120 Years

120 years


Alliance Francaise Vancouver celebrates its 120 years in 2024! Integrated in the local landscape since 1904, we grew up with the city of Vancouver, named officially as we know it today in 1886. Throughout the years, we answered the residents needs, more and more interested in the French language and francophones cultures. Learn more about our story here

Let's rewind:



Key character of Alliance Francaise Vancouver


Charles Bloch-Bauer

AFV Director 

1947 - 1968

Charles Bloch-Bauer: President of AFV between 1947 and 1968, he was behind the creation of the original building on Cambie Street. He organized the first fund-raising campaign for the building's construction and transformed AFV into a non-profit organization. His involvement with our first donors is what has helped AFV grow so much. He gave our association the impetus it needed to become a school and cultural center with a permanent staff. He died just after the building was inaugurated, satisfied to have realized his dream of giving AFV the means to exist in a physical place.

To continue supporting our work, become a donor by naming a theater seat!



The very first AFV building on Cambie St

Take a look at the evolution of AFV 

Building facade - April 20, 1989

Building facade - April 22, 2024

Renovation due to increasing student enrolments and course success - July 28, 1988

Progress of construction on our new building - May 15, 2023

Course with AFV students - 1962

Course with AFV students- 2013

L'Heure du Conte, craft session and story reading - 2001

Conte & Craft - 2023

Troupe du Petit Théâtre du Pacifique - March 21, 1980

Le Petit Théâtre - 2023

Concert poster - 2003

Music Festival Poster - 2024


What's next ?


Despite our great age, Alliance Francaise Vancouver is proud to be a forward-looking association, and we put this into practice in our missions every day. Between the arrival of our brand-new spaces and the development of our activities focused on new technologies and virtual reality, Alliance Francaise Vancouver will continue to amaze you.


An eco-responsible building with new spaces





A library with +11,000 books and media and a virtual reality space
A 165-seat professional theater
High-tech classrooms



An art gallery featuring local and international artists
2,691 sq/ft artist studios



A demonstration kitchen to develop our gastronomic workshops





What we have in store for you







Le Rendez-vous des familles: Activities specifically adapted for parents and their children on Saturday mornings.
The FoodieCLUB: Gastronomic events featuring cooking demonstrations, tastings and conferences.