Rent crisis did this to Toronto and it's now doing the same to Montreal. All because of a few greedy people. It is very sad and heartbreaking to notice.
It's all because of mass immigration. I'm not blaming immigrants themselves, but rather blaming the government for allowing in this many people. Canada accepted more than 1 million immigrants in 2022. It is unsustainable, it is causing a housing crisis, it is changing the cultures of Canada much too rapidly, and it's all thanks to Trudeau. If you love this country, vote Conservative.
Je pense que c’est important de soutenir les petites entreprises . Moi, je vis aux États-Unis, en New Jersey, et j’apprends le français. Je veux visiter Québec et parler avec les gens là-bas🤍 Quand je visite, et si je décide de habiter là-bas, je vais toujours soutenir les locaux et les petites entreprises❤️ Aussi, j’espère que le meilleur avec toi and ta carrière!
S'il y avait plus de personnes comme toi, le monde serait meilleur. Avec une telle attitude, tu as déjà gagné le cœur des Québécois et tu n'auras aucun problème a t'intégrer et a découvrir la riche culture Québécoise.
I don't want to be the Debbie Downer, but I'll tell you this: if you're an anglophone, regardless of how good your French is, Québec is not the place for you. If you have doubt, read some of the other comments on this thread. They demand respect from us, but don't respect us. I've lived here my whole life, and things only seem to grow more tense.
Montreal isn't losing its soul but the Mile End has turned into a rich kid's playground. I lived on Maguire for over 10 years, the neighbourhood was fantastic, full of artists and families. It was a a bit gritty but it had tons of personality. Then Ubisoft moved in up the street and its "cool kid" employees invaded, you could feel the change immediately. I started seeing flyers on telephone polls saying "looking for an apartment, willing to pay 1000$ to whoever finds me one". At that time, that was almost twice my rent. Now, when I go back to the area, it makes me want to cry because it has turned into an Instagram caricature. It has been the victim of the worst kind of gentrification, ruined by too much money and people who never knew what made that place special.
When I was young, for about 3 years, I use to spend my weekend nights in old Montreal on St-Paul street where there was 3 bars with live French and rock & folk music called Le St-Vincent, le Pierrot and le 2 Pierrots. Me and my friends had such good times in these bars specifically the Pierrot which played about 90% French and mainly French Québécois music. The atmosphere and vibe in this bar was just incredible like a communion between people who lived to sing , drink and have fun. Every time visitors from outside Québec came to Montreal, we would take them to one of these 3 bars so they can fully live the Québécois joie de vivre, it's culture and it's incredible music. The Saint -Vincent closed its doors in the late 90, the Pierrot close its door in the 2010 and the last survivor the 2 Pierrots just closed its doors during the pandemic. I always talk about this place to my son and promised him I would take him to the 2 Pierrots when he turned 18, unfortunately he turned 18 during the pandemic and the bar closed before he could ever live this experience. At one point the Québécois music was so popular that it could allow many such bars to be open and thrive across the province even on week days all year long. Now that the youth is mostly connected on international streaming platforms where algorithms do not favor french and even less french Québécois music then these bars slowly lost their public and all these bars had to close one by one. This reminded me when you did a clip on Montreal what are you listening too and of all the people you interviewed, not a single person was listening to French or Québécois music and this saddened me very much. I feel like the the Anglo Saxon world with its powerful cultural marketing machine is slowly chipping away at all local culture and gradually destroying the beauty and diversity of world cultures and this is also affecting the vibe of Montreal. If we do nothing and let Montréal turn into yet another predominantly anglo American city, we will definitely loose out on how cool it is to feel like being in a different country when you visit Montreal or Québec province.
Que de bons souvenirs et comme on se sentait bien et fier de notre belle culture naissante. Harmonium, Paul Piché. Essayez de les retrouver aujourd'hui.
"Yet another predominantly Anglo American" LOLOLOL. dude, you can worry about American chains making our city Generic, but I don't think you have to worry about those boogie man Anglos. 20% of the Entire Island is Anglo and they're mostly in westmount and the west Island. The other anglos on the rest of the Island make up a minuscule amount. You sound like a CAQ or PQ propagandist.
Dan, your contribution to Montreal maintain its soul is unmeasurable! Pls keep doing these city videos, as ppl all over the world are watching and looking forward to move in to MTL 🇨🇦
In the past, before the McDonald's set up shop, there was a small restaurant called the Rapido, an institution for all Plateau night owls in the 2000s. We came there to eat, but also to see Carmen, the waitress and pillar of the place, who had always been there, with her almost maternal presence...J'y repense avec émotion. Merci pour cette vidéo Dan, et pour cette belle et profonde réflexion sur l'âme de Montréal 🙏
Funny YT suggests this vid right now, I was reflecting on that matter this weekend. I've been living in MTL for 42 years, raised and born, and I left cuz it's too expensive now. I find it sad and frustrating to think I have been working here, studying, going out, shopping, paying taxes, volunteering etc. all my life and I'm now basically being told to pack my bags so a few already wealthy businessmen can make as much money as they can with real estate. Seeing today's St-Denis/Mont-Royal corner kinda makes me wanna puke honestly
I’m a Montrealer, born and raised - and I LIVE for the mom and pop shops and restaurants. Maybe you could interview some owners of spots. Not sponsored. It’s always cool to discover new spaces and give them a moment in the spotlight! Maybe people will pick the 4th corner if they know more about it
Thanks for talking about something that is in the heart of all Montrealers who live here for a long time. I've been living here for 36 years and I still clearly remember all the factories in the plateau and mile end when I was a kid. We used to go play hide and seek in some of these factories at night. Crazy times !
