Moving to Montreal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. Why do you think that your kids would not qualify for the English schools? Do they not know how to speak English?

Immigrants must send there kids to French schools by law. It is a way to prevent the anglicanization of Quebec.

[Anonymous]

I am an Anglophone Montrealer (I live in Ottawa now, but I am not the previous poster from Ottawa). I also speak French fluently by virtue of growing up in Quebec.

Montreal is a lovely city. These are the neighbourhoods I would recommend:

1) West Island (Pierrefonds, Pointe Claire, Kirkland, Dollard-des-Ormeaux). They are suburban neighbourhoods, but public transportation in Montreal is very good, so you and your kids will be able to get around fairly easily without a car.
2) Montreal West
3) NDG
4) Westmount (very expensive though)
5) Cote-de-Neiges

All of these neighbourhoods have lots of English speakers and you will be able to get services in English.

Your kids will become fluent in French very fast in the French schools. They will also be fluent in English, so they will be bilingual very quickly. The schools are very multi-cultural in general.

With regard to government services (including medical care), you may not be able to get services in English. That means that if you end up in the ER, the doctor or nurse may not speak English. So if your spouse is not bilingual, he/she would need to think about that.

With regard to the political situation, the Quebec government is trying to prevent Quebec from turning in Louisiana, where the French language has all but disappeared. Their methods are quite heavy-handed and controversial. However, day-to-day life in Montreal is peaceful. There is no sectarian violence like in other multi-cultural societies. It is quite a nice place to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start Duo Lingo right now to learn French.

Just know that it's France French, not Quebecois French.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an Anglophone Montrealer (I live in Ottawa now, but I am not the previous poster from Ottawa). I also speak French fluently by virtue of growing up in Quebec.

Montreal is a lovely city. These are the neighbourhoods I would recommend:

1) West Island (Pierrefonds, Pointe Claire, Kirkland, Dollard-des-Ormeaux). They are suburban neighbourhoods, but public transportation in Montreal is very good, so you and your kids will be able to get around fairly easily without a car.
2) Montreal West
3) NDG
4) Westmount (very expensive though)
5) Cote-de-Neiges

All of these neighbourhoods have lots of English speakers and you will be able to get services in English.

Your kids will become fluent in French very fast in the French schools. They will also be fluent in English, so they will be bilingual very quickly. The schools are very multi-cultural in general.

With regard to government services (including medical care), you may not be able to get services in English. That means that if you end up in the ER, the doctor or nurse may not speak English. So if your spouse is not bilingual, he/she would need to think about that.

With regard to the political situation, the Quebec government is trying to prevent Quebec from turning in Louisiana, where the French language has all but disappeared. Their methods are quite heavy-handed and controversial. However, day-to-day life in Montreal is peaceful. There is no sectarian violence like in other multi-cultural societies. It is quite a nice place to live.

OP here. Thank you so much for taking the time to type all this up; it’s very helpful to read and think about. I’ll look into the neighborhoods you mention.

[Anonymous]

Can you just up and move to Canada? I was under the impression that it was not an easy process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you just up and move to Canada? I was under the impression that it was not an easy process.

Canadian here.

If you have a university degree and are under 35, it is much easier to immigrate here than to the US. Canada likes young educated immigrants.

[Anonymous]

May want to look at how things are going there at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you just up and move to Canada? I was under the impression that it was not an easy process.

For Americans, for the most part just get a job there and you are set. It’s not very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Look at Little Italy and Rosemont as well.