Happy National Francophone Immigration Week (NFIW)
Every November, communities right across Canada come together to mark National Francophone Immigration Week (NFIW). It is a week dedicated to celebrating the contributions of French-speaking newcomers, raising awareness of Francophone immigration outside Québec, and highlighting how Francophone immigration strengthens Canada’s linguistic and cultural diversity. In 2025, Canada is celebrating the 13th edition of this week-long observance.
How & Why NFIW Started
The idea of a dedicated immigration week for Francophones outside Québec arises from two interconnected challenges:
Many French-speaking immigrants settle in minority Francophone communities (outside Québec), where maintaining the French language and culture is more difficult.
There was a need to promote the integration of French-speaking newcomers, showcase their value, and stimulate participation of employers, service providers and community partners.
According to the national coordination body Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA), the concept of NFIW was inspired by the earlier “Atlantic Francophone Immigration Week” which took place in the Atlantic provinces in 2012. The FCFA website says:
“This initiative is being carried out with the financial support of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) … inspired by the Atlantic Francophone Immigration Week, which was organized by the Atlantic Committee on Francophone Immigration in 2012.”
While the precise first week date of NFIW is unknown, multiple sources show that by 2021 it was already the 9th edition. Thus, working backwards, we can infer the first edition was around 2013.
Over the years NFIW has become a national focal point for Francophone immigration-related activities: cultural events, job-market panels, newcomer testimonials, French-language training workshops, employer outreach, and more.
What NFIW Signifies Today
In today’s Canada, NFIW plays multiple key roles:
Celebrating contributions
The week gives a platform to recognize the cultural, social, and economic contributions of French-speaking newcomers. In the 2025 Ministerial statement, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) said that NFIW “is an opportunity to celebrate the cultural, economic and social contributions of Francophone newcomers and the fundamental role they play across Canada.”
Mobilizing community, employers & services
NFIW helps bring together governments, community-networks (such as the Francophone Immigration Networks, RIFs), employers seeking French-speaking talent, newcomers aiming to settle in French, and language-services providers. According to FCFA, there are about 100 events across the country each year during NFIW, including cultural evenings, job-ready workshops, cooking sessions, testimonial circles and school celebrations.
Supporting Francophone minority communities
A crucial dimension is that this is about Francophone communities outside Québec—where maintaining linguistic vitality is more of a challenge. The federal government has linked NFIW to its broader objective of strengthening the “demographic weight” of Francophone minority communities across Canada. In the Minister’s 2025 statement:
“… we are on track to meet our 2025 admissions target of 8.5 % for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec.”
Enhancing visibility of language-learning & employment pathways
NFIW serves as a timely reminder of the value of French-language skills, and of routes through which French-speaking newcomers can arrive and integrate into the labour market.
2025: What’s New & Worth Highlighting
Here are some of the highlights for the 2025 edition of NFIW:
It is the 13th edition of the week.
The theme (in the Minister’s statement) is: “Thank you for enriching our Francophonie.”
The Minister emphasized that “throughout the week, we are highlighting our initiatives that demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting the development of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec, including the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative.”
The federal target: the Minister stated being on-track for the 2025 admissions target of 8.5% of new permanent residents who are French-speaking and settle outside Québec.
The collaborative element: “we committed to developing a new federal-provincial-territorial action plan to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec.”
Policy & Pathways: Why Francophone Immigration Matters & What’s Happening
The policy backdrop
The demographic weight of Francophone minority communities outside Québec has been under pressure for decades; immigration is one of the key levers the federal government uses to support these communities. E.g., in the transition binder from IRCC the challenge is described as sustaining French-language vitality in minority settings.
The federal government’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan includes targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Québec: 8.5% (2025), 9.5% (2026), 10% (2027).
Previous data: In 2024, Canada admitted more French-speaking PRs outside Québec than its target—19,700 (in 2023) and rising.
Key pathways & levers for French-speakers
Express Entry – French-language category: Candidates who demonstrate CLB/NCLC 7+ in French (or a combination) are eligible for category-based selection draws. French-language ability is a high-value asset.
Francophone Mobility Program (outside Québec): Enables eligible employers to hire French-speaking or bilingual talent without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under certain conditions.
Community supports & networks: The RIFs (Réseaux en immigration francophone) and community networks host events, supports and services to help Francophone newcomers settle, connect and integrate. (See FCFA and regional RIFs for event calendars.)
Conclusion
National Francophone Immigration Week is more than a symbolic observance—it sits at the intersection of immigration policy, language learning, labour-market strategy and community vitality. For learners, it underscores the strategic value of French-language skills. For employers, it highlights untapped Francophone talent and immigration pathways. And for training providers like you, it offers a timely platform to align your services with a national initiative.
This year, join the celebration under the theme “Thank you for enriching our Francophonie.” Let’s ensure that French-speaking newcomers not only arrive, but thrive - and that all of us who invest in the French language contribute to a stronger Canadian Francophonie.
