The Union des Français de l'Etranger (''French Foreign Union''), or UFE, is a French organization with branches in more than 100 countries around the world in major world cities including

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

where there is a significant French or

Francophone The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...

population. It was founded in 1927 and is the oldest association representing French expatriates and is recognised as a public utility.

Canadian branch

One of the biggest branches of Union des Français de l'étranger was founded in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

in 1983 by Jean-Luc Malherbe and Josette Villavaryan-Bardon. It aims to defend the interests of French citizens who live in the region of the national capital of Canada, the Ontario agglomeration of

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

and the

Gatineau Gatineau ( ; ) is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the northern bank of the Ottawa River, directly across from Ottawa, Ontario. Gatineau is the largest city in the Outaouais administrative region of Quebec and is also p ...

side of

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

. It is difficult to estimate accurately the number of French citizens living in the region, but based on the lists of registrations at the French consulate in Toronto, it is estimated that about 5,000 live in the region. The French embassy in Ottawa continues to provide essential services to the residents of the region since its consular services were closed on 1 July 2005. The association groups the French community and organises friendly meals and méchoui (North African style barbecue of spit-roast whole lamb over a charcoal pit), wine and cheese parties, and opportunities to meet French political personalities passing through the region. It maintains links with French organisations in Canada (embassies, consulates) and in France. It collaborates with Jacques Janson, the representative of the Centre and the West of Canada, to convey and resolve files which have been submitted to them by French citizens in the region. The presidency has been held since 1997 by Christian Lohyer.

External links

Official website

UFE Berlin

UFE Seattle

UFE Monaco (Union des Français de Monaco)
Political parties in France Political parties established in 1927 Overseas French organisations {{France-org-stub