Language Matters: How Canadian Voluntary Associations Manage French and English

by David R. Cameron (Editor), Richard Simeon (Editor)

In the 1960s, a study for the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism Commission revealed that Canadian associations were often paralyzed by internal conflicts over language. Language Matters examines whether this remains the case.The contributors present case studies or life histories of diverse associations, from business organizations to groups concerned with social justice. They examine key turning points in the given association’s history and explore how its mandate, leadership, relationship to the federal and provincial governments, and shifting options in the political arena shaped its response to linguistic diversity. Language Matters provides a deeper understanding of the language dynamic in Canada and offers solutions to groups and governments trying to manage difference.

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009