We, my husband and me, have been thinking about moving to Montreal for quite some time now and in preparation of the plan we have filed immigration papers(CSQ). My Husband is a Brit and I'm born in the US and we both currently live in the US.

I have my interview happening here in the NY center soon and I must say that I'm rather demotivated about the whole move. This is after reading many experiences posted on boards like this one. Most people seem to be moving away from Quebec in a year or two. The racism seems to be directed towards anyone and everyone who is not a traditional quebecer or french man. I've even read on another forum(I forget the website) that office politics is very hard to deal with,as all the native quebecers gang-up against the so-called-anglophones-trying-to-learn-French. My Husband is into Project Management(MBA,PMP) and I'm into the Tech industry(Website dev and programming). We, obviously, are going to have office jobs. My French is intermediate(I'm continuing to work on it) and my husband is just learning. I imagine that finding decent jobs might be hard without French but after putting in the effort to learn their language , learn the culture and then move there, still not being able to get close to them would annoy me and I would move out of the province or come back to the US(or move to my husband's country). On the contrary, I've also heard a lot of Brits, Americans, Africans and Asians who have moved there with very minimal French(basic) and have got jobs that they desired. I really don't know what to expect. I plan to visit montreal soon but my experience as a visitor, I am sure, will be different from one that has lived there.

Can I request to hear experiences from those of you that are happy there? OR perhaps, experiences from those that are not happy too?

Can I just ask why, of all the places to live in Canada, you have chosen Montreal? I might have misread the post but it seems that you aren't coming to pre-arranged jobs?

Good question geedee! Well, for my husband and me it sounds interesting to soak in a new language and yet be in North America. So we chose Quebec. We, also, have been wanting to move to Canada. However, reading so many hatred posts (across many forums), I'm a little worried now.

I have lived here for 5 years or so, and have not yet encountered a single instance of a Quebecer trying to make my life difficult because I'm English.... except the poxy government of course, but that's another story! I believe that attitude has quite the influence on what you experience.

There are "Anglophone" areas in Montreal and off the island to the West, but I'll leave you to that research! That will ease you in.

You might be light on points if you choose to come the Provincial route for residency.... having fluent French earns you a lot of points! I would do the on-line QC qualification test first.

If you fail, you can always choose Eastern Ontario.... the border is perhaps 30 minutes from Montreal Island. But, they speak more French there than in Montreal!

I'd do a bit more research before you apply.

Having said that, if you choose QC, it's not a bad place. There may be one or two xenophobic racists around, but you'll find that everywhere.

Come in with a reasonable attitude and I'm sure you will be OK... you can always leave again!

geedee - thanks, your post was a blessing in disguise putting rest to my worries. Ofcourse, i undestand that every country/community has its share of angry and racist people but from what I read/heard it sounded as the montreal has most of such people if not all. This definitely scared me. We plan to have kids and raise kids in MTL, unless there is a better job oppurtunity that pushes us out of MTL or Quebec.

As far as the points are concerned: I haven't really researched other Provincial programs and I don't know what you mean by light on points. We have already filed our application for CSQ and our interview notice has also come in. I guess we do qualify so far. My French is intermediate and I can hold converasations in French unless the French man/woman is speaking at a fast pace. My Husband is just starting to learn and he now know what bonjour means lol. I would imagine that he would have a hard time finding a job though but that's a later story. Office politics is what worries me the most and that's the whole point of this post. My Husband is into Project MAnagement. I have researched anglophone areas in Montreal and I actually open to living in a francophone area too(doesn't really matter to me).

By border areas, I believe you mean Gatineau-Ottawa?

Many thanks for your post. I look forward to more replies

Yes, Gatineau is one place, but I was thinking closer, Hawkesbury, Alexandria, Cornwall etc.

I did mention on another post that the Francophone suburbs can be a little anal when it comes to the French thing... you might honestly be better getting somewhere that's more bi-lingual, at least until your husband is fluent. Westmount, Beaconsfield, Kirkland.... all have a high percentage of Anglos living there, together with Francos, so you get the best of both...

Good luck.

Hmm, I see your point about anglophone areas. Thanks.

I believe the job location does not matter because MTL has a good public transit system? If there's no public transit system then I migth want to take that into consideration too.

Public transport is OK downtown, and they do have rail links further out. There don't seem to many bus services though, and it can be a long walk to the train station when it's -40 if you don't choose your location well!
The closer into town you are, the more "International" it becomes, but of course, more expensive!

I forgot to say... how awkward would it be for you both to take a brief vacation there? You'll get a much better idea...

Thanks

Gatineau is pretty bilingual. I'm not sure Cornwall is. Mostly anglo, I think.

I'm struggling to see the attraction in moving to Alexandria or Hawkesbury. What's there?

I don't think Montreal should be written-off. I talk to quite a few tech/industrial companies up there. Many have English as the operating language.

Souvy, yes, Cornwall is pretty much Anglo from the little I've seen of the place. Alexandria and Hawkesbury... well, there's not much there to be honest! But they are very close to the border (and I suggested these in case the OP decided against Quebec, but still wanted to be close to Montreal) and they are very bi-lingual.... in fact, probably more Franco than anything. Obviously if people want to be near the heart of the city, not good choices, but if you want to be in Ontario, but commuting distance to Montreal (it will probably take 1 h 15m to get downtown if there's no accidents!!) they're not bad areas to live.

PS I agree with you, Montreal is nothing like the Anglo/Franco battle ground some people say it is!!

Most of Ontario east of Ottawa (other than down by the the St Laurent) is mainly franco. Hawkesbury certainly is. I see no point in that place, other than the bridge. I'm not even sure why Alexandria has a VIA station.

They do both have Dairy Queens that sell burgers!! For some reason in QC it's ice-cream only....

My missus worked in DQ as a teen. She made a great start on day-one.

It takes some doing to make a banana split with everything but the, er, banana. The customer sort-of noticed.