The Franco-Albertans are an extended community of French Canadians or French-speaking people living in Alberta. They are centred in the Bonnie Doon area of Edmonton, and there are tens of thousands of Franco-Albertans living in communities such as Legal north of Edmonton, Bonnyville, Plamondon, and St. Paul in the northeastern part of the province, northwest areas such as the hamlet of St. Isidore, Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130-including the towns of Falher, Donnelly, McLennan and Girouxville and north central Alberta. Immigration from Quebec to Alberta in the 1970s and again in the 21st century has also increased the francophone population of the province, especially in the cities of Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
L’Unithéâtre in Edmonton and the Société de Théâtre serve a French-speaking audience, and a number of folk dancing troupes tour the province. The Centre d’arts visuels de l’Alberta provides a venue for francophone artists and craftsmen, and the annual Franco-Alberta Festival showcases French language and culture.
The first notable Franco-Albertan, in many regards, was Father Albert Lacombe.
[edit] Other notable Franco-Albertans
- Chris Benoit - Professional wrestler. Born to a French-Canadian family in Montréal, but raised in Edmonton, and wrestled out of Calgary.
- Jean Léon Côté - Franco-Albertan politician.
- Denis Ducharme - Franco-Albertan politician.
- Wilfrid Gariépy - founding Franco-Albertan/Canadian politician.
- Robert Goulet - American entertainer of French-Canadian parentage and Franco-Albertan residency. Migrated with his French-Canadian family from Massachusetts to northern Alberta when he was three months old. Was rumoured to be seeking Canadian citizenship, but died in 2007 before any action could be taken.
- Hector Goudreau - Alberta Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture (2006–present).
- Prosper-Edmond Lessard - Alberta’s first French-speaking cabinet minister and Senator.
- Les Bûcherons, a duo which presents French-Canadian music and dance to audiences throughout the province.
- Benoit Pariseau - Author and broadcaster. He is also a distant cousin of former Québec premier Jacques Pariseau.
- Leo Piquette - Alberta politician, francophone minority right advocate.
- Crystal Plamondon - Franco-Alberta singer and songwriter.
- Edouard Hector Rouleau - Medical doctor, Conservative Politician, pioneer of Calgary.
- Claudette Tardif - francophone Canadian Senator for Alberta, of Russian descent.
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