Francophones in Ontario

Studies on Ontario Francophone Community

This page lists only those documents that are available in English. For a more complete list of documents (many available only in French), please see the French page.

Language and demography

Minorities Speak Up: Results of the Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities, Statistics Canada, December 2007
Summary: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071211/d071211a.htm
This post-census survey on the vitality of Canada’s official-language minorities provides a more in-depth understanding of the current situation of the English-speaking population in Quebec and the French-speaking population outside of Quebec in critical areas such as instruction in the language of the minority, access to services in the language of the minority (e.g., health care), and language practices both in the home and outside of the home.
Profile of Languages in Canada: English, French and Many Others, Statistics Canada, December 2002
This document profiles Canadians’ mother tongue, spoken language, and knowledge of French and English based on data from the 2001 census.
Michael O'Keefe, Francophone Minorities: Assimilation and Community Vitality, Canadian Heritage, 2001
While this report is based on data that is not recent (1996 census), it presents a detailed and interesting analysis of the concepts of assimilation, vitality, and continuity as they relate to Francophone minorities (including those in Ontario), underlying trends, and the impact of federal policies on the growth of these communities.
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Immigration

J. Jedwab, Immigration and the Vitality of Canada's Official Language Communities: Policy, Demography and Identity, McGill Institute for the Study of Canada on behalf of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, February 2002
While it dates back some time (most of the data is from 1996), this study includes a large quantity of detailed and interesting data on immigrant populations, in particular Francophones, their settlement patterns, their integration, etc.
Official Languages and Immigration: Obstacles and Opportunities for Immigrants and Communities – November 2002
This study contains statistical data and analyses of the changes made to the legislation on immigration; it highlights the experiences of newcomers and the communities in which they settle, based on sixty interviews with immigrants and other stakeholders.
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Economy

Use of English and French at Work, Statistics Canada, September 2003
Based on the 2001 census.
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Literacy

For My Child: Study of the Impact of French-Language Family Literacy Programs on Francophone Families in Linguistic Minority Settings in Ontario, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Citizenship and Minorities (CIRCEM), University of Ottawa, for the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes, 2004-2007
This study was done on three cohorts. Its purpose was to measure the impact of family literacy training programs on Francophone parents and their children in Ontario.
Building on Our Competencies: Canadian Results of the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, Statistics Canada, 2003
This report presents the results of the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey, indicating differences by province, age group, and socio-economic status. It uncovers significant gaps in literacy and numeracy levels between Canada’s Francophones, Anglophones, and Allophones.
Summaries:
Mother Tongue, Literacy and Numeracy
Literacy and the Official Language Minorities
Literacy and Literacy Training of Francophones in Canada, Statistics Canada, December 2002
A more recent and thorough analysis, but based on the same data as the previous report.
Literacy in Canada: Disparity between Francophones and Anglophones, Statistics Canada, December 2000
This study is based on data from the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) conducted in Canada and 20 other countries. Detailed charts give data by province.
Measuring up: Canadian Results of the OECD PISA Study—The Performance of Canada's Youth in Science, Reading and Mathematics, Statistics Canada, December 2007
Results of 15-year-old students from the data of the 2006 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests (focus on science). Some data on Francophone students in a minority setting.
Summary: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071205/d071205b.htm
Measuring up: Canadian Results of the OECD PISA Study—Performance of Canada's Youth in Mathematics, Reading, Science and Problem-Solving, Statistics Canada, December 2004
Results of 15-year-old students from the data of the 2003 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) tests (focus on mathematics).
Summary: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041207/d041207a.htm
Similar report: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/81-004-XIE/200412/pisa.htm
Other Reports on Ontario's Results on National and International Tests to be found on the EQAO website.
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Education

Study: Student Reading Performance in Minority-Language Schools
(HTML) (PDF)
The results of two studies on the reading skills of 15-year-olds, based on data from the PISA 2000: a comparison of the results of students in the French and English school systems in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba and the results for students in French immersion programs.
The Best is...the Future! Early Childhood in Canada's Francophone Minority Communities: A Transformative Analysis, Commission nationale des parents francophones, 2005, 142 pages
The report documents existing early childhood programs for Canada in general and for each province in particular. While the information is detailed, it dates back several years (to 2003 in most instances).
Motivations for School Choices by Eligible Parents Outside Quebec, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, January 1999
This study is based on the comments and opinions of 81 parents interviewed in four Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and Sudbury) in the course of eight group meetings. This study is not recent but its conclusions are still relevant.
30 Years of Education: Canada's Language Groups, Statistics Canada, 2003
This article examines how the educational profiles of Francophones, Anglophones and Allophones have changed over the past 30 years, and the factors that have contributed to many of these changes.
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
Many reports, but not specifically on French-language education. Recent reports are found in the News Releases section http://www.heqco.ca/en-CA/Stay_Informed/News%20Releases/Pages/default.aspx, others in the Research Publications section http://www.heqco.ca/en-CA/Research/Research%20Publications/Pages/default.aspx.
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Regional Profile

The Sudbury Francophone Community, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, October 2007, 38 pages
This study by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages paints a portrait of Sudbury’s Francophone community (demography, socio-economic conditions) and then examines four vitality indicators for this community: community governance, immigration, health care, and access to government services.
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Sites where Other Reports can be Found

Language Composition of Canada, 2001 Census: large number of documents (Search "francophone")
Canadian Heritage's website includes a number of publications, including the series New Canadian Perspectives
In general, these publications are not recent and do not focus on Ontario in particular, but several of them provide interesting perspectives and data.
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Canadian Institute for Research on Linguistic Minorities
Most of their documents are in French only.
Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture, University of Ottawa
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Office of Francophone Affairs

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