History and Past Presidents

The Carrefour 50+ of British Columbia had a tumultuous start breaking onto the French speaking minority scene in the province. Below is a brief overview of our history and moments that defined our organization.

After a visit in 1995 by a representative of l’Assemblée des aînés et aînées francophones du Canada (AAFC), proactive seniors in our community chose to start a corresponding provincial network. These members held informal meetings until October of 2001, when a survey of British Columbia’s senior population began to identify some needs that weren’t being met. The unanimous decision was that francophone seniors in British Columbia did indeed need a representative structure in place!

Fast forward to March 23, 2002 in Victoria BC. After a long debate process, the name of the first representative structure was finally decided, now to be known as l’Assemblée Francophone des retraités et aînés de la Colombie-Britannique (AFRACB). L’AFRACB was officially incorporated on May 26, 2003. Not only did the official name give way to the acronym AFRACB, but it also solidified the collective desire to work together for the well-being of Francophones aged 50+. L’AFRACB’s mission was to promote seniors rights, protect their assets, and accompany them as they grow older. Furthermore, the organization wanted to bridge the gap and act as an intergenerational body to promote the continued development of French language and culture in the province.

Unfulfilled Hopes

In its first year of existence, l’AFRACB was extremely successful in growing and recruiting members, while also working tirelessly to find funding. On July 5, 2004 l'AFRACB held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Victoria, BC. To the dismay of the founding members and pioneers, many funding avenues were rejected, and enthusiasm was at a low point. In spite of all the effort put into the association, l’AFRACB was stretched too thin. In 2006 a pause was announced, as lack of operating funds meant adequate resource personnel couldn’t be hired and a two year pause began, ceasing activities and meetings.

Regardless of all the obstacles at play, the dream of l’AFRACB persisted. The will and desire for the organization remained. A temporary board of directors was formed and negotiations with government authorities began. During an extraordinary General Assembly in Victoria on December 9 in 2009, the AFRACB was successfully saved. Our saviors successfully ratified the establishment of a new Board of Directors, and began a new era for the association.

A Second Chance

The AFRACB was riding its second wind, building a new and improved identity, increasing its visibility within the province. This notion inspired our first logo, a bird in flight, symbolizing growth and the deep desire to gather the scattered Francophone community from across our vast territory.

Since 2013, l’AFRACB has received grants to carry out many diverse projects. The association can count on an executive director, and is located on Yates Street in Victoria, BC. Most recently, the association has moved to the Francophone Society of Victoria’s offices, in the fall of 2019.

Since 2014, l’AFRACB has received federal funding to organize different projects such as theatrical plays and performances, conferences, intergenerational projects, audio and video projects, workshops, and more. Following excellent results and a cementing of l’AFRACB within the community, the association received funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage for the first time in the fiscal year 2016-17, to fund events and programming. This funding was monumental to the success and legitimacy of the organization, demonstrating its tenacity, importance, accomplishments, and overall ability to exceed the needs of Francophone seniors in British Columbia.

The Inevitable Renewal

In 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic that would last several years, the AFRACB made a clear observation: the world had changed, and technology was so entrenched in our lives. The organization had to change to remain relevant to our target audience and its associative partners. A strategic reflection plan began, which yielded a deep desire to develop and offer relevant resources, advocacy, and an all encompassing need to improve the promotion of people’s rights aged 50+. 

In addition to ageism which is taking center stage in the public sphere, people aged 50 and up need an organization that can represent them in front of various governments and also int the media, where pertinence is placed in issues that disproportionately affect senior citizens.  On May 28, 2022, l'AFRACB changed its name to Carrefour 50+ CB and adopted a new mission: "To gather, representm, and mobilize our diverse population of Francophones and Francophiles aged 50 and up in BC, by offering services that meet and exceed their demands".