The French Calgary directory

ACFA régionale de Calgary

Mission / Cliff Bungalow (SW)

Regional branch of the ACFA, the provincial association of Alberta's French speakers, serving Calgary since 1983 from the Maison Rouleau. Programs listed on its site include membership privileges (shared with Alliance Française de Calgary), the Bénévolat Bilingue Calgary volunteer program, PassepART and Vice Versa micro-grants, and community events such as the Franco Winter Fest.

ACFA (Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta) — provincial office

Edmonton (provincial office)

Provincial spokesperson for Alberta's Francophonie, advocating with governments and coordinating 12 regional offices, including Calgary. Headquartered at La Cité francophone in Edmonton.

La Cité des Rocheuses

Lincoln Park / Mount Royal University area (SW)

Calgary's francophone community and cultural centre, with a theatre, the Café Théâtre restaurant, French language courses (Accès Clic), newcomer settlement services (Portail Connexions) and room rentals. Hosts films, concerts and festivals in French.

Francophonie jeunesse de l'Alberta (FJA)

Edmonton (provincial)

Non-profit founded in 1972 that acts as the voice of Franco-Albertan youth aged 14 to 25, run 'by and for' young people, with events across the province.

Fédération des aînés franco-albertains (FAFA)

Edmonton (provincial)

Official voice of Alberta's roughly 36,000 French-speaking seniors and young retirees ('la voix des francophones 50+'), working through 11+ regional affiliated seniors' groups.

La Fondation franco-albertaine

Edmonton (provincial)

Community foundation for Alberta's Francophonie that manages endowment funds and awards scholarships and financial aid to francophone individuals, schools and organizations. The Alliance Française de Calgary lists it as a partner with a fund created in 2024 for French-language social and cultural life in Calgary.

Calgary French Rendez-vous (Meetup group)

Informal Meetup group for French speakers and learners of all ages and levels, with 2,382 members and a public listing of upcoming and past in-person social events.

Alliance Française of Calgary

Marda Loop / South Calgary (SW)

Non-profit French school and cultural centre based at cSPACE Marda Loop. Offers adult and youth French classes, official exams (TEF Canada, TCF Canada, DELF/DALF), a French library of over 8,500 items, and a calendar of cultural and social events in French.

Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

Deerfoot Business Centre (NE)

French-language public and Catholic school board for southern Alberta, headquartered in Calgary. Its site reports 19 schools (15 public, 4 Catholic), about 4,400 students, 58 municipalities served and 12 affiliated prekindergartens for ages 3 to 5. Admission is based on Section 23 rights-holder status, with case-by-case admission of other families.

Lycée international de Calgary

Altadore / Garrison Woods (SW)

Independent French-language school in Altadore offering a dual French/Alberta curriculum from full-day preschool (ages 3–4) to Grade 12, including the French Baccalauréat. Founded in 1966; accredited by the Government of Alberta, the French Ministry of National Education, AEFE and CAIS.

Calgary French & International School (CFIS)

West Springs / Aspen Woods (SW)

Private bilingual school offering an immersive French-language program from Junior Preschool to Grade 12 (over 850 students), with IB programmes.

Calgary Board of Education — French programs (French Immersion)

The public school board offers Early French Immersion (K–12, starting in Kindergarten or Grade 1), Late French Immersion (Grades 7–12, no prior French required) and Intensive French (Grade 6). Alberta curriculum delivered with French as the primary language of instruction in the early years.

Calgary Catholic School District — French Immersion

Catholic public school district offering Early French Immersion (Kindergarten or Grade 1), Late French Immersion (from Grade 7) and Extended French in high school (up to three courses per year in French; Certificate of Completion with FLA 30). Alberta Education curriculum with French as the medium of instruction.

University of Calgary — French Centre (Le Centre français)

University of Calgary (NW)

Faculty of Arts centre promoting French language and Francophone cultures on campus for over 40 years: a drop-in centre for French speakers and learners, immersion weekends, the French Language Instruction Program (credit courses taught in French), a Québec study bursary and public events.

Mount Royal University — French Minor

Lincoln Park (SW)

Mount Royal University's Department of English, Languages, and Cultures lists a French Minor; the academic calendar describes it as a minor that complements majors such as Business and Communication, with additional 1000/2000-level FREN courses for students without French Language Arts 30.

Campus Saint-Jean (University of Alberta)

Edmonton (main campus); Calgary satellite campus mentioned

French-language post-secondary campus of the University of Alberta in Edmonton (Faculté Saint-Jean, Centre collégial de l'Alberta, École de langues), offering college, undergraduate and graduate programs and language learning. Its site mentions a Calgary satellite campus.

Canadian Parents for French — Alberta & NWT Branch

National volunteer organization promoting bilingualism and French-learning opportunities for youth; the Alliance Française de Calgary lists it among its institutional partners.

Centre d'appui familial (Family Activities & Support Calgary & Southern Alberta)

Sunalta (SW)

French-language family resource centre (since April 2020) for French-speaking, French-friendly and exogamous families, offering parenting support, child development and early-intervention programs for ages 0–18, a library, workshops, play groups, after-school and summer programs. Locations in Calgary, Lethbridge and Canmore.

