This article examines the collective action of Francophones in British Columbia in the area of education, from the Maillardville school strike in 1951 to the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. Drawing inspiration from the study of social movements, particularly the concepts of political opportunities and frameworks, our study explores the highs and lows of political action through the case of the comparatively understudied Franco-Colombians. As we show, political action, though it can create new opportunities, has not been a panacea for Francophone minorities in Canada.