue, Regina, Saskatoon and Zenon Park.
The Communauté des Africains Francophones de la Saskatchewan was founded in 2008, the Community of Francophone Africans of Saskatchewan Inc. (CAFS) is a non-profit, non-political and secular community association. It offers a service in French to welcome, support and integrate newcomers into the community. The CAFS promotes African cultures in French and fosters the discovery of the many aspects of Saskatchewan. Activities include conferences, galas, discovery tours and much more.
The Coopérative des publications fransaskoises publishes the French weekly L'Eau Vive, the only French-language newspaper in Saskatchewan. L'Eau Vive covers the events, issues and francophone news in the entire province. The cooperative also distributes its editorial content via a website called the francophone portal, and also provides graphic design services.
The Fondation fransaskoise is a registered charity whose aim is to provide student scholarships and financial assistance for community projects within the province. The Foundation manages an equity fund whose interest is used to assist projects, activities and students. Each year, the foundation holds a fundraising drive to finance its many programs, encouraging the community to contribute generously.
The Fédération Provinciale des Fransaskoises (FPF), the voice of Francophone women in Saskatchewan, aims to improve the condition of French speaking women in the province, representing them at a provincial and federal level. The organization’s objective is to improve the welfare and condition of life of Fransaskois women.
The Fédération des Aînés Fransaskois (FAF) promotes and contributes to the vitality and development of francophone seniors and persons aged 50 years and older living in Saskatchewan. The FAF unites 13 golden age clubs, as well as individual members.
The recently established Cité universitaire francophone at the University of Regina serves the educational needs of francophone students at the University. The Cité universitaire francophone offers a variety of courses for various audiences, depending on interests. La Cité is also committed to the cultural, linguistic and professional development of the francophone community of Saskatchewan through its programs. In this regard, la Cité supports research on issues specific to the francophone minority community in Saskatchewan and also offers a francophone environment on the campus conducive to French learning and advancement.
Les Éditions de la nouvelle plume are among the smallest publishers found in minority communities. The publishing house is at the service of Francophones wanting to articulate their past, their present, their dreams and their vision of the future. This small publishing house helps francophone authors from Saskatchewan and the prairies to publish in French, thereby breaking the barrier of silence and isolation. They provide important resources for francophone schools and western Canadian curriculums.
Réseau en immigration francophone (RIF-SK)
RIF-SK is a provincial francophone roundtable. Its mandate is to facilitate the development of services and resources promoting the reception, retention, and integration of Francophone immigrants in Saskatchewan. RIF-SK does not provide direct service to newcomers but works with community and government stakeholders to promote Francophone immigration to Saskatchewan.
The Réseau Santé en Français de la Saskatchewan (RSFS) has the mandate to promote, protect and foster access to French language health services in Saskatchewan. The network provides important public information on maintaining health and updates a directory of French-speaking health professionals in Saskatchewan.
The Société Historique de la Saskatchewan (SHS) studies the history of the French presence in the province of Saskatchewan from the conditions facing the earliest French-speaking settlers to the experiences of the present-day inhabitants. The SHS preserves relevant information which enriches the historical heritage of Francophones in Saskatchewan. It disseminates knowledge by publishing specialized studies and a quarterly review LA REVUE HISTORIQUE. Its mandate is to develop a sense of history and a taste for historical research.
La Troupe du jour is Saskatchewan’s only francophone professional theatre company. Based in Saskatoon, the company develops French-language theatre for adults and youth through artistic creation, training, production and distribution and offers a school program based on artistic development.