Canada/Beaurivage fine-tunes its language policy before councillors vote

The municipality of Beaurivage is busy improving its language policy before it is submitted to the town council. In the business community, the idea of a policy that encourages businesses and industries to post signs in French goes down well.

Such is the case at Richard's parts and more, an auto parts store whose signage is in English only.

Cheryl Richard, owner since 2020, isn't against the idea of including French as well. If it's to change the signs, it's to my advantage to have one in English and one in French, given that we're a bilingual province," she points out.

It's my mother tongue. With so many things in English, it's easy to lose your French!

A quote from Cheryl Richard, owner of Richard's parts and more

In this municipality in southeastern New Brunswick, where 72% of the population is French-speaking, many businesses and industries already display their signs in both languages.

A preventive policy

But Beaurivage says it also wants to adopt this policy for new businesses setting up in the community. French-language signs for these businesses and industries will be financed in part or in full by the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick.

This is good news for Jonalyn Dimla, owner of Jollimart, an Asian grocery store that opened barely a year ago.

In this town, Richibucto and Rexton, the majority [of residents] speak French. So it's important to translate into French," she says.

Roberto Hindang, an employee at the Filipino restaurant Wow Fried Chicken, also welcomes the opportunity.

Here in Richibucto, many seniors speak only French. This will allow us to introduce them to our products," he adds.

Citizens more or less concerned

The issue remains shared within the community, but without arousing strong opposition. French signage, as requested by the municipality of Beaurivage, is supported by many citizens. For others, the issue is secondary.

It's important to accommodate both linguistic communities. That's equal," says Hermel Volpé. I think it's good. We're all bilingual here. It's important to keep our French and English languages as well," adds Alicia Gallant.

There are people for whom it's really important to have signs in French, but not for me," points out Clarence Allain.

Beaurivage's language policy will be put to a vote by councillors at the end of the year or in the first few weeks of 2025.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca