Services for Francophone Families
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions (SMFC) serves a diverse cultural population, including a historically significant Francophone population in the designated areas of the Town of Penetanguishene, and Townships of Tiny and Essa.
SMFC is committed to offering services in French to the public and ensuring compliance with the French Language Services Act of Ontario (FLS Act) – English Version / French version which guarantees to all persons the right to receive services in French. SMFC recognizes the needs and expectations of the francophone community of Ontario and endeavours to achieve quality services that are easily accessible in French in Simcoe Muskoka.
Receiving services in French is a legislated right of all French-speaking children, youth, and families, mandated by the French Language Services Act, 1986, adoption of regulation 284/11, and the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.
Ontario is home to more than 620,000 Francophones, representing the largest French-speaking community in Canada outside of Quebec. We recognize the important role that the Francophone community has played in building this province, this community and their need to receive services in French when at their most vulnerable time for a family.
Offering French Language Services is part of our agency’s commitment to equity and removing barriers to ensure all services are easily accessible, comparable quality to English and inclusive for all intersecting identities to help ensure better outcomes for French-speaking children, youth, and families.
DID YOU KNOW?
Francophones in Ontario
- 622,000 Francophones live in Ontario
- 1.5 million Ontarians speak French
- Ontario has the largest Francophone community in Canada outside Quebec
- The community is diverse and growing. Nearly 1 in 5 Francophones in Ontario were born outside of Canada
The Franco-Ontarian flag
- The flag was first raised on September 25, 1975, at the University of Sudbury
- Created by Gaétan Gervais and Michel Dupuis
- Features:
-
- Green + white lily = Francophonie
- White + green trillium = Ontario
- Colours represent Ontario’s seasons: green for summer, white for winter
What is a Designated Area?
- 80% of Ontario’s Francophone population lives in designated areas
- A designated area is a region where government services must be available in French, under the French Language Services Act
- 50% of child welfare agencies are in designated areas (25 agencies)
- Agencies in these areas are expected to actively offer French-language services. Known as active offer, this includes requirements such as:
- Greeting a person seeking service in both French and English
- Providing all public documents in both languages at the same time and in the same format