I'm from Toronto, have travelled a fair amount, and live in Montreal now. Unfortunately it's happening everywhere. You see the same chain stores in every major city, glass monolith condos springing up everywhere, everything and everyone with a soul being priced out...
came and lived here for a year as an exchange student from europe and absolutely fell in love with the city for the same reasons you describe in the video. it truly is an exceptional place, with its own beautiful spirit. im coming back this summer, beginning of august, and im so freaking sad to see that one of my favourite bookstores from a year ago is going to be gone by then... rip.
just moved here from vancouver. i'm a fulltime bartender. every single person told me i'd be much better off financially here but it hasn't proven to be true. you actually have more disposable income in vancouver for a few reasons. just thought i'd write this incase other people were planning on making the move! you might be in for a bit of a shock. still an awesome city and I prefer it to vancouver as a city, but no, it isn't more affordable if you work in hospo.
r u talking of income tax? sales tax?drinks in mtl and going out in general is more expensive. but if you like going for bike rides and social local events in montreal such as dance clubs then Mtl is more affordable. the bixi is more affordable. the communauto is less expensive than evo carshare. insurance is much cheaper than icbc. of course rent is more than half the price as opposed to Vancouver. it depends what you are doing with your life. if you live downtown montreal and go out clubbing a few times a week than its more expensive than living in Burnaby and going for nature walks, of course.
@@ktowniecity7269 hey ktown. my paychecks are half of what they were in vancouver, this is because the wage is 3 dollars lower and they put tips on your payslip so you get taxed on those too. I definitely agree food and drinks are a little ore expensive. rent is also not half vancouver, i'd say if you're lucky it's a third cheaper, you'd be lucky to get a nicer one bedroom in a decent neighborhood of montreal like mile end for less than 1300. a similar apartment in say, mount pleasant in vancouver would be around 2000.
@@tomlevitt4133 mille end is the hip area. id compare it more to commerical drive in vancouver more so than the old industrial part of vancouver and mount pleasant but yeah both are much more expensive than MTL. there are 1 bedroom apts available in verdun-ndg for 800-1000$, you just have to look a bit instead of relying on online ads. income tax is definitely the thing. i easily make 200-300$ less in mtl a pay cheque but save 150$ on car insurance a month and about 700$ on rent. its easily much cheaper in mtl compared to vancouver after living in both cities over 10 years but if you live in the mille end and work and play in the bar scene it will always be much more expensive
The subway is more affordable than Vancouver . You can drink in parks, housing is much affordable than Vancouver ..... If you go to farmers markets for food it is way cheaper , biking is amazing . Nature is everywhere and accessible . A lot of activities are free and offer by public librairies and cities .
@@jeanbolduc5818 And I also forgot to say that there aren't a million homeless everywhere in MTL unlike in Vancouver. They are well overdue for an earthquake in the ring of fire. Forest fires are a yearly concern now in a more dry climate with air pollution being a major concern for your lungs. They had major flooding last time in was there in 2021 that washed out all the highways including farmland in Abbotsbord, BC. The west coast has a ton of social and environmental issues not to mention every city is far as all hell whereas you can travel to almost anywhere on the east coast by car from mtl in 5-8 hrs. The benefits far outweigh any negatives besides the French and the cold but both those two factors also keep out all of the less agreeable and riff raff of society.
Toronto began to loose it’s soul in the late 90’s. I appreciated that Montreal still managed to keep much of what made the city so unique and special. Sad that Montreal is now going down the same road Toronto has.
In the late 90’s, it's when public transit started to go down. I move to Toronto in 1994. Then the city said the fares were high because of low ridership. By the early 2000, then they said the fares were high because of a 6% rise in ridership. Go figure.
Oh forget it! The former cities of Vancouver and Toronto are long dead and gone. After being basically att acked for almost four decades, those places are just "zones" now. It's a Crimes Against Humanity and Treason to citizens of the places, and same for any other country going through this crime. Canada's situation is worse though, because the damage was further done with stopping or suppressing further building of mass transit, as well as Maas immigration for almost three or four decades. The amount of people let in during those periods, are basically a medium-sized city each year. The gov't, developers and corporations (The lines are blurred haha) need to grow up, flex their muscles and show off what they can do by building new cities. That's how cities and towns started anyway. But it's too late: this must have been done a long time ago.
@@alexsdb9712 I know the TTC has been lacking in it's service for decades. It became obvious that the system was becoming overburdened even before the migrant crisis. Toronto roads and highways are congested as hell. The city either has to spend billions on public transit and hopefully in a decade you get some improvement or somehow curb the influx of people coming to live there. The cost of living in cities like Toronto are pushing long-term residents who still want quality of life to leave and in their place we have one giant government supported "refugees" center.
Ce sandwich était énorme! 🐢 I am not from Montréal but I stayed to the end. Comme toujours. About the loss of a city's soul: It has been THE topic in San Francisco for decades, yes, decades, ever since it sold itself to tourism. But City Lights Bookstore (founded in 1953) remains on the border of Chinatown and North Beach even though those neighborhoods are not as they were. I'm not sure there's an answer to the issue because we certainly don't want our cities to become fossils and we also don't want them to cater to Ausländer more than residents. Example: Cable cars used to be merely another part of MUNI and one could transfer to them from buses or streetcars or trolleys; now locals cannot transfer to them and they are quite pricey because the tourists wanted to ride on them and the City wanted to make more money. Also, I'd like to think that this issue is solely about cities in North America but I'm not sure it is. You have traveled much more extensively than I and I wonder if you have seen this kind of homogenization/globalization and resistance in cities other than Lisboa. PS I love to see grass growing. 🤣
Thanks for sharing your interesting YT video on Montréal... Born, raised and lived in the city throughout many historical events (FLQ, Blue Bird fire, EXPO 67, cone-free Downtown, Expos at Jarry Park, HABs winning at the Forum, Rockheads, Centre Bell, Champlain Bridge). The city will always have its unique multi-culture flavour and the bilingual languages. Montréal has had its glory days in the past and is struggling to get back up on its feet. The Plateau, Mile End, Villeray areas used to the the hoods of the "artists"... Remembered spending time in friend's warehouse lofts but corporate greed and the real estate boom has changed all that. It's too expensive just to live in your OWN space... Supporting the local cafés and businesses will always help but corporate greed is just a few steps away waiting for the right time to jump in. St-Henri was a hidden gem until it was discovered... changes will always happen... better for the future? Montréal will always be Montréal... and pop, pop, pop condos went up all over. Still one of the Best cities in the world to live in... Hang in there Montréal!
