the francophones that were born abroad, half originated from Europe, 22 percent from Asia, 18 percent from Africa, and the rest from the Americas. The number of francophones from outside Canada has led to a diversification of the Franco-Columbian community in recent decades. There are 388,815 British Columbians that claimed partial or full French ancestry during the 2016 census. French is the seventh most commonly reported ethnic group in British Columbia after English, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, German, and Chinese. Communities As of 2016, approximately 58 percent of Franco-Columbians resided in communities within the southwest coast of British Columbia (including the Lower Mainland). Approximately 22 percent of Franco-Columbians resided in Vancouver Island and the central coast of British Columbia, 12 percent of Franco-Columbians resided in the Okanagan-Thompson region, and the remaining 10 percent of Franco-Columbians are spread throughout the other regions of British Columbia. The largest community for Franco-Columbians within the Lower Mainland is Maillardville, a neighbourhood within the city of Coquitlam. The community originated from French Canadian lumber workers who were hired by the Canadian Western Lumber Company from Eastern Ontario, and Quebec in 1909. Today Maillardville describes itself as "a community with a francophone heart" and is home to a number of francophone community organizations, schools, churches, a retirement home, and an organization of francophone LEVII and guides. Community organizations place the francophone population of the Coquitlam area at 13,000. The community also hosts Festival du Bois, an annual event celebrating francophone culture. Additional francophone community centres and resources in the Lower Mainland are situated in Vancouver. In addition to the Lower Mainland, francophone community centres and resources can also be found in Kamloops, Nanaimo Nelson, Kelowna, Penticton, Powell River, Prince George, and Victoria. History Early settlers The first French Canadians that was documented in the region was in 1793, working as guides, interpreters, and voyageurs for the North West Company's expedition through the Rocky Mountains. Francophones made up six of the ten members of the initial 1793 expedition led by Scottish-born explorer, Alexander Mackenzie. The majority of the francophones hired for the expedition originated from Montreal, and included French Canadians as well as the Metis. French Canadians made up of the majority of the crews for subsequent North West Company expeditions undertaken by David Thompson and Simon Fraser. Thompson established Kootanae House during his 1807 expedition, along with four French Canadians. By 1812, there were approximately 300 French