About

Manitoba enters into Canadian Confederation. The Manitoba Act of 1870 guarantees to ensure the protection and preservation of linguistic duality.

The Official Language Act abolishes the official status of French in the Legislature and the courts in Manitoba.

The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism states the critical role of Canadian municipalities in official languages.

Canada’s Official Languages Act passes and comes into force providing federal support for Francophone minority communities outside of Québec.

The Supreme Court of Canada rules that the 1890 statute abolishing the official status of French in the Legislature and the courts is unconstitutional in Manitoba. As a result, French regains its official status in the legislative and judicial branches of government.

Coming into force of the Canadian Chartier of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter guarantees bilingualism in federal legislative and judicial bodies and in the area of federal government services.

First meeting held in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, presided by Albert St-Hilaire, to discuss the challenges local administrators face in the delivery of municipal services in both official languages.

A provisional committee is established. It is composed of bilingual municipal leaders.

The Secretary of State conducts a series of consultations with all municipalities with minority Francophone communities. The report finds a lack of support to deliver French-language services to the public at the municipal level. It recommends the eventual formation of a provincial association of bilingual elected officials and the promotion of the adoption of language policies by municipalities.

The coming into force of Canada’s new Official Languages Act makes Canadian municipalities full partners in the promotion of bilingualism.

The tabling of the French Language Services Policy in the Legislature introduces the concept of designated bilingual areas in Manitoba. 

Bilingual municipal leaders adopt their first constitution during a deliberative assembly of approximately 70 members, thus creating the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities. A new Board of Directors is elected: Gérald Grenier of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Gabriel Catellier of De Salaberry, Guy Lévesque of Sainte-Anne, Marc Lussier of Saint-Pierre-Jolys, and Guy Savoie of Winnipeg.

In order to consolidate its efforts and to develop its economic strength built on the added value of bilingualism, the AMBM commissions a study entitled “Réconcilier langue et économie : Étude sur le développement économique dans les municipalités bilingues du Manitoba”. The study becomes the road map in the development of a plan for economic growth in each bilingual municipality.

The AMBM is officially incorporated.

The AMBM publishes its first global economic growth strategy entitled “Vision globale, action locale”. It sets out the establishment of a coordination agency for community economic development.

The AMBM creates its own economic development driver for Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities. The Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM) is born.

Judge Richard Chartier updates the French Language Services Policy. Moving forward, Manitoba’s designated bilingual areas will be aligned with its bilingual municipalities.

Opening of the first bilingual service centres in Manitoba, both in rural and urban settings.

The AMBM becomes a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)—the voice of Canada’s local governments. The voice of Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership is heard at the national level.

Beginning of an enduring partnership with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM). The AMBM is granted observer and fraternal member status.

Beginning of a series of community consultations as part of the Estates General of Manitoba’s Francophone community. Participants particularly talk about the importance of an active offer of French-language services at the municipal level. The AMBM is actively involved.

Coming into force of the Francophone Community Enhancement and Support Act providing a framework for strengthening the vitality of Manitoba’s Francophone community and supporting and assisting its development.

Adoption of the Strategic Plan for Manitoba’s Francophone Community: Together towards 2035. The AMBM begins to work towards its implementation with community leaders.

The AMBM creates its own environmental development agency operating nationwide. Éco-West Canada (EWC) is born.

The AMBM advocates for the modernization of the Official Languages Act to ensure that the role that Canadian municipalities play in supporting and developing the vitality of official language minority communities is taken into account.