It's hard to say something without pissing someone off, but I will be honest. Montreal is not what I remember from 10, 15 years ago for example. Completely different city today, different people and population. Montreal is basically the next Toronto now.
Man I live in montreal and completly agree with you. Everytime I find a small independent shop the employees are always passionate about what they sell and are happy to work there. Where as everytime I enter a fast food everyone seems dead inside and even agree they are working there just for the money. There is no better experience then to discover new things. Keep searching for that 4th corner guys!!
Dave. You forgot to show that at saint Denis and mont royal corner a pastry chef had te courage to open his own bakery despite the international restaurants. It was just behind you and is called Zébulon pastry. Opened one year and a half ago. They make delicious coffee and many other delicious food
Yes it is. As bloggers, journalists and websites keep promoting Montreal as a top university city, it's more and more becoming a city of international students.
@@elhassanhannouni6598 Rent goes up in central parts of the city and it's chasing long-term residents in favor of temporary resident. Heck, I was driving in the McGill area when the semester was over and students were moving, the streets full of trash, broken furnitures all over the place.
@@cedric3883 I understand where you're coming from, but i just didn't see the correlation, i think the area is not only made of international students, plus the people renting places are the ones favorizing itl students because they can make a larger profit bu overpricing. And the fact that there was broken furniture i would redirect you to the times where people broke everything in the nineties when the habs won the cup, and i didn't see any people of color on the footage, I AM NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST, i just want to show that whenever there are large groups of people, a small group tends to do bad stuff which gives off a bad image of the larger group, which is unfortunate. My point is, generalizing is bad, and no matter where you live, there will be good or bad, regardless of their status or their race.
@@cedric3883 To be fair, this is not a recent phenomenon. Been growing for decades. And it is a Canadian-wide. And I have no problem in attracting young people from around the world to study here and then make it their home. As far as I am concerned, they are welcome.
Montreal is a world class city of 400 years old , UNESCO design city, unique in North america and french is the official language . Montreal used to be the Capital of Canada , a resilient city , even after some conservatives ( tory) anglophones burnt down the parliament of Canada in Montreal in 1849 , that event never changed the Quebec culture . Montreal ( Quebec ) has been a resilient society for the past 500 years and will always survive .
Compare all the Montreal Parks. Jarry Parry, Lafontaine Park, etc Best park during the day, night, socializing, dance, yoga, medieval swords club. Be as random as you can
🐢Damn I’ve been telling my friends this. Ever since the pandemic, Montréal has been losing bits and pieces of it’s soul. Thankfully, it still has Tam Tams and I don’t think that will ever go away. Which is a good thing because to me Tams is a big part of Montréal’s spirit🐢
Have you been to the Tam Tams recently? a mere shadow of what once was. There are usually 2 polarized competing drummer areas...the traditional one in front of the Angel statue and now, another , further up the hill...so u gotta hear a double bass hit when you get nearby. Kinda polarized ? There are maybe a few hundred people around the drummer area where there used to be 1000's...the park is busy but everyone is spread out over a vast area of parkland. Definitely dying out post Covid. And don't get me started on how magnificent the Tam Tams were when I first moved here over 20 years ago when Montreal was kinda almost bankrupt, racist politicians were rampant (some things never change) and the city had an almost decadent Berlin like atmosphere and was so different from Toronto , where I'd previously lived. Well, all that has changed as this city joins the gentrification bandwagon. The Tam Tams were where everyone who was cool met on a Sunday. One would rise, rather late, likely with a hangover, and just head over,alone, to the Tams in the areas where your friends usually hanged around 3 or 4pm..No cell phones but you always met up with friends from all over the city. In those days , it was a free for all, anarchistic hippy-like gathering where everything was a go. Gays and straights would just wander up into the woods for some sex al flagrante, people wandered about selling weed, mushrooms, cocktails out of large thermoses and food galore , often barbecued , delicious and from around the world...but they were not "licensed" so the city wasn't making any money out of this brilliant , very busy , Sunday event. And the big handsome shirtless burly boys who'd walk about carrying big garbage pails filled with iced beers for sale...It was absolutley brilliant. The city and the cops turned a blind eye and pretty much let us have our fun on our holiest of days. And then the police state started to transform the city...the prostitutes were driven away from St Catherine and St Laurent, the Village gay bars closed down their back rooms...all of the low lying bushes in parc Lafontaine were cut down and police surveillance picked up for the hunt of gay men who used to frequent the parks for fun. The "city" announced that one could drink alcohol in a park, only if you had a picnic lunch with you. One could be ticketed if you'd already finished the food but were still drinking. The cops swept through the Tam Tams ticketing and busting tons of people every Sunday with the claim that "the bikers and drug dealers" had taken over the event and that violence was on the rise in the park. Nonsense...there may have been some sort of gang infiltration because there was a lot of drug use in the park but it was mostly weed. Its a peaceful hippy Sunday gathering. All of the "illegal" food vendors were ticketed (health dept.) and the alcohol sales dissappeared. We now had to bring our own booze and food but always had to keep an eye out for the cops. People stopped going, en masse, and it just became a tourist trap . The suburbanites gathered and all of the cool downtown/Plateau people stopped going. Its really sad...but .Montreal has become , a lot, like any other big american city. I left Toronto for a reason. Still a great city...at least the people. On another note, My room mate was recently fined a 150$ ticket for smoking a joint right at the Tam Tams by police. He is a big Latino boy who was alone and minding his own business. The facist racist conservative separatist government in Quebec city are forced to legalize weed , but here you're only allowed to smoke it at home. It is illegal to smoke cannabis ANYWHERE outside in quebec. Pathetic really...people still smoke weed in droves all over the city , but do watch out cause Montreal ain't that cool anymore.
