In 2014, an eagerly anticipated and significant event took place—the first-ever visit of a French President to Western Canada. CalgaryYes revisits the details of this historic occasion.
A Historic Event
Before 2014, no French President had ever made an official visit to Western Canada. François Hollande became the first, marking a significant moment in Canadian-French relations.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed President Hollande in Alberta’s Banff National Park, offering a tour of the scenic location. Harper also acknowledged the deaths of two Canadian soldiers in recent terrorist attacks, one in Ottawa and another in Montreal. President Hollande extended his condolences to the victims’ families and expressed France’s solidarity and friendship during these challenging times.
The visit began in Calgary, followed by a 90-minute drive to the park. In addition to discussing critical issues, Harper introduced Hollande to landmarks like the terrace overlooking Mount Rundle and Tunnel Mountain. Hollande inspected the Canadian Armed Forces’ honour guard of 100 soldiers while the military band performed “O Canada” and “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem.
The leaders attended a state dinner hosted by Governor General David Johnston. President Hollande was accompanied by cabinet ministers and a large business and academic delegation.
A Warm and Productive Three-Day Visit
During the three-day visit, Prime Minister Harper and President Hollande discussed several key topics:
- Deepening Canada-France Relations: The leaders reaffirmed the longstanding ties between the two nations and explored ways to enhance cooperation.
- Economic and Trade Opportunities: They discussed the state of the global economy and emphasized the benefits of the Canada-European Union trade agreement.
- International Security: Discussions included the Ukraine crisis (2014), the threat posed by ISIS, and the Ebola outbreak.
- Joint Economic Action Plan: They announced an update to the Canada-France Joint Economic Action Plan for 2014–2015, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations.
President Hollande’s visit included stops in Calgary, Banff, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Montreal. His visit to Western Canada underscored France’s strong interest in building closer ties with Canada.
Why Was This Visit Significant?
France is Canada’s eighth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $8.5 billion in 2013.
At the time, Federal Minister of Employment Jason Kenney highlighted the strategic importance of Hollande’s visit to Alberta, noting that Europeans viewed the province as the engine of Canada’s economy due to significant French investments in the region.
The visit was memorable not only for its diplomatic importance but also because it marked the first official visit by a French President to Canada since François Mitterrand in 1987. While Nicolas Sarkozy attended the 2008 EU-Canada Summit, this was not considered an official bilateral visit.
President Hollande described Canada as “a great friend,” emphasizing the shared history, culture, language, and values that unite the two nations. He particularly praised Canada’s commitment to bilingualism, stating:
“Canada is committed to bilingualism. We share the sensitivity and elegance that come whenever we express ourselves in French. Speaking two languages is a skill, as you demonstrate here in Canada.”
