Is this true about people in Montreal?

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K B

Snobby? No! Occasionally you will run into a died in the wool Separatist who pretends he can't understand a word you are saying but then you can run into people who are died in the wool something or other just about everywhere. Mostly though, Montrealers are a terrific lot of people with that good old Quebecois joie de vivre - it even rubs off on us English folks. LOL

I have found that people who look for and/or expect positive responses from others usually get positive responses. It is also true that people who look for and/or expect negative responses from others usually get negative responses. So go there with the same attitude you would have when you go to Ontario or California or anywhere else. You'll be fine and you will like Montreal.

The guy who said, "There are many good universities across Canada that are just as good as McGill." obviously does not know much about Universities. How good a school it is for you would depend on what you are studying and there are some faculties at McGill that are hard to beat.

Bitsy

I lived in Montreal as a child, when Quebec was trying to separate from Canada. Tensions between the English and French were high back then, and I remember Francophones being quite rude to Anglophones (and vice versa). We moved away to Ontario a few years later, and as a result, I lost my ability to speak French. Thirty years later, I returned to Montreal last summer. Things have changed tremendously, if you ask me! Everyone under 50, I'd say, speak both English and French beautifully.

I find that Montealers appreciate it if you at least TRY to speak French (say "bonjour" and "merci bien"), otherwise they may get the idea that you are an arrogant "Anglaise". Keep in mind, you're in their territory: this ain't America.

You know what I do? When in a restaurant, say, I greet the server with "Bonjour, hi!" They can tell right away that you are English and will switch to English for you, no problem. Another thing that works wonders for me is to say "Je suis haunteuse parce que je ne peut pas parler le Francais aussi bien que je veut." This means, "I am ashamed that I can't speak French as well as I would like." They appreciate this immensely and find it somewhat humorous and charming and will either help you with your French or will switch to English. I've always had pleasant results doing this! It shows you are not an arrogant American or English Canadian insisting on being spoken to in English.

To give you an example of the kind of thing Montrealers have to put up with, primarily from Americans, I'm afraid: we were at a cafe having breakfast in Montreal last summer and an American family were seated nearby. The woman constantly complained, loudly, about the food and service. She complained about the waitress, saying, "She doesn't even speak MY LANGUAGE!" as if this was the most absurd thing she had ever encountered. We had the same server and she spoke perfect English. I suspect that this woman was so rude that the server refused to accommodate her by speaking English.

So the lesson here: be polite, attempt a few French phrases, make fun of yourself, and don't be rude to the locals and you'll be fine.

Meredith B

If you've been accepted to McGill don't pass it up! It's one of the most reputable Universities in the world (unless you're in the arts, then go to Concordia).
Montrealers are not snobby, particularly downtown. It's harder as an Anglo (English speaking person) the further away from the city you go, but if you stay downtown, you'll have no problems.
Like the others have said, just don't be ignorant and insist on being spoken to in English only. If you at least make an effort to say bonjour and then switch it'll be fine.
When I was in University (a few yrs ago) my international friends never had any problems, and most of them didn't want to leave after graduation.
Don't worry, you'll love it here!

MinLo

No, I'm not sure why your friends have that impression! I went to McGill and never thought that at all. There are rude people in every city but I've never found Montreal to be worse than any other city.

Denetella

Heh! I don't know what you are talking about! I am a true Montrealer and have been here all my life. I own rental property in the Plateau, the hippest area in Montreal, and the most preferred area to live in for the Mcgill crowd, minutes walking to the Mcgill campus. I have rented over and over again to Mcgill students coming from all over the world and I can tell you with extreme confidence to not pass up this chance to go to this school. Montreall is extremely hip, and the Mcgill campus is gorgeous, lots of 17-18th century mansions on campus donated to the University by English well to do and royal families. This University is excellent and is well known for many things. The Plateau and Mcgill ghetto are mostly english areas here, everybody is very friendly, and what a great area to study in located downtown close to all bars, nightlife, and shopping!
If you have the chance to come to Montreal to study at McGill, don't pass it up. It will be the best times of your life!

