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Yes of course you are right - it's always a good idea to check police reports esp. if you have young children. Rejeane - I lived in London for over 15 years - I lived in different areas - including when I was a student - in places full of drug gangs. I am sure you have seen what goes on in London on the news ?
So I'm quite used to living in a large urban area with good and bad areas right next to each other. Of course the more money you have, the more likely you are to live in a very nice, safe area, this must also be true in Montreal ?
But in terms of crime, I can't imagine Montreal is any WORSE than a place like London ?
I had my bag snatched 3 times in London (twice it was so cunning I didn't even notice my bag had gone) and my flat was broken into when I was a student. I came back to a door that had been broken into pieces with an axe ! My car (a very old German car I never figured why they would bother with such an old car!!) was broken into 3 times right in front of my flat (this last incident happened in a very expensive part of North London). I didn't even bother reporting it to the police as it happens so frequently in London they couldn't care less. Thieves come into the rich parts of London, they don't stay where they live, they go to rob the rich areas. So you can live in the best parts of London and still not feel safe. We moved out of London mainly due to the crime we had experienced.
The reason we chose Quebec in the first place was that our experience of meeting people from the US and Canada so far (both inside and outside of their home countries)- is that they are GENERALLY more chilled out and happy to socialise (even with people they don't know that well) than where I'm currently living. That's good enough for me
I don't expect Montreal to be some sort of paradise, but like everyone here says it's all "relative" and if I can raise my son somewhere where people are generally happy with themselves (as well as with other people) instead of being grumpy and unhappy all the time that would have a huge impact on our lives. It's very easy to get depressed in a country where almost everyone you meet is depressed and unhappy.
Quebec does seem to be very cold in the winter (something I'm used to as I have lived in a similar continental climates). Quebec seems to have quite predictable and distinct seasons. I can't count the number of times we have planned something in June/July her in the UK and it's been ruined because it has been too dark and grey or it has rained bang in the middle of summer.
If you have 3 months of sunshine per year, that would make a very happy lady ! I look forward to living in a place with seasons
Yes of course you are right - it's always a good idea to check police reports esp. if you have young children. Rejeane - I lived in London for over 15 years - I lived in different areas - including when I was a student - in places full of drug gangs. I am sure you have seen what goes on in London on the news ?
So I'm quite used to living in a large urban area with good and bad areas right next to each other. Of course the more money you have, the more likely you are to live in a very nice, safe area, this must also be true in Montreal ?
But in terms of crime, I can't imagine Montreal is any WORSE than a place like London ?
I had my bag snatched 3 times in London (twice it was so cunning I didn't even notice my bag had gone) and my flat was broken into when I was a student. I came back to a door that had been broken into pieces with an axe ! My car (a very old German car I never figured why they would bother with such an old car!!) was broken into 3 times right in front of my flat (this last incident happened in a very expensive part of North London). I didn't even bother reporting it to the police as it happens so frequently in London they couldn't care less. Thieves come into the rich parts of London, they don't stay where they live, they go to rob the rich areas. So you can live in the best parts of London and still not feel safe. We moved out of London mainly due to the crime we had experienced.
The reason we chose Quebec in the first place was that our experience of meeting people from the US and Canada so far (both inside and outside of their home countries)- is that they are GENERALLY more chilled out and happy to socialise (even with people they don't know that well) than where I'm currently living. That's good enough for me
I don't expect Montreal to be some sort of paradise, but like everyone here says it's all "relative" and if I can raise my son somewhere where people are generally happy with themselves (as well as with other people) instead of being grumpy and unhappy all the time that would have a huge impact on our lives. It's very easy to get depressed in a country where almost everyone you meet is depressed and unhappy.
Quebec does seem to be very cold in the winter (something I'm used to as I have lived in a similar continental climates). Quebec seems to have quite predictable and distinct seasons. I can't count the number of times we have planned something in June/July her in the UK and it's been ruined because it has been too dark and grey or it has rained bang in the middle of summer.
If you have 3 months of sunshine per year, that would make a very happy lady ! I look forward to living in a place with seasons
It is difficult to compare crime statistics (for everything except maybe murder) because every country classifies things differently. But knowing both the UK and Canada, Montreal is certainly every bit as safe as London, perhaps even a bit safer.
As for summers, they are generally much nicer in Quebec and Ontario than they are in England. Quite sunny and the maximum is generally between 25 and 30 C (and sometimes quite a bit higher) pretty much every single day in June-July-August, and most of May and even the first half of September are often above 20C almost every day as well.
I have lived just outside Montreal for about 10 months now. I live down in the south shore and I live in a francophone community. My French is poor although slowly improving and like you, I am a married mother who had a professional career back home (British Columbia, Canada). So, I am in your position.
I have found people here to be EXTREMELY friendly! They are kind, courteous, and always helpful. Even though my French is bad, my attempts are always met with kindness. Most people here are not bilingual (unlike Montreal) but pouvez-vous parler lentement pour moi? goes a long way. Montreal, the city itself, well, people can be rude - but that's more to do with being an impersonal city than the people themselves. That occurs *everywhere* in a large city.
I heard so many stories of "rude" French people before I moved here (I have been visiting here since 2008) but have not encountered a single one - and I am very active out & about.
RE: Weather, the weather is actually good. Yes, it's very cold in the winter but people know how to deal with it properly and it does not impede life. British Columbia is a lot like London - lots of rain, dark weather, no real summers or winter. Here, people truly embrace the seasons. I had never seen -0C before in my life but so far, I am enjoying out -25C!
