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The Culture of Montreal Is European In Origin, But Maintains A Unique Identity Today

When travelers visit Montreal for the first time, just about all of them say something like: “This feels more like a city in Europe than North America.” Add in the fact that more than 66% of Montreal residents speak French as their first language, and the close ties of Montreal to Europe seem complete.

But not so fast! Surprisingly, the vast majority of Montreal residents don’t appreciate, sometimes even resent, being compared too closely with France. It violates their sense of being a unique city couched in a distinctly North American culture. Many people in Montreal will tell you that comparison’s to France begin and end with a common language – and even that does not sit well with some. Montreal residents make many distinctions between the kind of French they speak with that of the French spoken in Europe.

But there are several ways to look at the influences of Europe on Montreal, which are many, obvious and undeniable . As we know, all of North America – the United States and Canada alike – were colonized by European nations starting with the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World in 1492.

Beginning in the 1600s, it was the English and French who began moving into what is now the Unites States and Canada, beginning nearly two centuries of epic struggle between two European super powers. Just as the Spanish dominated the South American countries, the British dominated North America, but where challenged in many areas by France. For the most part, the British came out on top, but some conclaves of French culture took hold, one of the most prominent of which is Canada’s province of Quebec and the city of Montreal.

So Montreal remained a French-speaking city (all of Canada is technically bi-lingual), and indeed, the vast majority of the population there today is drawn from European roots. The current population breaks down like this: Those of  French descent make up  23% of the mix, Italians are next at 10%,  Irish 5%, English 4%, Scottish 3% and Spanish 2%.

Even so, it is important to remember that the vast majority of these people were born and bred in Canada. Most of the population of Montreal is several generations removed from its European origins. They have developed a distinct culture and a unique identity. The people of Montreal do not think of themselves in European terms. They are not only highly cognizant of, but proud of their identity as North Americans and as Canadians.

But wait – there’s one more interesting factor to consider. Canada, as a nation, is nominally still sovereign to the English monarchy! Canadians consider Queen Elizabeth to be “their Queen.”  Yes, just as the monarchy is largely symbolic in the United Kingdom, so it is in Canada, but this historic tie remains nonetheless.

So here we have one of the most interesting twists of world history. The city of Montreal is fiercely proud of its French-speaking culture, and at the same time, recognizes the English Queen as its sovereign!

Certainly, there are other factors to consider, not the least of which is the architecture of Montreal, which is powerfully evocative of European style. Many restaurants feature the cuisines of French and Italian culture — but these again have developed their own North American flavors –while retaining the essence of their European origin.

Without a doubt, Montreal represents a powerful blending of Old World Europe and New World development.

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