Manager of Research, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada
December 2025
(The views expressed here are those of the researcher, and do not necessarily reflect those of his employer.)
Tell me how you came to work in the field of Canada’s official languages.
I've long had an interest in Anglophone-Francophone relations in Canada. I am an Anglophone and a child of the French immersion programs, where we were taught both the language and culture, and that having two official languages is something special that sets Canada apart. What particularly piqued my interest was the 1995 Quebec referendum. I was in Grade 8 over in Saskatchewan and perplexed by the situation. On one hand, I was learning French and being taught how exciting bilingualism was; on the other, I was watching the news and thinking, “What is going on here? There clearly seems to be a history behind this.”
Since then, I’ve been interested in Canadian history, and specifically in the relationships between different groups such as English and French speakers and Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. When we look at history, it's important to understand context: why relations have sometimes been difficult, and why they have broken down, yet Canada still exists. My interest in the bridge-builders—the people who have tried to improve relations and understand the other side—is what brought me to work in the field of official languages.
What does your role as Manager of Research at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) involve?
OCOL’s research work includes four main elements: research projects, research requests, research liaison, and policy support (developing or supporting the development of policy positions). Our team recently added a “strategic orientation” function where we look at the organization’s long-term plan, examine what the Commissioner wants to accomplish, and determine how to best achieve this.
How do research questions emerge in your team?
Ultimately, research projects are the Commissioner’s decision, and all research published by the Office must align with the Commissioner’s priorities and strategic vision.
To make recommendations to the Commissioner on potential research topics, we monitor research on official languages across government and academia, which is why networking and staying connected to the research community is essential—when issues emerge, the first time you hear about them is often at a conference. We also consult colleagues internally on research needs and try to maintain contact with researchers outside our organization about priorities and opportunities. In addition, we monitor various issues that impact official language minority communities and the promotion of official languages across Canadian society.
What are one or two topics that you are currently working on?
This year, we will be undertaking the third iteration of our broad public‑opinion survey on official languages, which we conduct every five years.
A topic that interests me personally is the question of exogamy or “mixed families,” where there is one English-speaking and one French-speaking parent. The proportion of children in exogamous families is increasing among official language minority communities in Canada, and it is very high for English‑speaking families in Quebec and French‑speaking families outside of Quebec. I’m curious about the dynamics in these families and the impact when the majority‑language parent is bilingual.
From your research, what are some of the characteristics that you’ve found make English-speaking Quebec distinct from other official language minority communities (OLMCs) in Canada?
The contexts and needs of the linguistic minority communities differ, yet many concerns overlap, such as access to services. However, while Francophone minority communities might focus on maintaining their language en soi and having opportunities to use it, my perception is that the English-speaking community of Quebec is strongly concerned with feeling at home—chez soi—and with how the community is perceived. There is a need to feel respected and recognized as a community, as constructive contributors to Quebec society, and as allies to official languages, including French, across Canada.
Another distinguishing element is its depth of diversity. It is the most diverse official language group in Canada, whether in terms of religion, visible minority status, newcomer populations, or mother tongues. Francophone minority communities are also diverse, but English-speaking Quebec is exceptionally so, even compared with the rest of English Canada.
What are some myths about English-speaking Quebecers, and how do we address them?
There are some challenging myths that persist about the community, which we explored in our 2024 Building Bridges research study. The socioeconomic myth continues, but seems to be softening. However, the biggest myth is that the community isn’t as bilingual and invested in French and in French-language culture as it really is.
In terms of inviting people to reconsider myths, raising awareness is key. You need examples: people out there in the public forum—Anglophones speaking in French on Tout le monde en parle, talking about French-language and Quebec culture. You also need to be able to have good anecdotes to relate to, and data to back that up. The most important—and most challenging—way is by building meaningful connections between English and French speakers. That’s how myths are broken down: when people meet in shared spaces and connect not just as linguistic groups but over shared interests and passions.
In practical terms, how can research on Canada’s OLMCs inform measures that support their vitality?
A good example is the Action Plan on Official Languages, led by Canadian Heritage, which includes initiatives to promote official languages and to support the vitality of OLMCs. The measures recommended in this plan can be informed by research. Analyses of census and postcensal survey data are also critical for policymakers to help ascertain community needs at a granular level, which then be followed by more targeted research, and which hopefully informs or supports programs in turn.
I like to think our Building Bridges study helped nudge the conversation along by showing, “this is what the English-speaking minority community in Quebec really is, this is how it’s perceived, and this is what needs to change.” Those perceptions and the narratives around the community have a real impact on its vitality—on whether people feel welcome, choose to stay, and how they engage in public life.
