Common Elements of All Our Work

Acadian and Francophone Communities

Support for Atlantic Canada's Acadian and Francophone communities is a longstanding priority for the Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC Atlantic). For many years, French-speaking community groups around the region have received project funding through various federal health funding programs.

Our support for Acadian and Francophone communities, however, goes beyond project funding. Through a regional Official Languages Coordinator, PHAC Atlantic oversees a variety of initiatives aimed at increasing the health and vitality of these communities.

PHAC Atlantic's Five-Year Action Plan to Increase the Vitality of Atlantic Canada's Acadian and Francophone Communities (2007-2012) was developed through consultation with community representatives and stakeholders, in accordance with the Official Languages Act (External link).

The action plan is organized according to six principal means:

• Awareness, primarily among PHAC Atlantic staff and management;
• Consultation, with Acadian and Francophone organizations concerned with community development and health-related issues;
• Communication, to facilitate information sharing about PHAC programs and policies and other health promotion resources;
• Program and Service Funding and Delivery, to Acadian and Francophone communities and organizations
• Coordination and Liaison, with other government bodies concerned with official language minority issues;
• Accountability, both to the Government of Canada and the communities in question.

Within the framework of the Five-Year Action Plan, we at PHAC Atlantic are committed to continuing our work with Acadian and Francophone communities and to increase our online content of relevant information and resources.

Acadian, Francophone and bilingual projects in Atlantic Canada

PHAC Atlantic publications focussing on Acadian and Francophone communities

For further information, please contact Susan LeBlanc, Regional Coordinator, Official Languages, at (506) 851-2422, or e-mail: susan.leblanc@phac-aspc.gc.ca.