The BDS Francophone Centre is proud to represent the Fransaskois communities of St. Isidore-de-Bellevue, Domremy, and St. Louis. Our region is one of the largest rural Francophone concentrations in Saskatchewan. We are located an hour's drive northeast of Saskatoon and only about thirty minutes south of Prince Albert. Our region is crossed by the South Saskatchewan River and is composed of rolling farmland and small lakes. Our ancestors settled in this region as early as 1871, nationally known as the site of a decisive battle in 1885 between the Métis people and the armed troops of the Canadian government. The spirit of independence and resistance of these early inhabitants still characterizes the Fransaskois of this beautiful agricultural region today. Our ancestors would be proud to see that our region has remained a bilingual and vibrant place to live. We are proud of our distinct culture, which dates back to our Québécois, Acadian, French, and Métis roots, and proud to belong to the Fransaskois community of Saskatchewan. We invite you to come discover for yourself what makes the people of our region so friendly and our heritage so unique!
In 2009, three regional organizations—the Bellevue Cultural Association Inc., the Cœur Franc Cultural Association of St. Louis, and the Fransaskois Cultural Centre of Domremy—developed a regional governance structure called the BDS Francophone Centre Inc.
The BDS Francophone Centre supports, promotes, and develops the local Francophonie. The Centre's mission is to ensure the vitality and development of all Francophones concentrated in this region with its rich history. The perseverance, ingenuity, and Franco-Catholic values of our early pioneers laid the foundations for a large community united by a common religion and language that has evolved over the years while preserving its identity, culture, values, and language.