Fédération des parents francophones de l'Alberta (FPFA)

Edmonton (provincial)

Provincial organization supporting French-speaking parents with early childhood resources, school council support, parent workshops and a newsletter; linked to Horizon, a French-language daycare management organization.

Portail Connexions (SÉBAA) — La Cité des Rocheuses

Calgary (in person) / Alberta (online)

Free, IRCC-funded needs-assessment and referral service for eligible newcomers, administered by La Cité des Rocheuses and designated as the centralized entry point for French-speaking newcomers in the Calgary region. Offered in person in Calgary, online across Alberta, or self-directed.

Portail de l'Immigrant Association (PIA)

Downtown (SW)

Francophone settlement and community organization in downtown Calgary. Programs listed: women's program, Maison des jeunes francophones (after-school youth program), HIPPY, community connections, short-term counselling, case management, intercultural mentoring and the Franco Festival Calgary.

CANAF — Centre d'Accueil des Nouveaux Arrivants Francophones

Downtown (SW)

Settlement agency supporting French-speaking newcomers in Calgary with settlement, integration and employment services (Centre d'emploi CANAF, job board), and lead organization for the Communauté francophone accueillante de Calgary (CFA) pilot.

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) — Francophone Newcomer Services

Beltline (SW)

CCIS offers settlement services with specialized support in French for Francophone newcomers, addressing language and cultural needs during integration.

Réseau en immigration francophone de l'Alberta (RIFA)

Provincial network bringing together Alberta's francophone organizations to help French-speaking newcomers settle, integrate and stay in the province. Its site notes Calgary was selected as Alberta's Communauté francophone accueillante (CFA).

Réseau santé Alberta (RSA)

Downtown (SW)

Provincial network working for over 20 years to improve access to French-language health care in Alberta. Publishes a directory of French-speaking health professionals (with interactive map) and provincial information on health services (811, care options, mental wellness, health insurance). Has a Calgary office (Bureau Sud).

Health Link 811 (Primary Care Alberta / Alberta Health Services)

Free 24/7 provincial health advice line (dial 811) staffed by registered nurses. The official page has a 'Help in other languages' section pointing to translation and interpretation services in Alberta's health system; AHS also publishes French-language health information.

Calgary Public Library — French collection, Newcomers Desk and French conversation

East Village / Downtown (SE)

Free membership for Calgary residents. The library holds a français World Language Collection, runs a Newcomers Desk at the Central Library (room 3-19B) where La Cité des Rocheuses offers settlement information for French speakers on Thursdays 9:00–16:30, and offers a 'French Conversation Practice' program for beginner-to-intermediate learners supported by La Cité des Rocheuses and Campus Saint-Jean.

Francophone Secretariat (Government of Alberta)

Edmonton (provincial)

Provincial government body that liaises with Alberta's Francophonie and coordinates implementation of the French Policy. Alberta.ca also publishes a French services overview and a searchable list of French-language services and resources.

Service Canada

Federal single point of access to Government of Canada services and benefits (Social Insurance Number, EI, CPP, passports), available in both official languages online, by phone and in Service Canada Centres.

Centre albertain d'information juridique (AJEFA) — Calgary

Downtown (SW)

Free, confidential legal information service run by the AJEFA to help people understand their rights and Alberta's legal system, in French or English, in person or remotely. The Calgary office is hosted at CANAF and operates by appointment.

Café Théâtre (La Cité des Rocheuses)

Lincoln Park (SW)

French restaurant and live-performance venue located inside La Cité des Rocheuses; listed by the Alliance Française de Calgary as a business partner offering members 10% off.

Parallèle Alberta (formerly CDÉA)

Beltline / Victoria Park (SE)

Francophone economic development organization for Alberta with free services in French across three pillars: entrepreneurship (coaching, mentoring, Rendez-vous d'affaires, Elles des Affaires), employability (job placement, job board, newcomer labour-market inclusion) and community economic development. Has a Calgary office.

Le Franco

Edmonton (provincial)

Alberta's only French-language newspaper, founded in 1928, covering francophone news across the province with sections including Calgary, Edmonton, education, health, arts and culture.

Radio-Canada Alberta (ICI Alberta)

Radio-Canada's regional French-language news service for Alberta: news articles, weather, regional video and radio segments, the Alberta newsletter, 'Le téléjournal Alberta' and the 'Bulletin régional Alberta' on ICI Première.

Regroupement artistique francophone de l'Alberta (RAFA)

Provincial francophone arts service organization publishing the 'Coup d'œil' arts news feed, an artist directory, an organization directory, professional development services and a weekly newsletter. Organizes the Supermarché de l'art in Calgary.

Fédération du sport francophone de l'Alberta (FSFA)

Edmonton (provincial)

Provincial non-profit whose mission is to promote French through sport; programs include the Jeux francophones de l'Alberta, #ElleBouge and EN ACTION wellness initiatives.

Paroisse Sainte-Famille (French Catholic parish)

Founded in 1928, the only French-speaking Catholic parish in Calgary. Masses in French: Tuesday 18:00; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 09:00; Saturday 17:00; Sunday 10:30 (also streamed on the parish Facebook page). Groups include the Club de l'Amitié (seniors), Réseau femmes, Knights of Columbus Conseil Dandurand 7212 and two choirs.