Drummondville Mayoral Candidates Urged to Address French Language Role as Election nears
With the municipal election just two weeks away, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Center-du-Québec is calling on Drummondville’s mayoral candidates to articulate their commitment to the French language and its vital role in the city’s identity. While recent debates hosted by the Corporation de développement communautaire de Drummond and the chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Drummond have focused on issues like housing and the economy, the importance of French language promotion has received insufficient attention, according to the organization.
Drummondville has already garnered provincial recognition for its efforts to promote French, highlighted in the Ministère de la Langue française’s latest annual report. This success is built on local initiatives that demonstrate the language’s power as a tool for inclusion, pride, and collective dynamism-a foundation the next mayor must commit to strengthening.
Examples of these initiatives include the Déclaration drummondvilloise sur le vivre-ensemble, which positions French as central to social cohesion. The city also features francophone music on the Rivia promenade during the holidays and at public skating rinks, and distributes “J’apprends le français, parlez lentement.Merci!” macarons to newcomers through a partnership between the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Drummond and the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Centre-du-québec. The municipal library further contributes with a rich cultural program celebrating the French language.
Dominic Martin, Directeur général of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Centre-du-québec, emphasizes the need for candidates to clearly state their plans for continuing and expanding these efforts. “It would be captivating to hear the candidates… on this question of the French language. Do they intend to pursue and strengthen the efforts deployed to make our national language shine?” he stated.
The municipal election is scheduled for November 2nd.
