When did Canada become a bilingual country?

Canada was originally a French colony, part of New France. Britain captured New France, with its French population, during the Seven Years War. It later became a haven for British loyalists fleeing the American revolution. Afraid of losing any more colonies, Britain allowed both language groups to keep their languages, legal systems, and religions.

The conflict between the French and English wanting to maintain their languages and institutions shaped Canada's development as a pluralistic society. When the Province of Canada joined confederation, it was split into Ontario and Quebec in order to accommodate this divide.

Throughout the 20th century, Canada's official bilingualism gradually became defined through legislation, court rulings, and constitutional amendments, notably through the Official Languages Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.