There are many cultural groups that have settled in the greater Vancouver area. The most prominent are European, Chinese, and south Asian, with many other smaller groups completing the constellation that makes up the culture of Vancouver that we know today.

Although it is obvious that the greater Vancouver area is a multi-cultural place, many people don’t know that there is actually an area in this region that is home to the largest francophone centre west of Manitoba!

When you think of Vancouver you just don’t really associate it with being French. Compared to eastern Canada, there is a negligible number of French speakers who live here.

Nevertheless, the small French community of Maillardville in Coquitlam has thrived since it’s founding in 1889.

This neighbourhood situated on the south slope of Coquitlam started as a lumber mill opened by Frank Ross and James McLaren. The town was named after Father Edmond Maillard, a French oblate.

The town was quite small, with about two dozen homes, a post office, and a general store. But in 1909, Frank and James decided to hire 110 French-Canadian workers for the mill, and some 40 French families settled in Maillardville.

Also during the early 1900’s, many Punjabi immigrants settled in the area for farming, and a sikh temple was constructed in the town.

Today, Maillardville keeps it’s French tradition alive with the numerous schools in Coquitlam that have French immersion programs; the Société francophone de Maillardville, which “Provides Francophones and Francophiles in the area with various resources and practical services”; the place des arts cultural centre which hosts classes and events of all sorts, and the festival du bois which is an annual event that takes place during the spring to celebrate French Canadian history, arts, and culture.

By the way, did you know that Lucille Starr, an inductee of the Canadian country music hall of fame actually began her career in maillardville? She started there with her band Les Hirondelles.

Now that you know about the history of this small French-Canadian settlement, you can one-up your friends next time you have a trivia night.