John S

Only if you're from Ontario! But I find Montrealers incredibly kind and hospitable. More so than any place I've ever been in my life! (I'm very well traveled, don't worry!) If you think they're going to be like the French, you are mistaken. Quebecois have excellent temperament, manners, work ethic and taste. They are they best of Europe and North America.

Vi.

I've been to Montreal quite a few times and never got that vibe. Some people think Torontonians are more snobby, but being from there I don't see where that would be coming from. I think some people are more polite and others are not, doesn't really have to do with where you are really =/

btw, I saw the campus on my last visit there and it's BEAUTIFUL/plenty of cute guys :)

Chris I

I've been here 40 years and never noticed people were particularly snobby.

Montreal is fairly bilingual and it prides itself on welcoming tourists so English speakers are usually made to feel very welcome.

You will find a few bad apples in every barrel but I wouldn't waste time worrying about them. McGill is a great school and I'm sure you will have a great experience.

smellyelly00

The downtown area is very anglophone so you shouldn't worry about people being snobby because you don't speak French. This of course changes when you leave the downtown hub to go to areas more francophone. Some people are very defensive of the French language and expect you to speak French in Quebec, but that will mainly be older people in the Montreal area. Outside of Montreal is a different story.. I think you would get more attitude from all people in general.

Other than that, I never heard people say that Montreal people are snobby, we have superficial people who care about what you wear and all but by no means is that how all montrealers act.

Kamilla V

Not True at all

Everywhere you go you will find snobbish people that's just our human nature lol.

But most people in MTL are very nice and always willing to help :)

So Rah-Sha-Sha!

Not true. Of course you will find obnoxious people anywhere you go, but Montreal is a great place with lots of friendly people.

wombat.moose

i have met good and bad people there, but most people are nice, especially most of the university students because they come from all over, although it probably gets that reputation because there are some french people that may come off as arrogant, but really they just dont speak enough english to sound friendly, i know this because once you talk in french they sound nicer, except for the occasional french extremist that yells at you for speaking english (which is very rare), overall i find most people to be more reserved than americans in general but usually very nice.

Avis de J.J. / J.J's Advice

No, Montrealers aren't any more "snobby" than people in any other city.
Probably the richest area is the Westmount/Plateau area, and you might find some snobby rich people there.
Perhaps the perception of snobbyness comes from the fact that Montreal is a prodominantly French city. The majority of the population here is Francophone, and there's nothing wrong with that, so I guess sometimes they get annoyed when people insist on talking French to them. On the other hand, most are quite accomodating. If you go downtown and start talking to someone in French, and they can tell you have an English accent, they'll likely switch to English.

Think of it like if you went to Mexico and expected everyone there to accomodate you and speak English. Sure their are lots of people there who can speak English, and will probably try and accomodate you by doing so, but if they don't speak English and you persist, they'd get rather annoyed. Quebec is like a seperate country, and many French Quebecers actually believe that it is a seperate country.

Admitted I'd have to agree that there are friendlier places in Canada, like the Maritimes, and Winnipeg, but I can't say I've ever thought of Montreal as being "snobby".

baviello22

Even if by some long reach of someone's imagination they found montrealers to be snobbish, mcgill is a completely dfferent situation. There are students from all over the world and very welcoming and friendly. dont pass up the opportunity to go to the best university in canada. PS MONTREAL ARE NOT SNOBBY!!! lol

Alessandro

more the francophones, thought university students are always nice when ever they ask me something their always nice so u shouldnt have a problem

Lieu. Provo Parry Wallis

I've heard from different people that McGill is pretty snobby. I find Montreal a bit snobby in general, but I would still move there because its a great city.

Sambo

Yes Montreal people can be very snobby ,especially if you are english speaking. I lived there in 2005, and would never like to live there again. Other parts of Canada are more friendly.

onoffon

Yes it is true. I worked there for 2 years. If you don't speak french, forget it, it's like living on another planet. They act like snobby people from France, and think they are superior to everyone else. There are many good universities across Canada that are just as good as McGill.

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