Hi Aliss - thanks so much for your great posts on both threads. They are very reassuring.
People out and about on a busy work day are often rude I think wherever you go in a large city. I'm used to London underground which you have to experience for yourself on a busy route at 8 am !!
It's not so much whether SOME people are rude or not, they exist around the world, it's more to do with whether people are more likley to have a pleasant converstion with you on your doorstep, in your neighbourhood, at the school gates, in the office, etc something seriously lacking from our lives right now.
It would be nice to live in a place where one feels part of a community with similar interests, where people don't look constantly depressed and unhappy, etc where there is also high tolerance for immigrants.
The weather in any country isn't usually my no. 1 priority, but it would make an impact if we were able to get continuous good weather for at least a few weeks a year. I like sitting in my garden or in a park and enjoying good weather. My son gets very little outdoor play here in the UK because of the continously grim weather, even in the summer months. It's not healthy for a young boy to be indoors all the time.
I've spent time on the London tube, yes. People here are far more friendlier. The weather here is good for little boys - it's -20C and my boy still spends a good 30 minutes playing out in the snow (he is only 19 months) because of the availability of winter activities, proper plowing/salting of roads, proper clothing available (stuff you wouldn't even see in stores in the UK).
Immigrant tolerance.... well, I will say that one is dicey. There is some cultural backlash in the papers and on the internet, and probably in private dining rooms - there is some racism in Montreal and it mostly exists towards the francophone North African immigrants (think of France's similar issue) and towards Asian immigrants who don't/won't speak French. An immigrant from France (ie... white!) will be met with open arms. The animosity towards anglophones, well, that has always existed and always will. However, that's quite a "Montreal" issue.
I live 40 minutes from downtown in a suburb, a completely francophone community, and that stuff doesn't really happen here. Probably because it's "removed" from the situation and there aren't many immigrants. I am one myself though and have never encountered a problem, as I said, if you are willing to respect their language and make your attempt towards becoming fluent, it isn't a problem. It's the people who refuse to participate and expect you to speak English (both anglophones and allophones) that might meet some rudeness and well, that's their own fault.
I've spent time on the London tube, yes. People here are far more friendlier. The weather here is good for little boys - it's -20C and my boy still spends a good 30 minutes playing out in the snow (he is only 19 months) because of the availability of winter activities, proper plowing/salting of roads, proper clothing available (stuff you wouldn't even see in stores in the UK).
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I will concur with this. Snowy winters afford many more opportunities for outdoor recreation that cool, grey and rainy ones.
In Canada (outside of Vancouver and Victoria where it seldom snows), when it is rainy and cool in November and December, a lot of people - especially kids - are actually very eager for it to start to snow so they can get out and do stuff.
Also, if you have any doubts about summers in Montreal and southern Quebec in general, check out the suburbs of Montreal on Google satellite view for fun and see just how many houses have swimming pools in the back yard.
Unfortunately, there will always be a small minority of immigrants wherever you go who have no desire to blend in with their surroundings and they make life for themselves and everyone else very difficult. They also give all immigrants "a bad name" - in the sense that even those of us who sincerely wish to blend in suffer from the silliness of a minority who prefer not to talk to "the natives" and make zero effort to integrate.
Of course in any society it "takes two to tango" as they say and as an immigrant if you make zero effort to get to know the locals, then you are more likely to have yourself to blame !
Acajack - I think you are right. I have lived in another European country that had a very similar continental climate to southern Quebec - hot in the summer (25 - 30 C) and snowy in the winter (it used to go down to -25 C).
It is far better than what we have here in the UK. This is a personal view of course, some people prefer not to have extremes of temperature !
I have friends in Vancouver who love it there as they say it has a similar climate to the UK. Well, although I know Vancouver is very beautiful and I would love to visit one day, the fact that it rains a lot and is often grey there like the UK really puts me off wishing to live there !
I was looking at the main website of the Quebec tourism org. again just to remind myself how beautiful Quebec really is.
The lakes, rivers, snowy mountains are just stunning ! Such a diversity of landscapes you would never have time to get bored. My son and I love caravaning (hubby isn't such a fan but we usually drag him along any way !!) - it's such a super way to have family holidys. I will have to rent myself a caravan the first summer we are there : )
I'm a bit worried about driving on the other side of the road to the UK, but will take some lessons when we get there. I love having a car - if I can get used to driving there !
I have friends in Vancouver who love it there as they say it has a similar climate to the UK. Well, although I know Vancouver is very beautiful and I would love to visit one day, the fact that it rains a lot and is often grey there like the UK really puts me off wishing to live there !
We had snow last night and early this morning but has melted, as you can see from the webcam. Kat Kam
I agree with the other posters that people are generally friendlier and more helpful in Montreal than London tube stations, for example.
Wrt immigration integration issues etc., it is a bit complicated than I'd like to discuss it here.
No secret, just didn't wanna directly compare places and open a can of worm, with people telling me their bad experiences in those countries. If you'd like some recommendations, I'd say Turkey, Senegal, Indonesia and Mali come to mind. They're not the most accommodating places on Earth when it comes to various infrastructure (roads, technology, safety, etc), but the people have a no-nonsense attitude that is quite refreshing (and yes, annoying at times).
Last edited by gummyworm; 01-25-2012 at 06:18 AM..
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