Montreal, called the “New York of the North”, is a hugely popular moving destination for families across Canada. Being the home of big businesses, vibrant art, diverse communities and low rent make the city desirable for both individuals and companies.
There is one fact that often makes English-speaking people reconsider Montreal and “La Belle Province” as a destination: French. Despite a great amount of immigration from other cities, Montreal is a predominantly French-speaking city. Learning at least some basic knowledge of French makes the transition much, much easier.
Most Canadians learn French during elementary school at the latest, so imagine their surprise when they move to Montreal and find that the language spoken isn’t the French they remember conjugating for hours. Nope. In school, you learned Parisian French, and in Montreal, they speak Quebecoise. The difference is like someone from Vancouver trying to understand a “dyed-in-the-wool Newfie”. Possible – but not easy.
Don’t be afraid – there are neighbourhoods, as any English speaker who has done the Montreal moving thing could tell you – that are predominantly English-speaking that will give you a little breathing room while you acclimatize to the language. They are as follows:
Notre-Dame-De-Grace
Notre-Dame-De-Grace, or NDG, or better still: “the ’Deege” is a large section of south-west Montreal composed mostly of mixed commercial/residential areas. There are several smaller communities within NDG which all are great options for families and students. It’s also incredibly convenient, being about a 15 minute bus or metro ride from the heart of downtown.
Westmount
Westmount is nestled in between NDG and Downtown and is easily one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in the city. Many of the homes are tucked up on the mountainside and afford panoramic views of downtown. If you want to live in Westmount, be prepared to pay the price, however—rent and real estate are pricey in this neighbourhood. Interestingly, Westmount considers itself largely separate from the rest of the city, handling its own snow-ploughing, and having private security, for example.
Montreal West / Cote-St-Luc and Hampstead
Two small communities to the immediate west of NDG, Cote-St-Luc and Hampstead, are known for their excellent bakery and high school. A little more out of the way than NDG or Westmount, it’s still an easy train or bus ride downtown. The three communities were amalgamated into Montreal in 2002, but the population was so outraged that they decided to demerge in 2004. As with many Montreal neighbourhoods, they retain their unique sense of charm.
West Island
West Island is a massive, sprawling suburb of the city proper and has it’s English and French areas. The several smaller communities that make up the Area such as Baie D’urfe and St-Anne-De-Bellevue are picturesque and connected to the city by highway and commuter train. The West Island is chock full of families, and your kids probably won’t hate you for making them live there until they’re well into their teens.
Whether you’re a student who dreams of living in a city with thousands of other students, a professional who has been transferred for work, or just looking for a change of pace, Montreal is the place in Canada to do it.
