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by refurb 2331 days ago
Montreal is an Anglophone city. Last I checked 80% were English speakers (not necessarily primary language).

Now Quebec City is entirely different. I could see language being more challenging there.

Honestly, Montreal is a hidden gem. Low cost housing, ton of culture and history.

The only drawbacks can be the Québécois anti-immigrant and anti-business climate, but it’s not stifling, just more noticeable than the rest of Canada.

4 comments

I mean.. I'm a Montrealer as well, and whilst I love this city, let's not kid ourselves. Montreal is not by any means 80% English and you're essentially handicapped if you can't speak French.

You just need to take a stroll in "Plateau" to witness this. The salaries are also really low and we are the highest taxed province in Canada.

I think we should give folks an accurate portrayal of this city instead of an endless stream self promotion

You know what? You’re right.

I think the stat was for the island of Montreal, not the wider city.

That said, I have visited a few times and not speaking French didn’t seem a huge barrier, but I was a tourist.

> Montreal is an Anglophone city. Last I checked 80% were English speakers

Would you be able to provide a source for that?

Even during it's Anglo heydays (pre-referenda), I don't think it was that high.

It is true that Montreal is highly Anglophone in the tech sector, but outside of enclaves like downtown, the west Island and a few neighborhoods like TMR and Ville St Laurent, Montreal is not very Anglophone at all.

Tangential: Montreal is an awesome city. I like Toronto, but I think Montreal is a little more livable.

Bonus: Schwartz’s deli.

Waspsareevil’s reply is the other thing you have to put up with living in Canada if you’re not a French speaker!