By Overall
By Age
By Education
By Employment
By Median Income (after tax)
By Low Income
Overall
There is no single criterion to define francophonie or Francophone. The 2016 Census provides information on mother tongue, reported ability to conduct a conversation in French, language spoken at home and first official language spoken. These four indicators are used to measure the presence of French in Canada and in each province or territory (Statistics Canada, 2015). Data presented below was accessed through the Community Data Program (CDP) which incorporates an inclusive definition different from Statistics Canada. This definition only incorporates 2016 Census information on mother tongue, language spoken at home and first official language spoken. Although an inclusive definition prevents exclusion of those who may identify as Francophone for various reasons, it may include those who may not consider themselves part of this population group.
According to the 2016 Census, 14,470 residents in Simcoe Muskoka are considered Francophone. The Francophone population in Simcoe Muskoka represents 3% of the total Simcoe Muskoka population (540,249). In comparison, the Ontario Francophone population makes up a slightly larger proportion of its total population, with 5% (or almost 677,095) of Ontario residents indicating they are Francophone.
In Simcoe County, 3% (or 13,660) of the population were considered Francophone. The municipality with the highest proportion of its population considered to be Francophone in Simcoe Muskoka was Penetanguishene (10% of Penetanguishene’s population or 925).
In Muskoka District, 1.3% (or 810) of the population were considered Francophone. The municipalities with the highest proportion of their population considered to be Francophone included Georgian Bay (1.8% or 45) and Huntsville (1.7% or 345).
By Age
According to the 2016 Census, the median age of the Francophone population in Simcoe County of Simcoe and the District of Muskoka was 47 and 55 years, respectively. This was older than the median age of the total population which was 43 years in Simcoe and 51 years in Muskoka.
Francophone children aged 14 years and under made up 14% (or 2,040) of the total Francophone population in Simcoe Muskoka, while one in five (22% or 3,170) were seniors aged 65 and over. In comparison, of the overall population in Simcoe Muskoka, 16% (or 86,720) were children aged 14 years and under, while 19% (of 101,660) were seniors 65 years and over.
By Education
According to 2016 Censusdata, 66% (or 5,295) of Francophones between the ages of 25 and 64 in Simcoe Muskoka indicated they have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree. An even greater percentage of Francophones across Ontario (69%) have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
Compared to the 2006 Census, a larger proportion of the Francophone population in Simcoe Muskoka (aged 25 to 64) reported having attained a post secondary certificate, diploma or degree in 2016 (59% in 2006 and 66% in 2016).
By Employment
In 2016, 63% (or about 7,790) of the Francophone population aged 15 years and older were part of the labour force in Simcoe Muskoka. About six out of ten (59% or 7,305) were employed, similar to the overall population in Simcoe Muskoka with 60% (or 267,275).
In comparison, the unemployment rate among Simcoe Muskoka’s Francophone population aged 15 years and older was slightly lower than the overall Simcoe Muskoka unemployment rate, 6% and 7% respectively.
By Median Income (after tax)
According to Census data, in 2015, the median after-tax income for the Francophone population aged 15 years and over in Simcoe County was $34,501, higher than the median after-tax income for the Francophone population living in Muskoka District ($29,980). In comparison, the 2015 median after-tax income for the overall population 15 years and older in Simcoe County and District of Muskoka was $30,951 and $29,515 respectively.
Median after-tax income for the Francophone population has increased between 2005 and 2015. In 2005, the median after-tax income for this population was $30,831 in Simcoe County and $25, 013 in Muskoka District (adjusted for inflation). In 2015, the median after-tax income for this population increased to $34,501 in Simcoe County and $29,980 in Muskoka District.
By Low Income
The 2016 Census indicated that 10% (or 1,405) of the Francophone population in Simcoe Muskoka was considered to have low income in 2015 based on the Census after-tax low-income measure (LIM-AT). This is a lower percentage compared to Simcoe Muskoka’s overall population living with low income (12% or just over 61,100 people). In comparison, 13% (or 88,960) of Ontario’s Francophone population was living in low income in 2015 according to Census data.