Being native from Montreal, my biggest take or fear is the French eroding from the city. Which I believe is the essence of the city. I grew up thinking that the whole world spoke only French as grew up on the east side. Today, I sometimes struggled to be served in French in my own neighborhood I grew up in. Truly heartbreaking. In my opinion, french is the essence of Montreal much more than it’s stores. And it’s loosing it to be an English/North American city. Disheartening
@Caetano.Galli.Gonzalez I think your opinion is based on whatever small interactions you're making in your personal life that doesn't reflect actual percentages and survey studies in reality. Of the 9 million+ people who populate quebec 8 million speak French (first language). Within the 1 million who are considered to have other languages as their mother tongue, 25% of those people are fluently bilingual. French isn't going anywhere in quebec with the language laws in place. Unfortunately, for a very stubborn demographic, the importance of English is not valued in a vast majority of French households. You don't learn English. You close doors it's just that simple of a concept to understand. You remain in a minority mentality as well, which is often less progressive, more victimized, and progressing is very slow going. It's a hard language to capture young and even harder as you get older. It's unfortunate, but it's reality. But come back to Québec in 500 years from now, and there will most definitely be a majority populous of French speakers. IF we keep immigration in check!
@@TheSinfuljustice i once worked downtown in service sector. Many do not try to speak french and use the racist card when they encountered some salty moments due to their disrepectful attitude. In Rome do as Romans do
🐢 Just got back to Toronto from a short trip to Montreal May 17-20. Walked past that exact Thai Express/AW/McDonald's corner. Was hanging out in the Mile End area myself... Love that incredible, quirky neighbourhood. Devastated to think mtl may be losing its essence. 😢
If the people of Montreal want to maintain the community spirit, just don't patronize these big chains. I don't live in Montreal, I've only visited the city twice as a tourist (I'm from Puerto Rico) and in the 14 or so days I've spent with my family in your city, not once we have visited an A&W, a Tim Horton's or a Starbucks. We always support small businesses and shops because it's money that stays in the city and at the same time it generates more income and opportunities for the residents. In my opinion, you really have to be a fool to live or visit a city so gastronomically wonderful and diverse as Montreal to eat fast food from a chain restaurant (Sorry for my English or any typo).
I was in Italy (Rome) back in 2018. With all the amazing Italian food and charcuteries that one can choose, I was amazed to see people going into Subway for sandwiches. I've lived most of my life in NYC (since 7 yrs old) and had my fair share of these fast food chain store but it only taught me that these are not good and definitely not healthy food. They're disgusting! So, when people use the term 'comfort food', I still don't get it bc I don't find it comforting at all. It actually makes my stomach and digestion quite uncomfortable. I also wonder if it is the amount of medications people are on and if that has an effect on their taste buds.
I have to say, i dont know if you were born in Montréal but you are a great ambasador to our city. I mean, we fell that, this is the city that makes you vibrate. Merci l'ami!
Yes it's just not the same as even just 5 years ago never mind 10, 15 etc. I moved away a year ago because what's the point of putting up with the cold and the high tax if the costs are now close to other cities and the unique charm of those small places is gone and replaced by global brands? I'll visit in a few years and hopefully there will still be a few of those cool little spots left and not shiny new condos in their place.
I watched this video from beginning to end despite the fact that I am Ukrainian and live in Ukraine. And it is quite relevant for our cities, not only because of what you said, but also for some other reason. We have bad people inside the country demolishing ancient buildings to build new ordinary 15-25 story buildings in the middle of an old neighborhood with 2-5 story buildings. They look like aliens among other old-fashioned houses. That's why I completely understand your feelings. But an active society can intervene in the decision-making process and create changes. So videos like this show that you are on the right track! Wish you good luck!)
I guess we could remember that the emergence of Mile End as a trendy and vibrant neighbourhood is relatively recent. Similarly, the Gay Village wasn't always at Beaudry metro station, but instead was located around Shaughnessy Village. Neighbourhoods will always change, but i think the soul of the city will always remain. And like Montreal's inhabitants, the soul can move around to try a new hood. It's never lost though.
Watching this video before going to bed on my last night living in Montreal after four years here in graduate school studying music. 🐢 Finding the "fourth corner" was one of the true joys of living here. It's been a tough four years with lockdowns and all that, but I will always take a piece of the city with me. And I won't be far... going back to New York, where I'm from. I certainly don't plan to be a stranger. Thanks for all the videos!
The changes you‘re describing really somehow resemble the changes happening to the neighbourhoods of Berlin, with new neighbourhoods forming where mostly fast food chains are found, and in existing neighbourhoods, especially in the inner city, the prices and rent is going up as a lot of “hipsterish” people like expats and more wealthy people are moving in and “discovering” these areas of the city that were previously more left to their residents’ own.
i notice this 15 years ago , the night life dying slowly and all the small place that presenting show closing one after the other .the price of the rent kill almost everythings .
Born and grew up in Montreal.... I have seen this city throw fires in downtown 2 mins from my home like today's to unexpected Verglas. This City's beauty is in it's unexpected corners. I agree with what you said about the changes. Change and progess is good as long as it doesn't strip it's soul. I love this City! Montreal is home... No matter how many times people ask me where I'm from.... My answer is always Montreal! I hope that threw all the changes, it remains hip, boho, humble and crazy! Edit: i wish you all the luck! I hope you get big projects coming your way inshallah!
This is what Berliners say about the city now and how the 90s’ was the true peak cultural era of the city… but newcomers feel that way about the city now. So I think the grass is greener and Montreal will always change but remain interesting and artistic.
I've been in Montreal for 12 years and the changes are clear. I lived in Griffintown (which was an empty neighborhood full of abandoned warehouses), lived in Downtown, and the Plateau... It's sad to see Montreal getting so expensive, but I still LOVE this city!
Montreal has world-class charm, European chic and knack for innovation, Montréal shines as both a business powerhouse and cultural nexus. Its strategic location, openness to new cultures and reputation for excellence attract a unique blend of professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and artists who have helped it emerge as a smart, savvy and creative city that dares to do things differently. Creative, curious and keenly business-oriented, Montréal is a city where people converge and ideas flourish. Medecine, pharaceutical, high tech, aerospace, enginering ,Artificial intelligence, transport , finance , arts, fashion, sustainibility ( parks, trees , 500 greenhouse roof tops and agriculture ) and the best creative chefs and food in the world .
