Ottawa’s French Canadian Institute/ L’Institut canadien-français d’Ottawa
By Nancy Miller Chenier
On the side wall of 316 Dalhousie Street, a plaque installed in 2005 commemorates the city’s early Francophone community and institutions. Located on the upper level, the Institut canadien-francais d’Ottawa continues as the oldest French-language organization in Ottawa and in Ontario. It was founded in 1852 by Joseph-Balsora Turgeon, who in 1853 became Bytown’s first francophone mayor.
Over the years, the Institute has encouraged artistic, literary, and cultural endeavours including music, theatre, poetry, history and sciences. The number of members dropped after urban renewal dramatically reduced the francophone population in Lowertown. Despite calls for membership to be open to women, requirements continue to call for applicants to be adult males, French speakers and Catholics of good character.