Hockey

The Senators (finally) go French: a new page opens in Ottawa
Vincent Larue
The Senators (finally) go French: a new page opens in Ottawa
Credit: Getty Images

The Ottawa Senators have finally decided to speak the language of their French-speaking fans. The organization has announced the official launch of a French-language team account on social networks. For a long time, many hockey fans in the Outaouais, Gatineau and even Eastern Ontario have criticized the team for neglecting its French-speaking community. And yet, just a few kilometers from Quebec, the language barrier was quite noticeable. Posts, news and post-game videos were mainly in English, as if Ottawa's bilingual reality stopped at the gates of the Canadian Tire Centre. But that was before. By launching this new French-language account, the Senators now want to offer “unique and in-depth coverage of all things Senators,” according to their press release.

In other words, French-speaking fans will finally be entitled to content tailored to them: summaries, interviews, videos and news published directly in their language. This gesture is more symbolic than it seems. In a market where media competition with the Canadiens is fierce, the Senators have a vested interest in strengthening their ties with Québécois fans, who represent a significant part of their fan base. We're talking about thousands of fans who follow the team closely, but who have long felt left out of the digital conversation

And let's face it: it's a smart move. Ottawa has been trying for years to build a real identity, to connect with its fans and extend its reach beyond the capital region. By giving an official voice to its French-speaking fans, the organization is showing that it wants to be part of Quebec's hockey scene, not just the “other team” in the neighboring province. In short, it's about time. The Senators have finally understood that in Quebec and the Outaouais, hockey is lived and told in French too. A simple translation? No. It's a way of recognizing all those who have proudly worn their colors for years, and in both official languages. It remains to be seen whether this initiative will be just a nice gesture of communication, or whether it will be part of a real long-term strategy to bring the team closer to its French-speaking base.

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