I love the content you make, its great to see someone who sees the world this way, we all have to adapt to this changing corporate world, i doubt things will ever be what they once were.
I see a lot of people talking about how Montréal has "lost its identity" while also complaining in the same breath about immigration. It makes me wonder if all the belly aching about French identity is basically the same emotion as the American "they're taking our jobs" or the west Canadian "they don't belong here"
No it isn't. The sentiment in the USA is one of anger and resentment, the one from English Canadians is one of animosity towards francophones; whereas for montrealers it is a feeling of regret and loss (not towards the language...as it was already a multilingual area) but rather the multi faceted (different cultures/races/foods/religion (beliefs)) communal relationships that have dwindled, as more and more "lifeless" corporations are integrated there. A independent business owner must not only make money but has to mingle with the community as too flourish. Whereas a corporation is there only to supply a need but brings nothing to a community (in the larger sense of it) other than employment.
@robert-antoinedenault5901 Respectfully, we can also say that the sentiment of French Canadians toward anglophones is one of intolerance and animosity. At least, that's what being an anglophone in Québec for my entire life has taught me. We're quick to point fingers, but the problem is equally bad on both sides.
50 years ago, Plateau used to be a neighborhood of immigrants and factories. then it became an artist paradise in the 90s, then it switched to a neighborhood for mcgill student on the west side and french from france on the east side. People might scoff at the mcdo, but there was one for decade on the corner of Parc and Mont-Royal, and it went away. Verdun was poor as hell 30 years ago, it had a really bad reputation, enough to outlaw any bars. Now it's the new young hip place (and already overpriced). Neighborhood comes and goes, the new mile-end/plateau might end up being in Mercier in 30 years, or Parc-Extension. It's the beauty of this city, things are in eternal motion.
Sure, I'll grab McDonald's from time to time but I *absolutely* refuse to eat at any chain on The Plateau, Saint-Henri, etc. I to support independent places as much as I can. Absolutely no McDonald's for me in any of these places.
I lived in Montreal for almost 20 years. Still love the city. There are plenty of things that continue to make Montreal unique. It helps to get out of the Mile-End and the Plateau to see them. Montreal isn't just the fast food restaurants and the chain stores taking up older spaces. It's also about the people, about the gatherings and activities. Montreal has plenty of soul if you remember that you make up part of it.
C'est mon quartier! Je vis juste en face d'Ubisoft. Je pense que le problème est que des gens font de la spéculation immobilière depuis des années maintenant. Depuis 20 ans un nombre incalculable d'appartements ont été convertis en condos, et l'industrie immobilière s'est enrichie de façon honteuse avec les flips et la surenchère. C'est ce qui fait augmenter les loyers aussi. On louait un condo sur l'Esplanade et on l'a vendu. Malgré le loyer indécent, on ne faisait pas un dollar de profit. Zéro. Il fallait payer l'hypothèque. Seuls les investisseurs super riches contrôlent la situation. Pas nous. New York est le meilleur exemple. Maintenant, des quartiers complets sont occupés à 50% par des gens parce que des investisseurs achètent des appartements et les laissent prendre de la valeur. Ça tue la vie de quartiers les "local shops" et c'est exactement ce qui se passe dans le Mile End. Personnellement, je trouve que l'épidémie de graffitis de tags dans le quartier rend aussi les lieux très laids et déprimants. Les murales, j'adore, c'est artistique et beau. Les tags mal faits et les slogans idéologiques, non merci.
Well, I've been living in Montreal for almost 8 years and yes, the city has changed a lot. There are good and bad. In what is bad, overpriced housing (for purchase and rental), a city with poorly maintained infrastructure (roads, bridges, houses, sidewalks... in short, everything that is "in common" ). For the positive, the laid-back spirit, a strong artistic spirit (for a North American city), a good work/personal balance and the professional opportunities are really appreciable. Montreal's main problem is that it is a city that is struggling to maintain its identity. The fact that businesses are closing is sad, but in reality, it comes from a real lack of adaptation by merchants. Montreal has changed a lot and the locals as well. It's always sad to see businesses close after 20, 30 or 50 years of activity, but these businesses haven't reinvented themselves. There is a great immobility of all these businesses which plays on the nostalgia of a Montreal that existed 20 or 30 years ago. With e-commerce and COVID, a lot of businesses are not suitable and with the increase in rent, closures are inevitable. Most of these problems exist in other cities and one of the solutions is to create experiences connected with the present, and not with the past, we must be able to address the new clientele of Montreal. Montreal is still stuck in the past, stuck between its European and American identity. I think entrepreneurs should look at what is happening in Europe or Asia (Japan and South Korea especially), these cultures are hundreds and hundreds of years old and a lot of businesses from these countries/cities have figured out how to "synthesize "their histories/cultures to mix them with modernity, in order to adapt to the customer's needs. In short, Montreal (and Quebec) is 15 years behind most Western cities with the same standard of living and is paying the price for lack of adaptation.
Quebec is not behind .... We have our own distinct society and identity .... If you are not happy move to Toronto and Vancouver with high crimes , horrible public transport ( no wifi in the Toronto subway), 22 ,000 homeless sleeping on the sidewalks in Toronto , People are living in ghettos in Toronto and VAncouver ( Chinese , Indians )
@@jeanbolduc5818 Yes, let's deflect and resort to the old "if you don't like it here, then move" ideology and ignore the very real problems that Québec as a whole is currently facing. If we don't address it, we can't correct it. We can be proud without lying to ourselves that Québec is some type of utopia.
You spoke real facts here. So many North American and European cities refuse to adapt and create a synergy that mixes history and modernity in unique ways. I've been to Japanese cities and they are facing a depopulation crisis, but those cities still have an edge when it comes to supporting their history and welcoming in modernity.
