Montreal is the French-Canadian urban and cultural centre or Québécois. Their differentiation from the rest of Canada, with the French language being the main factor in this differentiation, has led them to develop an identity of their own that is increasingly fighting for autonomy within the Canadian Federation. There is even a strong separatist movement seeking the full independence of the entire province of Quebec.

We, as happy montrealers, have compiled these varied pills that capture idiosyncrasies, culture and curiosities of Quebec in general and Montreal in particular.

Enjoy.

Pills

• Quebecois are kind and gentle. They are patients with whom they learn French (with English not so much). They value those who seek to communicate with them in French. Although despite its kindness, the integration of the immigrant is not so easy.

• They are very sporty. Even in the harsh Canadian winter you can see them training in light clothing. You can see women in short skirts and heels. Something that caught our attention. However, they never go out without seeing the weather forecasts.

• In a barbecue or food meeting, everyone brings what they are going to consume. It is not that everyone carries a dish and distributes it to everyone, much less that the host invites everything. You will carry what you will consume.

• To find a partner it is not styled to do it live, but using applications such as Tinder or POF. They trust more in the match that the application can give them than in their instincts.

• Men and women don’t usually show when someone likes it. Even more so when you know that it is illegal to make women. If you are a man and although there are very nice Quebecoises and you want to express it on the street, you can even have a lawsuit. At work, it’s plain and simple “sexual harassment on the job site.” We’ve never seen women put on makeup in public.

• The Quebecois is an inveterate consumerist. They’d rather buy the new stuff than send to repair the old. However, there are many stores that sell used goods, whose preferred clientele is immigrants. Despite that, they are not to presume wealth. The wealthy prefer to have a low profile and be very discreet.

• Despite what was said above, it is not uncommon for people to leave furniture in good condition that they will no longer use on the street, in case someone wants them.

• They are not to say “yes” out of pity as Latinos usually do. If they invite them to a place, they will suddenly tell you yes or no. Many times Latinos say yes, although we know we don’t, and then make up a last-minute excuse.

• In Latin America there is the notion that after 40 you can no longer start anything, that your useful life has expired to start new projects. In Canada, any age is good to start, to reinvent yourself. It is not uncommon to see young, along with mature and even elderly students in classrooms. And it’s normal to see people changing jobs and even industry in the 40s or 50s.

• On the Montreal subway you’ll see street performers, like at New York City Subway stations. But it’s not just anyone who arrives and starts executing their act. Auditions are held in order to receive permission to perform at the stations. That’s why the performances you’ll see are of very high quality.

• For its immigrants from all over the world, Montreal is in second place in variety of cuisines and restaurant offers, only surpassed by New York, that you can notice in the great variety of supermarkets of many nationalities. However, vernacular quebecoise cuisine is rather let’s just something to prepare. Poutine,french fries with cheese and gravy is the emblematic dish of the province.

• Curiously and not very much in agreement with that, it is very common that dogs have their vocal cords cut I suppose so that they do not make much noise and cats surgically remove their claws, that leave us with our eyes in the shape of a plate.

• The famous Cirque du Soleil is based in Montreal, although many think it is French. This circus is famous in the world for the very high quality of the performances and for its scenery and artistic direction. It is a show based on humans and not animals.

• There are famous schools of comedians. Apparently, those who graduate from them have a high level in stand-up comedy,mimicry and other genres of comedy. Although for us Quebecois jokes are sometimes difficult to understand.

• The video game development industry has its seat in Montreal. The development of software and gaming apps, as well as important competitions have in the city of Montreal a permanent headquarters of the first order. Many people even come from all over the world to look for jobs in the ever-growing sector.

• Although Montreal is a large city, the air quality is high, it breathes a very pure air to be a metropolis of that size. There are many parks. The purity of the air can, however, be interrupted by the smell of cannabis, which is legal.

• The crime rate is very low. It is an extremely safe city and it is not uncommon to see houses leaving the doors locked.

• Some of the most popular activities of the summer are: Enjoy festivals including Jazz, kayaking, paddle surfing,long bike routes, hiking, going to public pools, picnicking and barbecue in the many parks.

• In summer is when you see the greatest variety of fruits in the markets. The apple is the queen of winter, you see all kinds of apples. The fruits are not as varied as in the tropics and have a different flavor.

• Primary and secondary education is free and of a high standard. Although there are private schools. Higher education is much more accessible than in the U.S., and can even borrow at attractive interest rates. Those benefits are enjoyed by both Canadians and immigrants who hold the permanent resident card, while a foreign student on a student visa can pay up to three times its cost: you will have to pay three times what a Canadian would.

• Quebecois are not to set themselves the goal of buying an apartment or home of their own. They are more than renting a flat, together with friends. This is due to the fact that they are usually very globetrotting and don’t want to have something that tie them to a specific site.

• We love Montreal, but there are some little things we don’t like: First, construction: There is a boom in the construction and reconstruction of streets and avenues – incredibly, in many cases, of questionable quality. That results in large traffic jams and traffic delays. Despite that, you can see a year or two later deteriorations, cracks and potholes in the “resurfaced” roads. And Second, the Climate: We come from the tropics. It is logical that the weather in winter is a shock to us. Temperatures that go from 30° below zero.

Its culture, quite particular and differentiated, has led to the development of a nationalist identity and the demand for autonomy as a nation. First, culturally independent (which it already is) and then politically independent. For now, Quebec and its industrial and cultural center Montreal are part of the Canadian federation and we are very happy and grateful to live here.