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We are a family of four including two children under two. I am bilingual and French (from France) and my husband is Canadian, and only speaks English. He travels a lot for his job and I am not happy at our current location so we are looking for other options. Montreal sounds ideal but I would like to know more about settling there as a family. My children are not school-aged yet but I would be interested in knowing more about the education system (as well as daycares). Would I be able to rely solely on public transportations? Are there many activities and opportunities for children, playgroups, mama/baby groups? What are the best areas for families to live in? I read and hear everywhere about the lack of job there - I have a degree in English (my husband already has a good job), what are my options? Are all jobs lacking or are there jobs that are easier to find?
Its a city with 3 and a half million people be assured it has everything you need including an excellent public transportation system, if your hubby already has a job thats great, you didnt say what kind of job you are looking for but being French you probably wont have too much trouble.
Give it a try, if it doesnt work out you could always move some where else.
Welcome to the forum..
There are 7 dollar a day daycares subsidized by the government, but demand is high and there can be a waiting list so sometimes people also resort to private daycares. Since your husband is English Canadian you have the choice of sending your children to public school in French or English and there are also French and English private schools. Those private schools that follow the public school curriculum are subsidized and cheaper than those private schools which do not. Elementary school is Kindergarden to grade 6, high school grade 7 to grade 11, then there's CEGEP which is free with the exception of some school fees where one completes a three year work program or a two year pre-university program. After this, one does three years at a university to get a bachelor degree. After that grad school works like everywhere else in the world.
You would be able to rely solely on public transportation if you'd like in all but the most distant and autocentric suburban areas, but it's more convenient the closer you are to the city proper and the subway lines.
Lots of opportunities for all those family things you mentioned.
That depends on what kind of lifestyle you want. It's a very big city, I can't just name you some random neighbourhood, most of the neighbourhoods in the metro would be fine places to raise a family.
Unemployment isn't that bad, things are better than they are in France, indeed most of Europe. There are plenty of jobs to be found, unemployment in Montreal is roughly average for Eastern Canada. Being so fluently bilingual as a Frenchwoman with an English degree, and having that university education to your name, i'm sure you'll be able to find some sort of employment without too much trouble. What kind of job are you looking for?
Thank you both for your replies.
I am looking for office work but I am pretty open to whatever is available!
We live in a very quiet area at the moment and I can't go anywhere without a car (public transportation is close to non-existant) and being from Paris and having lived in London, I am desperate for the city!
I want to be as central as possible (but obviously rent will be something to consider so a good compromise between central and reasonably priced), I want to have access to parks/playgrounds within walking distance, and be able to run errands without it being the trip of the year! Does that make sense?
I know someone from France who lives in Montreal and she has been quite negative about the employment situation (although she has a good job now) so that was a bit of a concern. But I am willing to get some experience before getting a more professional job if need be. Are there areas that are more English-speaking than others?
Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate your inputs!
Thank you Jambo101!! I have a lot of researching to do now.
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