Official Languages Act Education Guide
This guide is an introduction to the Official Languages Actand the history of language policy in Canada, and is not exhaustive in its coverage. The guide focuses primarily on the Act itself, the factors that led to its creation, and its impact and legacy. It touches on key moments in the history of linguistic policy in Canada, though teachers may wish to address topics covered in Section 1 in greater detail to provide a deeper understanding of the complex nature of language relations. The complicated nature of recorded history and curricular requirements do not allow us to tell everyone’s stories, and we hope that teachers will share other perspectives, experiences, and stories.
Linguistic plurality is a cornerstone of modern Canadian identity, but the history of language in Canada is not a simple story. Today, English and French enjoy equal status in Canada, although this has not always been the case. The 50th anniversary of Canada’s Official Languages Act(OLA) represents an opportunity to learn about the history that led to the Act, and its subsequent legacy.
Languages have long been a way for minority communities to hold onto cultural heritage, ancestral memories, and unique knowledge and traditions. Language has been used historically by Indigenous peoples and French-Canadian communities (and other diverse language communities) to resist a determined English-speaking Canadian society pushing to create a homogeneous British-Canadian national state. This history of resistance has helped define our social and political climate.