Hey Dan :D 🐢really enjoyed this video, and i've always enjoyed the neighborhood ones as well. Ended up moving here after watching enough of your videos and ive been loving it ever since. Wanted to say thanks again for all you do
Hi Dan, I am a fan of your interesting Montréal videos. I am swedish myself and had the privilege to visit this wonderful canadian city twice in the early 90s. Have not been there in decades I have a feeling through different articles and your videos that Montreal is going through some sort of a 'revival': new construction projects, lifestyle and quality of life that can be found there, famous universities and that Montreal stands out as an french speaking metropolis in North America. With this long introduction I would like to ask you if you could make a video with people with experience of Montréal in the 60s and 70s and let them compare now and then.
This guy is a strange character : he has been for years in Montréal and apparently an advocate of learning languages but his command of French still seems rather poor and broken, far from "local" and fluent. What I also mean by that is that culturally he seems totally cut off from Québécois culture. Well I don't know his life for sure but I would not count on him to have any clue on the Montréal atmosphere from la Révolution tranquille till the 80s. For instance he probably doesn't know who Robert Charlebois or René Levesque are... It's amazing how so many "anglophones" on YT do say how they appreciate Montréal for its French/European vibe but seem totally ignorant and distant to any Québécois culture (or even French). As if to them "French" just comes down to a few basic civilities in French ("bonjour, merci"), some old buildings near the port and a couple of food clichés (poutine, queues de castor, ...).
🐢 Love it, since I've always lived in Montreal everything you've shown, I've also notice it. Been trying to avoid big chain restaurant, the food is okay, never really great or bad, it's stable and you know what you get. But trying more independent restaurant yield so much more discoveries. I know it's not authentic, but like going to chinatown and trying all the different general tao, singapore noodles or other similar dishes is so much fun.
Yeah! I believe this is right: "Keep looking to the 4th corner". I also think the city has a responsibility to keep his city affordable, but cities never do. Tellement dommage pour les commerces emblématiques comme Main, ou les petites librairies ou boutiques indépendantes...
I'm from Saudi and fall in love in Montreal since 2010 and i studied there for couple of years and visited every summer till covid hit and now what I hear from friends back in Montreal that city has changed and from what I see the vidoes on youtube its not the same as before which is sad, I had some of the best memories in my life in Montreal 😔
Wow, that's a shame about the closure of that book store! I'm watching this as the Lisbon Book Fair is on, and it's sad when book stores closes. Funny at 0:08 , a Portuguese roasted chicken store. And finally, loved your words at 12:08. I support you, man, and wish you all the strength and luck possible in this Universe :) Cheers from Lisbon!
Born in Montréal, now living in the suburbs, it saddens me that I even have to leave the suburbs to get closer to Quebec city so I feel like home just like I did in Montréal back in the days
Changes are normal ,it is the only thing that is constant. Montréal shines as both a business powerhouse and cultural nexus. Its strategic location, openness to new cultures and reputation for excellence attract a unique blend of professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and artists who have helped it emerge as a smart, savvy and creative city that dares to do things differently. Creative, curious and keenly business-oriented, Montréal is a city where people converge and ideas flourish. Medecine, pharaceutical, high tech . Aerospace, arts, Artificial intelligence , engineering , finance , transport , video games etc
Pas sûre si je devrais écrire en français ou en anglais donc j'y vais avec le français. J'ai grandi sur le plateau pendant 11 ou 12 ans. C'est une place très spéciale pour moi. Je marchais chaque jour à l'école, à cinq minutes de chez moi, et chaque fois je voyais une ville remplie de vie! À quelques rues il y avait la maison de mon ami, et plus loin, il y a la rue qui longeait la cour de recré. Les portes de garage étaient peinturées par des élèves pour des projets d'école. Je me rappelle très vaguement d'un dépanneur aussi. Ces places sont tout le temps remplies de vie c'est fou! Je ne doute pas qu'il doivent tous avoir une histoire. C'est des commerces indépendants, avec beaucoup de coeur. Je me rappelle des concerts de musique que mon père organisait dans notre cour! Il jouait ses pièces sur sa guitare avec son grand ami avec une flute traversière. Je me rappelle du grand ménage de printemps, où tous les gens de la ruelle participaient à nettoyer et tout, c'est fou comme ça me manque, tellement d'âme! Oh et la ruelle hantée que mon père organisait chaque année pour l'halloween! Toute l'école y allait et les sixième années participaient à préparer la ruelle! Le plateau, c'est mon enfance. Ça me brise le coeur de voir des compagnies américaines s'en emparer.
Very interesting and true ! I have seen Montreal change from a people city to a city more superficial and creativity is less affordable like Toronto. Mais il y a de l’espoir, quand je regarde New-York, je me dis qu’il est encore possible d’avoir une ville originale.
Hey Dan, if you get a chance to make friends at Fattal fest, you'd have something unique to talk about. It happens during the first week of August in St-Henri at Fattal Lofts. I left Montreal a few years ago and am pretty sure that Fattal lofts are on its last leg, thanks to gentrification, but it is definitely a microcosm to explore. It's on St-Remi and Acorn ;)
🐢 move from France five years ago (2018) and I really like your content! I can see some changes happening in Montreal already in a few years. What happens in Mile End remains me of what happened in the Marais in Paris a little bit. Anyways love your content and I would be definitely interested by the neighborhoods videos! I really like Montreal for the diversity of its different places. Like if you go from St-Henri to Mile End or Outremont it is a total different vibe. Thank you for sharing nice videos with us!
et pendant ce temps, les Français on élue Valerie Plante et aime ses mesures dévastatrices, qui ont fait que les Français sont parti de France, les taxes augmentent parce quelle n'aime pas Montreal, elle ne fait rein pour améliorer mais dépense des millions pour des âneries, regardez les rues, les trottoirs et les changements pour le pire, le plateau était tres vivant avant, maintenant personne ne veux y aller parce que c'est ridicule. La rue St-Denis est tellement stupide comme aménagement, c'est pas pour rien que les commerces disparaissent, Elle détruit tout ce qu'elle touche.
