The French and English

Canada's two largest cultural communities are the French and the English. **New France** French explorers established New France in the early 17th century. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608. French settlers developed the fur trade, formed alliances with Aboriginal peoples, and established communities along the St. Lawrence River. **The British and the Conquest** After decades of rivalry, Britain defeated France at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Under the Treaty of Paris (1763), France ceded New France to Britain. However, the French-speaking population remained, and their language and culture were protected. The **Quebec Act of 1774** recognized French civil law and the Catholic religion in Quebec — a crucial protection for French Canadian identity. **French Canada today** About 22% of Canadians speak French as their first language. Quebec has the largest French-speaking population, but Francophone communities exist in every province and territory. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province. **The Acadians** The Acadians were French settlers in what is now Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They were expelled by the British in 1755 (the Grand Dérangement), but many returned and rebuilt their communities. Acadian culture and identity remain vibrant today. **The Loyalists** After the American Revolution (1775-1783), more than 40,000 people loyal to the British Crown — called Loyalists — came to Canada, settling mainly in Nova Scotia and Quebec. They included Europeans, Aboriginal allies and about 3,000 Black Loyalists who came seeking freedom from slavery. **Official languages** The Official Languages Act (1969) made English and French equal official languages of Canada. Federal government services are available in both languages across the country.