The 10 things I love most about Montreal
Montreal is recognized as the 4th city in North America that offers one of the highest levels of quality of life.
From the height of my four years of living here, I am going to give you my Top 10 of the things I like most about Montreal.
Like everywhere, there are pros and cons but I chose to focus on the positive aspects for this presentation, I would have many other articles to explain to you the struggles of expat life 😉
Yes, because I want to clarify first of all that you have to stop seeing Canada as an Eldorado, and that moving here will solve all your problems. Don't kid yourself, it's not because you're moving abroad that they're going to disappear as if by magic.
And no, expatriation is not easy every day, there are constraints too and arriving here on conquered territory will be cruelly lacking for you, A word to the wise!
With its 365 km2 for 1.5 million inhabitants, Montreal has all the characteristics of the great North American city par excellence while having a quality of life worthy of a provincial town.
- Montreal is French-speaking
Yes, I see you coming from here, between the French of Quebec and ours, there are big differences and you are right. We are also called here "The French of France" (Or "damned French" depending on the perception of certain Quebecers towards us).
But I have to say that arriving in a city where you can make yourself understood easily, and not, on top of all the upheaval of moving to a new country, having to struggle with a foreign language, is a big plus.
Of course, Montreal also has an English-speaking side, located to the west of the city, with very distinct neighborhoods, but the French tend to settle on the other side (not crazy the wasp!)
Particularly in the Plateau-Mont Royal district, renowned "New France", being mainly inhabited by my compatriots and myself 😉
Of course the language is not the same, but I will keep a selection of Quebec expressions for you to know in a future article.
- Montreal is super safe
No more untimely whistling in the street punctuated by their charming “Hey miss, can you give me your 06? » (or your at sign of choice, yes yes, I had the right to it a few years ago in Paris)
Here you can walk alone at any time of the day or night
Here, you no longer have to worry about how to dress before going out (you could even go out in your pajamas and no one would notice you)
In fact, here everyone lives their own life, the gaze of others practically does not exist (I say practically because many French people also live there and these behaviors die hard across the Channel, one must believe)
American culture is individualistic, which may seem paradoxical compared to the respect they have for each other, hence my next point.
- Montreal is a respectful and civilized city.
I'm not going to be original, but for a European, living in Paris for several years before settling here, it's always surreal at the beginning.
So don't be surprised to see Quebecers lining up to wait for the bus and the metro. And don't think for a minute about getting caught, they respect the rules to the letter.
No seriously, if by mistake you venture to pass a few of them, a Quebecer will rarely say anything to you except a bad look, not liking conflicts and preferring to avoid them.
On the other hand, if a French person tries it, he'll get stung. It's up to you!
You will have understood that people are very civilized. Even the demonstrations here are very peaceful, never any shops stoned or cars burned. I know it may seem utopian from the outside and yet it is possible.
They follow the rules (although a little too much for my taste sometimes).
Here, racism linked to skin color is less felt, however cultural racism is very present (anti-French, racism via the First Nations, etc.)
They are very pro-Quebec, defending their French language, establishing themselves as a province in their own right with their own regulations compared to the rest of Canada.
No major conflicts therefore, the government having even defined its people as "docile" during one of the press briefings related to Covid, during the lockdown. (Yes, we say Covid here, don't ask me why).
- Montreal is festive and lively in the summer
From the end of May, the festivals continue throughout the summer, with the last ones only ending in October.
There is something for everyone: must-sees PikNik Electronics at Parc Jean Drapeau to the rhythm of its techno beat and its buckets of cocktails, which made its reputation at the famous Just for Laughs Festival, or even The Francofolies . As its name suggests, it brings back great names from our French culture and we find ourselves transported a little into our folklore.
(The last group I saw there was Matmatah, my whole adolescence in Brittany there, live in Montreal, with this crowd of French people there it was just a suspended moment).
All summer long, fireworks are set off by Loto Quebec, from the Jacques Cartier Bridge every Wednesday and Saturday. Each draw has the theme of a country. (Covid requires this year it was limited to 3 Wednesdays in August, and nothing to do with those drawn in previous years).
