“Why bilingual? Why not?”

Abstract

This report examines the social history of French immersion in New Brunswick. It uses statistical evidence from the provincial Department of Education as a complement to oral interviews to describe the birth and growth of immersion programming in Canada’s only bilingual province. Provincial education for French immersion is situated within the broader scope of emerging national and provincial bilingualism and bilingual identity. It also considers the regional perspective. The growing immersion program was a times in conflict with the spirit of Louis J. Robichaud-era policies such as the Program for Equal Opportunity. It also speaks to the growth and evolution of institutional and personal bilingualism in the province.