Originally Posted by TrishB

Was in Montreal over the weekend and my Canadian born-and-bred b/f was getting incredibly frustrated with the lack of English signage and I ended up having to translate, lol!

Originally Posted by dbd33

A crushing moment for my then early teenaged daughter (bilingual, educated to that point entirely in French) was when, in rural Quebec, she ran into a coffee shop for me, ordered in her diligently coached accent and was answered in English. She was mortified.

Back with signage, in short, the Feds offer everything in both, other levels of government do as they please, commonly offering documents in many languages.

Originally Posted by PeterF

Oh and I remember arguing with a guy from Quebec (in a friendly way) where he insisted that Wolfe did not take Quebec..

Originally Posted by macadian

Not so much in denial now it would seem ...'they' have forced the cancellation of the battle reenactment which has been in planning for some time and was likely to pull a lot of tourist/$$$ to Montreal. Public safety was the main concern of the organizers if they went ahead with it.........Go figure....

Cutting off nose to spite face springs to mind...

Originally Posted by PeterF

About 20-30 cars were burn't out and sadly some dogs left by unthinking owners (too hot) in their cars died.

Originally Posted by PeterF

ha... I used to do English Civil war re-enactment when I was in the UK, I remember one fine August bank holiday we accidentally set light to the corn stubble on the opening salvo of cannon fire.. then we found out why it was called windrush valley, as the flames were fanned towards the crowd and total panic pursued.

About 20-30 cars were burn't out and sadly some dogs left by unthinking owners (too hot) in their cars died.

Originally Posted by dbd33

Not so. Just this morning I passed a sign, "Stop", it said. No mention of arreting.

Originally Posted by clynnog

I have similar stories to your coffee incident. I try in my best french (Parisian style not Gatineau joual) to ask for directions, purchase goods etc and usually they respond in english. I have made the effort which I believe they appreciate. In places like Aylmer, Chelsea and the west island of MTL it is fruitless at times to start the conversation in french.

Originally Posted by geedee

Anywhere near Hudson??? No "Arret" signs there!



That demonstrates how accommodating they are here. I try and speak French too, and they know straight away you're British, and help out by speaking English for you. Pretty decent, I'd say. I think there's a code... if you walk into a shop / cafe etc. and they say "bonjour Hi", it means they're bilingual, if it's a straight "bonjour", French preferred!!

Originally Posted by immichaelcaine

Hello - I just moved to Montreal Quebec on a two year contract. Im working with a well known aerospace technology company - and the pay is off the scale - no problems there. My question is for any Brits living in Quebec; what the h*** is with all the anti-Brit attitude here? Ive been to France on two occasions, but never come across such strong hatred for the English (JC - I even saw anti-English feelings in Kos and in Turkey, but i digress). The French here think that they run the country and pay no significance to the fact that Canada is English - and part of the commonwealth for that matter. Im not up to date with Canadian history - but the thought of spending another 20 months here is starting to make me itch. Anyone seen this before? Anyone have some survival tips ?

Originally Posted by blackcomb1

Don't take that personally at all. I believe it is not just the Brits they have that attitude with, but the Canadians around Canada too.

I have friends in Ontario, Canadians who were quick to educate me about how unfriendly the French in Quebec are, racist to those not French-Canadian and from Quebec basically.

So it is not just about the Brits. As to them laughing, well no offence but I never found some French people anything than rude anyway.. I guess it is why they are the least popular culture of Europe. Well aside from the issues of Afghanisthan maybe.

Originally Posted by dbd33

Generally if you're hated for your ethnicity getting laid is troublesome.

Originally Posted by dbd33

I have had no problem establishing fornicatory relations with multiple people in and from Quebec.

Originally Posted by BristolUK

Wasn't that a 'size' issue though?
I seem to recall you said something about having a big one. Or was that something to do with poultry?

Originally Posted by dbd33

I think you might find the Austrian neo-nazis or the British binge drinkers are less popular cultures in Europe. Perhaps also Muslim extremists. I counter your nonsense about people in Quebec being "racist to those not French-Canadian and from Quebec basically" by pointing out that, I, a unilingual Londoner, have had no problem establishing fornicatory relations with multiple people in and from Quebec. Generally if you're hated for your ethnicity getting laid is troublesome.