La Belle Province
The language debate is as alive as ever in Quebec and it now affects tech too
It was nice after a week in Toronto and the crazy busy Collision conference to hang out for a few days in Montréal, one of the few places in North America where you could think you were walking in some European city. A place with quite the history and controversial politics too. I have always had mixed feelings about the French language nationalism, the forced ‘bonjour’ you hear at every Canadian airport is somewhat off, if you ask me. That said, I really do support the people of Quebec’s quest to protect their language in a sea of English. My concerns over how Europe is transposing itself over its member states is not dissimilar. Traditionalism and cultural identity are recurring and ever popular themes and Canada’s French speaking contingent has been on the barricades on this issue forever. I also take some personal joy in speaking French: I think it is somewhat rude to address people in English when you know full well they started the discussion in French and you actually know how to respond in the same language. I got a kick out of using the lingo I last was taught at high school some 40 years ago. It’s a mystery of the human mind that the brain preserves both the knowledge and the skill and that it can be activated at a moment’s notice.
Anyway, this week some news around a recent new language law in the province got traction. Quebec’s tech sector could well suffer from the newly adopted Bill 96 which pretty well mandates using French in the workplace and extends the use of the language when dealing with local government. It could result in talent taking a pass on working in ‘La Belle Province’ which has actually been doing quite well in tech and in particular in interactive game development. It is something that will have to be addressed in some way as English, even in most continental European countries, is increasingly the language of choice to do business. Quebec may be slamming some open doors and will need to find a pragmatic way out of the mess this bill is creating while preserving its intent to protect the use of French.
In any case a few days in Montréal made realize that even the language hurdle might be worth it to give it go. A lively atmosphere, insane food options, friendly people, hot summers, good connections to Europe and the US eastern seaboard make it a nice place to settle. And: a real estate market that has not gone stratospheric.
Years ago I visited the city and after a walk in the old neighbourhood got intrigued by Hotel Nelligan, by its location, but also by the name. Canadian actress Kate Nelligan - who as far as I know has nothing to do with the hotel - is one of my favourite actresses, not least because of her key role in ‘Eye of the Needle’ a WWII spy drama with Donald Sutherland as the bad guy. Anyway, onto the hotel this week, and it was definitely worth it. Nicely located in Vieux-Montréal with a roof terrace that serves food and drink and blasts house music until late, in Quebec anything goes. Recommended.