Many small open-air locations, refreshment stands and large seating areas are set up; these are the best places to attend.
My favorite: The Village at the Foot of the Current
And of course, the number of parks bringing its share of BBQs and aperitifs of all kinds punctuate these hot days. It's quite simple, all summer long the smell of barbecue floats everywhere in the air.
Finally, last spot and not least: the outdoor swimming pools.
They are free during the week and some cost 5$ on weekends (except this year with Covid, slots have been set up so of course it's free all summer)
Not living near water points, they are essential for cooling off on these long, humid days.
- Montreal has unique streets
Or in other words, the Montreal of postcards
As soon as the greenery starts to appear again in the spring, take a stroll along these adjoining buildings, with their spiral or steep staircases, there are all sorts.
These alleys are recognizable among a thousand and reflect the uniqueness of this city.
The small squares are all lined with pretty colorful buildings (like in Notting Hill in London)
Example : St Louis Square
- Montreal or the culture of street art
Street art is the identity of this city
This art is also highlighted during the Mural festival (yes, another one), every summer, allowing artists to show their art live, in front of an audience, for several days.
All styles and themes are there.
A word of advice: to visit this city, nothing beats getting lost in these little streets and discovering, at a crossroads, these murals, each more beautiful than the last.
- Montreal or its simplified access to housing
Here, no deposit, no guarantors, no inventory
It sets the tone straight.
It's really more of a relationship of trust between owner and tenant.
It makes you dream, huh? Personally, after spending 1 year finding an apartment in the suburbs of Paris in my last years in France, even though I had a permanent job, it changed my life here.
Three quarters of the time, you have to give the references of your former owner as well as a credit check, for 50$ (because we live with the credit card and depending on its use and regular repayment this generates a rating for us) This allows us to more or less see your solvency
If you are a newcomer, of course this information will not concern you.
Additionally, if you want to leave your accommodation before the end of your lease, which is very common here with the wave of immigrants coming and going into the country every year, you simply have to do a lease assignment.
That is to say, find a new tenant who will take over your lease, with the landlord's agreement. He cannot refuse unless there is a serious and legitimate reason.
- Montreal has very distinct seasons
Summer, autumn and winter are very marked
Spring, on the other hand, has just enough time to show its nose before summer is already here. It only lasts 2-3 weeks, but the greenery on the other hand suddenly comes out at the end of winter. Replacing the soil full of "slush" as they say here and the white coat covering the tree branches
All life seems to resume then and the sidewalks are teeming with people.
As if everything had stopped during the winter, people come out of hibernation and life can finally resume. It also marks the beginning of nice temperatures and festivities.
- Montreal has a dynamic job sector
Many promising sectors in which to develop and quickly climb the ladder
Want to work in video games? Here you'll be like a fish in water
Do you want to be a doctor/specialist? Here you will be a king
The digital and marketing fields also have a large share and are developing more and more.
The world of TV and cinema is also well established, but contrary to what I had imagined before coming here, it depends a lot on American companies that come to film here.
In fact, it costs little to come and film in Montreal and reproducing the landscapes of the Big Apple is easy there.
However, these production companies do not hire locals who require a visa to work, they often already have their teams. After that, there is work but more for small missions of a few months but with a closed permit it is a waste of time to try to find something (full time, permanent mandatory in the criteria for obtaining)
- Montreal is a family-oriented city
It is not for nothing that so many families immigrate every year.
All these green spaces where children can let off steam in summer and winter, long live sliding, skating, sledding and so on.
Here, parents drag their children on a sled to take them to school in the winter, so the children go there to their heart's content (less so for the parents)
Parents finish work early and can enjoy the rest of the day with their children (on average 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
The security aspect of the city that I spoke about a little earlier also plays a big part.
School here only starts at age 6, before that it's daycare
Access to property and a comfortable lifestyle in a mix of countryside and large cultural city is therefore seen as an El Dorado for these families.
It's up to you to make up your own mind 😉
