Memramcook is launching two new initiatives it hopes will help protect its cultural heritage and the French language.
During a meeting last week, councilors passed a new policy declaring French as the village’s official language.
Mayor Maxime Bourgeois said it also confirms that French is the main language within the municipal organization.
“For example, all of our meetings are conducted in French, which was already happening, but this just confirms it,” Bourgeois said in an interview.
“But we also confirmed how it would work if somebody wants to address council in English, for example, so it’s more of a clarification of the steps to undertake.”
The policy also said the village should aim to have contracted services delivered in French.
Bourgeois said the municipality will still offer services in English, just like it always has.
In addition to the policy, council passed the first reading of a new bylaw requiring all new commercial signs to be in French first.
“If you drive through Memramcook, sometimes you’re wondering if you’re in a francophone community or not because a lot of people only use signs in English,” said Bourgeois.
“It’s important to make a statement that we’re very proud of who we are as a francophone community and we hope that by giving ourselves the tools to celebrate our identity and our language, people that are coming here will do the same.”
The bylaw still needs to go through two more readings at council and members of the public will have the chance to have their say.
Bourgeois said they have received a lot of positive feedback from people across the province about these two initiatives.
“I do sincerely hope that nobody believes that they’re not welcome in our community because of that. We just really want everybody to embrace that characteristic of who we are as a community.”