@@acarriere8534 " les français ont élu Valérie Plante" ?? La majorité des français n'ont pas de droit de vote et en plus même s'ils avaient le droit ils ont pas le nombre pour faire fléchir le vote ! Mdr vous êtes victime de vos préjugés et ignorance !
@@acarriere8534 " les âneries" l??? C'est pas parce-que vous êtes pas d'accord que ses des âneries. Il fait sortir de votre petit confort personnel. Une ville C'est fait pour les citizens qui y vivent pas pour les voitures !
I'm born raised in mtl, and live in the mile end. i actually dont mind the corner of st-denis and mt royal, cause where you're standing is a really cool old diner that's been there forever. I don't see it going away anytime soon. Also that mcdonalds will be a godsend in the hot summer days with their 1$ ice coffee deals. Montreal isn't losing any soul. It's going to take a Looooong time before every neighborhood becomes globalized. I grew up in park-extension and it is still the same to this day. I lived in NDG for a few years and it's completely the same. I walk around Mile End and it is still pretty good. I think the french language laws and influence will keep montreal cheap for a long time to come.
The fourth corner is "Le Fameux" and we use to go there many late nights after clubs closed. They would have poutine, lasagna, meatballs or greek salad.. Much prefered that than Mcdonalds. Right in front, where the Mcdonald is, was the "Rapido" restaurant which had a very similar menu to Fameux. Also the Main smoke meat place was one of Leonard Cohen favorite restaurant (smoke meat at least). You could avoid the huge line up of Schwarz and have their great verenikis. Sad it closed but lots of new places are opening! Important to try them out and support them!
Hi Dan. Love your videos. I really hope Montreal don't change much but change seems to be a global thing nowadays with the advent of the internet. I've been in central florida for five yrs now and my head is spinning down here. Buildings popping up left and right and any wooded area getting cleared for development. Traffic is insane now compared to five yrs ago. That's why Montreal is my escape every summer.
Isn't it cynical though to move to another nation's metropolis during an housing crisis and then claim the city that has welcomed you is losing its soul? These waves of people moving here in Quebec, requiring English accomodation, shopping at global stores because it's what they know and increasing rent prices because anything here is cheaper than where they are from, are exactly the cause of all this. And I say this as a landlord who could see this as a financial opportunity, but I'd rather Montreal keep its quebecois fabric and soul.
You asked about more content on Montreal. I live in Boston and love visiting Montreal, but there's not a lot on UA-cam about the arts there; if you did a video with an artist, a musician, and one other creative person and have some coffee and discuss the arts there, and then go on a tour with them to one (or two) of their recommended choices of arts places for visitors to see, that would be a major addition to your page, and to UA-cam.
Small businesses are the soul and character of a community. Once the chains start to replaces that then there's nothing special about the area. Ever been to Banff? It's nothing more than a strip mall in the mountains.
Le gars ne comprends pas pourquoi Montréal commence à devenir une ville qui perd son âme??? C'est sûr que lorsqu'une ville à été popularisé par certains chroniqueurs qui parcourait le monde à essayé de trouvé l'endroit où il fait bon vivre. Et que Montréal figurait dans le palmarès, à un moment donné ben, ça finit par attiré des gens, pas souvent les plus attentionné, qui finissent avec les années par " scraper" un quartier au début. Puis après, d'autres quartiers et finalement vous avez eu certains politiciens qui voulait révolutionner cette ville en permettant à des entrepreneurs en construction de gentrifier nos quartiers, détruire la vie de quartiers, faire quitter des résidents, des commerces de proximité. Pis éventuellement, c'est la société françophone de Montréal ainsi que ça culture française qui finis par disparaître tranquillement à cause d'une trop forte immigration concentré dans les grands centre urbain, sans que le gouvernement fédéral ce soucie des réalités du Québec et de Montréal à continuer de devenir une société francophones. Puis nous les francophones du Québec savons très bien que le gouvernement son seule objectif est que le Québec deviennent une province anglophone et d'assimiler les Québécois une bonne fois pour toute. La seule solution. L'indépendance du Québec! Point finale!!
I mean Montreal is attracting more and more people from everywhere in the world and the country, and they do not necessarily know about the small local stores but will recognize the bigger brands. It's part of the life of any city that is becoming more and more reputable and desirable. Montreal will always be the city with the most soul on the continent, though, because it is intrinsically connected to a nation that is very much in touch with its patrimony and culture, the quebecois
It's gentrification. Montréal has become heavily sanitized and yuppie-fied. My aunt lived here in the late 70s/early 80s near the Laurier station and she said MTL at that time was sin city.
🐍🐢 Thanks for making these videos. The first video of yours I saw was about Ruelle Verte. As someone who is studying Architecture, that video was inspiring. Please make more videos of the neighbourhood and give your critique on it. It would help as research for the next generation of city planners.
I've seen an idea where a youtuber invites 5 strangers for a special dinner at a michelin star restaurant , you could get a version of each people vision on montreal. Its a costy project but it will reach max audience
Nice video as usual, love your videos, keep going to grow up for yourself, I think a vlog concerning what is changing in Montreal with montrealers should be interesting, you have a nice day
It's a shame. Major cities across the globe are falling victim to this soul-sucking globalization at the expense of local business (an overlooked contributing factor to the very essence of a city). I was disappointed walking the main streets of Barcelona just to find beautiful architecture occupied by the same big name stores you find in Chicago, Toronto, London, Dubai... Every city is becoming every city :/
My New Orleans is a playground for Showtime exécutives and White Alt Boys and Girls. Sad, and dévastating. Thank you for your vidéos. I am still coming North to my Québec Bayou.
