Language Continuities and Ruptures in Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada

Abstract

Ottawa-Gatineau is among the most important locations of French-English language interaction in Canada. In this metropolitan region, both linguistic groups flourish but language also divides space. Ottawa is the larger of the two cities, is dominated by English speakers, and historically has received the lion’s share of international migrants. In contrast, Gatineau is about one-third the size of Ottawa, and French speakers are the numerical and social majority. In recent decades, the region’s language landscape has seen significant changes brought about by immigration from non-European countries. Between 1991 and 2011, the proportion of the population whose mother tongue is neither English nor French increased from 10.2% to 16.6%, and the language composition of many neighborhoods became much more diverse, especially in suburban Ottawa and areas around the central core of Gatineau. This paper focuses on the changes that have occurred in the distribution of three linguistic communities (French, English, and non-official) over time, as well as in the probability of encounter between groups. Findings suggest relative stability between the two official language communities, even as the region experienced important social and economic changes. However, there have been significant changes in probability of encounter between the two official language communities and individuals whose first language is neither French nor English. The implications of this period of burgeoning linguistic diversity in a metropolitan region that for most of its history has defined itself largely around two linguistic and cultural communities rounds out the discussion.