* 16th Century: French explorers and traders arrive in what is now Canada. They establish settlements in the St. Lawrence River Valley and along the Atlantic coast.
* 17th Century: French colonization intensifies. French becomes the dominant language in New France, the name for the French colonies in North America.
* 18th Century: The British conquer New France in the Seven Years' War. Many French-speaking inhabitants remain, however, and French continues to be spoken in these areas.
* 19th Century: The British encourage English immigration to Canada, leading to the rise of English speakers in many areas. French speakers remain dominant in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick, but their presence is challenged in other areas.
* 20th Century: Quebec experiences a period of intense linguistic and cultural nationalism, leading to efforts to preserve and promote the French language. This period also sees a rise in French immersion programs in other parts of Canada.
* 21st Century: French remains an official language of Canada alongside English. It is spoken by approximately 7.2 million people in Canada, making it the second most spoken language in the country.
It's important to note that the arrival of French in Canada is a gradual process, with no single definitive point in time when people started speaking French. The language evolved over centuries through colonization, migration, and cultural development.