Language group pushes for more bilingual business signs in Moncton

A group promoting bilingual signs on businesses in New Brunswick is asking Moncton city officials to take steps to include both official languages on more signs.

The New Brunswick Council on French Language Planning is offering Moncton a variety of ways the city could boost the number of bilingual signs, after a recent study showed insufficient bilingual signage.

Gérard Snow and Annette Boudreau, professors at the University of Moncton, are with the planning group.

Snow said it has been seven years since Moncton proclaimed itself the first officially bilingual city in Canada, but francophones don't see much evidence of that when they drive through the southeastern New Brunswick city.

"It's not just because you've proclaimed yourself bilingual that it becomes bilingual. You have to do something about it, you have to take measures," Snow said.

8 of 10 Moncton signs in English only: study

A year ago, the planning group did a study that showed eight out of 10 signs in Moncton are in English only.

Snow said that without leadership from city council, the situation won't change. Now the group is asking Moncton councillors for help.

Boudreau said Moncton could emulate its neighbouring city of Dieppe and send volunteers to meet with store owners to discuss the importance of adding both languages to signs.

Although the professors are pointing to Dieppe as a role model in how to encourage more bilingual signs, one resident in that city has not been satisfied with its approach.

Earlier this year, Martin Leblanc-Rioux presented a petition with about 4,000 names, requesting that Dieppe pass a bylaw mandating that local businesses post signs in both official languages.