I grew up in Alberta and was forced to take french from grades 1-6 and I believe it was an option from grade 7 onward. Most of my french teachers sucked at teaching, didn’t know the language that well, or just didn’t care. I know my french sucks and I can hardly string a few words together, however I can understand a lot more when spoken to me, and I can figure out 70% while reading it. Just don’t ask me to wright in french.
However I drove across Canada this summer and I apparently know enough to get fuel while in Quebec!