In decades past, Vancouver’s French-speaking community lived and did business in the neighborhood around Heather Street and West 16th Avenue. Some institutions remain, including a bilingual school and a grocery with a French name. However, much of the francophone action has shifted to West 7th Avenue, just west of Granville Street. The focal point is the Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver
(‘55’ West 7th Avenue, Central Vancouver, 604-736-9806). Apart from working on behalf of French-speaking Canadians (and others) who’ve gravitated to the coast, the center organizes events such as the annual, week-long Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver in late June — a series of music events around the city and a beer garden, with music, that closes this single block of West 7th to regu¬lar traffic. It’s a lively affair, and everyone is welcome. In the same complex is the Théâtre la Seizième and Café Salade de Fruits (see “Bistros”).
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