Vancouver 2010: Closing Ceremony Will Have More French Content

Since Canada is officially bilingual and French is also one of the official languishes of the Olympics along with English and the host countries languish.

I do agree with Charest and Ignatieff for once. And that is very rare.

Further the First Nations should have been given a much larger part in the Olympics, especially with B.C. having still such an important First Nation (Amerindian) active and striving community.

Goo0d report.  Thanks.

Let's see, about 27% of Canadians are French and live in Quebec for the most part.  In Quebec they have Bill 101 which does not permit posting of English signs. 

The Opening ceremonies started its announcements with French followed by English as would be the case in any  other country.  Ignatieff and Charest are trying to make political points in Quebec (for Igantieff there could be an elections at stake).  He who wins Quebec normally forms the government in Canada.  What a prize if you can take Ontario and Quebec.  

Here is the Ethnic picture in Canada

One could complain that with some combined total of 7 million Scots and Irish there should have been more content for them too.

This Olympics is Vancouver's and British Columbia's and should have highlighted that province.  Quebec had its day in the sun during Montreal 76.

I think Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies did a great job of highlighting its Amerindian heritage.  You could argue that they should have had a lot more mandarin Chinese and cantonese Chinese content since they have such a large population.  How about East Indian?  

Politicians should stay out of this and concentrate on the problems of the country and not fuel it with Language Police.  They can start by declaring Bill 101 in La Belle Province illegal.

Je me souviens

Thanks Rhonda, this is a great post and it's good to highlight some of the flaws that exist within our Federal system.  This political posturing by Ignatieff and Charest do nothing for national unity though.  I respect the Language Commissioner's observations and that is his job. 

the french and aboriginals are celebrated along with the olympics in vancouver...the first nations have been an intregal part of the planning as well as at the events.....french is used in the venues ie sports, announcements are made in both languages...the french culture was celebrated along with the other parts of canadian culture....politicians need to resist trying to make political points from this event...lets be positive, celebrate this wonderful event as well as the superb athletes

Coming from an American who lives on a Canadian boarder and almost married an English Canadian living in Montreal, the only people I ever came across who insisted on speaking French were those living in Quebec. Ontario has very little need for French, eh! :) I don't think anyone who has been on top of this Olympics is going to care about who speaks what language, its going to be about how bad the weather has been. Oh and lets not forget the picture of the snowboarder who has now been thrown out because of his lack of disrespect for the games. I could care less, in fact, could some one request that they say tell this entire story in French so no one here in the states knows what their are talking about, we already have enough problems.Thanks kcmanners

As a Canadian expat watching the ceremonies from New York, I was appalled at how badly they represented Canada and how mediocre they were, period. Then I found out the director/producer, David Atkins, was Australian. What is wrong with Canadians that they would allow this huge job to go to someone who isn't Canadian?!!!! That is the very sort of thing that made me leave Canada, and not want to come back. There is tons of directing/producing talent right in Canada. That job should have gone to someone Canadian. Canadian's need to start fostering and encouraging their talent - (and I mean ALL of it, not just the select few who get their foot in the door somehow and are then bestowed with every opportunity henceforth.) It's so ironic that Canadian's favourite pastime is bashing Americans ( which only reveals a deep insecurity - that shouldn't even exist!) and then they go and hire someone from outside of Canada to produce the biggest, most important show in years - one that is meant to show the world what it is to be Canadian. Unbelievable. You all deserve the mediocrity you get. And furthermore - yes, it IS an outrage that the French were underrepresented. Stop being such bigoted idiots. The French are a huge part of Canada and what being Canadian means, whether you like it or not. If anything, it makes Canada special. It is disgusting that they weren't represented properly, but then the whole thing stunk anyway (except for the prairie part.) Pathetic. Just pathetic. (PS. I'm English Canadian.)

French should not be official in Canadian language. What a bore it is listening to the Frogs whine about EVERYTHING. Screw them.

im sick of french people always complaining, this is a worldwide event, we want to promote canada, british columbia, and vancouver. Who cares if some french people in quebec are unhappy, most of the world doesnt speak french. I typed this on a cellphone, sorry for the bad grammer.

like usual!!!

Yup, French are whiners, always will be.  Quebec feels like a foreign place, seems like it always will (I lived in Quebec, Ontario, BC and Alberta by the way).  Aboriginals, are you kidding, I avoid them on the streets cause they are usually drunk and obnoxious.  They do not identify with Canada and I do not acknowledge them.  I just don;t get why we keep dignifying them. But I guess you need to talk to liberals about how they somehow contribute in some way. Oh right, this is about the Olympics.  Hmm, would like to see Celine, Shania, Avril, and many other in the closing ceremony.  Yes, I know Celine is French "Canadian", but hey, as long as we are selling the french thing it makes sense.       

I AM SO SICK OF THESE IGNORANT FRENCH WHINERS.MOST OF THEM WANT TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THEN WHINE ABOUT THE OLYMPICS.YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.IF YOU FROGS DON'T LIKE IT..DON'T WATCH. NO ONE ELSE CARES

I am ashamed by your racist comments about French speakers. I am a proud English speaking Canadian and not a racist bigot like most of you. I love  the Belle Province and reading your comments one has to understand why they react the way they do sometimes. Jeezz I would want to separate too if I had to live with a bunch of racist Canadians too. The English didn't kick the French out? What is your problem for god's sake. Shame shame shame, I thought Canada was about tolerance and diversity. And yes, given that they even translated a French poem in English for Sutterland to read, they should give more space to French... ! I am ashamed to be an English speaking Canadian after reading your racist rants. 

I found the ceremonies to be a bit boring, especially the beginning.  They should be speaking English first, then French....this is not Quebec. It seemed as though it was not organized with the Native people, just bouncin around for the first while..boring to me.  Seen much better before, too bad.   L