There is no single "Canadian dialect", just as the French of L'Academie is
hardly representative of the French used in, e.g., Nancy as opposed to Aix en
Provence. An examination of a standard work such as Duprés reveals the range of
potential usage. Similiarly, there are parallel differences in English as she
is spoke in, e.g., Aberdeen, Dallas, Winnipeg and Alice Springs.

In translation, we aim at a good standard French, using idioms in current use
in Canada, as opposed to France (for example, the expression "parler le
francais comme une vache espagnole", while understood, is hardly common
Canadian usage). Similarly, we in Canada use the expression "banc de neige" to
indicate a snowbank. Un vrai francais de France probably wouldn't have a clue
as to what we were talking about; he would be more likely to say "un amas de
neige". We do not use the slang, or "joual", that one encounters, say, in a
Montreal tavern, just as the Museum of Victoria, for instance, does not have
terribly "ocker" labels - even for Phar Lap!

One of the interesting (sometimes problematic!) features of certain languages
(the French of France is, I think, a leading case in point), is the ease with
which current expressions slip in and out of usage; does anyone remember the
verb, in common usa in France, not all THAT long ago,  "ravacholiser" (qu'un)?

It is important to avoid topical expressions such as these.

Harry Needham
Canadian War Museum