Culture shock I experienced as a Brit in Montreal

I started my Canadian working holiday adventure around a year ago (in Toronto). Just when I thought I’d gotten used to the cultural differences between Canada and my home in the UK, I came to Montreal and experienced culture shock all over again!

Montreal (and the province of Quebec in general) is completely unique because it’s predominantly French-speaking, and daily life feels more European at times than Canadian. Here’s everything I’ve found surprising about Montreal during my first few weeks living here.

1. The language barrier

If you’re downtown or in a touristy area, people will be able to speak English, and the menus and signs are written in both languages. But in the suburbs where the locals live, suddenly you will only hear and see French being used.

You can get by with a mix of basic French knowledge and Google Translate when tackling small tasks like ordering food or buying groceries. However, if you want to settle in Montreal, take your French classes seriously, because you can’t (and shouldn’t) expect English to be used or prioritised when conversing with Québécois.

2. Classy day drinking

The concept of day drinking is not new to me; as a Brit, we spend a lot of time in pub gardens. But compared to home, there’s not as much emphasis on drinking culture in Canada, so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen people day drinking! Unlike a laidback British pub, Montrealers (like the French) prefer to frequent classy wine bars. Interestingly, many of these bars only open during the day, doubling up as cafes serving pastries and coffees alongside an extensive wine menu. It’s perfectly acceptable here to meet a friend or even have a work meeting over a midday glass of wine (and it immediately makes me feel at home again!).

3. A pretty city

There’s nothing better, in my opinion, than European architecture. Hanging flower baskets in every doorway, gothic churches, towering cathedrals, wrought iron balconies… I could go on, but you get the idea. Montreal is a feast for the eyes. It doesn’t necessarily have big tourist attractions like the CN Tower in Toronto, but that’s because the city itself is the experience. My favourite thing to do is just wander the streets, taking in the atmosphere, and grabbing a coffee and a pastry to enjoy in one of the many beautiful town squares or parks.

Also, compared to some of the other cities I’ve spent time in recently (New York, Toronto, London, etc.), it’s impressively clean. My understanding is that Montreal puts a lot of effort into cleaning up, and I noticed when attending the free downtown festivals that there wasn’t rubbish or empty drinks containers strewn across the floor like you’d expect to see. Plus, having spent a year dodging seats on the Toronto trains (they’ll be covered in bedbugs and/or urine), it’s a relief to see the Montreal metro cars are clean… and functional!

4. French flavour profiles over Canadian

Just like their taste in wine, the food in Montreal is closer to French/European palettes than the Canadian flavour profiles I’ve been getting used to. For example, you’re more likely to find cafes serving French pastries and bread than soups and salads. Instead of sweet, flavoured frappuccinos, coffee menus are traditional (cappuccino, espresso, etc.) and served with real milk (unlike the rest of Canada, it’s difficult to find cafes in Montreal that serve dairy-free milks, which is the same problem I have in France).

5. Smoking is still popular

I’ve gradually gotten used to cities in Canada smelling strongly of weed (it’s not legal in the UK yet, so our streets don’t really smell of cannabis). Now I’m having to get used to the smell of cigarettes; yep, another similarity to their European cousins. This is the only Canadian province I can think of where it’s more common to see people smoking tobacco instead of vaping or using cannabis. They smoke while they eat, while they drink; I even saw a man jogging and smoking at the same time!

6. There’s more cyclists and joggers than cars

Speaking of joggers, they are everywhere. Montrealers love to get outside and stay active (perhaps it’s to offset the pastries and wine?). Even on the hottest days of the year, with no shade, the streets are full of people running and cycling. The outdoor gyms are always full, too. Montreal is more of a cycle-safe city than Toronto, where there weren’t many designated cycle paths, so this probably contributes to the higher number of cyclists I’ve seen. I’ve learnt the hard way to look both ways before stepping out onto the street because you might get mown down by a speedy Montrealer out for their daily exercise.

7. Intense weather

I wouldn’t be British if I didn’t constantly talk about the weather. I struggled getting used to Canadian weather in general, with the summers being overwhelmingly hot and the winters unbearably cold. What I’ve noticed about Montreal heat is that it feels more akin to a Florida-level of heat, where you step into an oven of hot air and there is no relief. Toronto was also hot, but it was more of a wet heat, and there would be some breeze. Montreal also seems to have more thunderstorms, and it’s quite normal for entire suburbs to lose power for hours at a time during these storms!

8. The place to be in summer

I’ve heard people say Montreal is the best city to be in for Canadian summer and (weather aside) I have to agree. There are many free events and festivals; sometimes, there are so many on the same day that you struggle to choose what to attend! One of the issues I had with living in Toronto was the lack of summer events: you could sit at the beach or in a park or on one of the Toronto Islands, but there weren’t many actual events on. In Montreal, you still have options for relaxing or catching up with friends, but you’ve also got extra activities for when you want a bit of a party!

9. More of a relaxed atmosphere

Finally, I’ve discovered Montreal is closer to that relaxed European vibe than a North American city. Toronto was very North American in its always-on-the-go hustle culture, which isn’t always healthy to get sucked into. As I said earlier, people in Montreal like to take time out to prioritise life: exercise, good food, drink, etc. For one of Canada’s biggest and busiest cities, everything feels really calm. I don’t like crowds and sometimes a big city can be daunting, but Montreal’s downtown and old port areas don’t feel too hectic to navigate, even on weekends and evenings. Overall, it’s a pleasant, laidback city, and I can’t wait to get to know it more!