I live in a beautiful 3.5 in Verdun that when I moved in was 600$, it's now 625$ while comparable apartments are now going for 800-900. There've been marches against gentrification and there's good and bad to both sides. A few decades ago I don't think I'd feel safe living where I do and walking around at 3am alone but I do now... Wellington street in Verdun is awesome and closes the street for the whole summer with street art and festivities the whole summer long. The virus combined with the rent/housing crisis has sped up the process for good and ill. I think a healthy balance through careful legislation is the right answer... The Plateau still has some of the coolest underground art scenes out there and Verdun now has Verdun Beach and gorgeous bike paths/forest paths... If we can balance low cost living with middle class living there'll be much less issues. Many of the smallest restaurants have had to close but many are also flourishing... a lot of this had to do with the virus more than anything else but general increase in the cost of living and housing is making people like me hold onto their apartment leases for dear life. That said with where my apartment is in a decade or so I fully expect my landlord to sell the building to condo makers...
Funny thing is, the Plateau (where I live and love to live) already is gone and done. Been that way for 20 years now. Plateau used to be a very poor/middle class/artists place. But for the past 20 years it's been (edited) gentrified out the wazoo. The plateau you are seeing and living right now is the gentrified version of the plateau. Now it's just getting more touristy. Dem times, they are always changing.
@@tomlevitt4133 I am actually one of those gentrified people coming and doing the gentrification. Its good for me. Not so much for those who used to live there.
Rent crisis did this to Toronto and it's now doing the same to Montreal. All because of a few greedy people. It is very sad and heartbreaking to notice.
There are consequences and repercussions for voting for the wrong fiscal policies from governments for decades upon decades…
@@veeli1106 Voting will not change anything
@@GIoo-yc9jz In a democracy where the only qualifications for voting are age and citizenship, you are correct on that point.
@@veeli1106 what are you talking about? We've voted for different parties municipally, provincially, and federally. Nothing has changed.
It's all because of mass immigration. I'm not blaming immigrants themselves, but rather blaming the government for allowing in this many people. Canada accepted more than 1 million immigrants in 2022. It is unsustainable, it is causing a housing crisis, it is changing the cultures of Canada much too rapidly, and it's all thanks to Trudeau. If you love this country, vote Conservative.
Je pense que c’est important de soutenir les petites entreprises . Moi, je vis aux États-Unis, en New Jersey, et j’apprends le français. Je veux visiter Québec et parler avec les gens là-bas🤍 Quand je visite, et si je décide de habiter là-bas, je vais toujours soutenir les locaux et les petites entreprises❤️ Aussi, j’espère que le meilleur avec toi and ta carrière!
Avec cette mentalité tu es maintenant québécois
tu es le bienvenue au Quebec . Tu es une personne unique et une inspiration .
S'il y avait plus de personnes comme toi, le monde serait meilleur. Avec une telle attitude, tu as déjà gagné le cœur des Québécois et tu n'auras aucun problème a t'intégrer et a découvrir la riche culture Québécoise.
tu as un bon français! moi je suis français et j'apprends l'anglais pour partir à montreal ahah
I don't want to be the Debbie Downer, but I'll tell you this: if you're an anglophone, regardless of how good your French is, Québec is not the place for you. If you have doubt, read some of the other comments on this thread. They demand respect from us, but don't respect us. I've lived here my whole life, and things only seem to grow more tense.
Montreal isn't losing its soul but the Mile End has turned into a rich kid's playground. I lived on Maguire for over 10 years, the neighbourhood was fantastic, full of artists and families. It was a a bit gritty but it had tons of personality. Then Ubisoft moved in up the street and its "cool kid" employees invaded, you could feel the change immediately. I started seeing flyers on telephone polls saying "looking for an apartment, willing to pay 1000$ to whoever finds me one". At that time, that was almost twice my rent. Now, when I go back to the area, it makes me want to cry because it has turned into an Instagram caricature. It has been the victim of the worst kind of gentrification, ruined by too much money and people who never knew what made that place special.
This could also be a description ofToronto’s Kensington Market. “An Instagram caricature of itself” is spot on.
When I was young, for about 3 years, I use to spend my weekend nights in old Montreal on St-Paul street where there was 3 bars with live French and rock & folk music called Le St-Vincent, le Pierrot and le 2 Pierrots. Me and my friends had such good times in these bars specifically the Pierrot which played about 90% French and mainly French Québécois music. The atmosphere and vibe in this bar was just incredible like a communion between people who lived to sing , drink and have fun. Every time visitors from outside Québec came to Montreal, we would take them to one of these 3 bars so they can fully live the Québécois joie de vivre, it's culture and it's incredible music.
The Saint -Vincent closed its doors in the late 90, the Pierrot close its door in the 2010 and the last survivor the 2 Pierrots just closed its doors during the pandemic.
I always talk about this place to my son and promised him I would take him to the 2 Pierrots when he turned 18, unfortunately he turned 18 during the pandemic and the bar closed before he could ever live this experience.
At one point the Québécois music was so popular that it could allow many such bars to be open and thrive across the province even on week days all year long. Now that the youth is mostly connected on international streaming platforms where algorithms do not favor french and even less french Québécois music then these bars slowly lost their public and all these bars had to close one by one.
This reminded me when you did a clip on Montreal what are you listening too and of all the people you interviewed, not a single person was listening to French or Québécois music and this saddened me very much. I feel like the the Anglo Saxon world with its powerful cultural marketing machine is slowly chipping away at all local culture and gradually destroying the beauty and diversity of world cultures and this is also affecting the vibe of Montreal.
If we do nothing and let Montréal turn into yet another predominantly anglo American city, we will definitely loose out on how cool it is to feel like being in a different country when you visit Montreal or Québec province.
Que de bons souvenirs et comme on se sentait bien et fier de notre belle culture naissante. Harmonium, Paul Piché. Essayez de les retrouver aujourd'hui.
I was lucky to go to those places. Sad to see things like those disappear.
Don't worry about the anglos lol worry about all the nakers destroying your land and pimping your white daughters..........
Montreal is quickly becoming a second Toronto. This is what mass immigration and multiculturalist policy create.
"Yet another predominantly Anglo American" LOLOLOL. dude, you can worry about American chains making our city Generic, but I don't think you have to worry about those boogie man Anglos. 20% of the Entire Island is Anglo and they're mostly in westmount and the west Island. The other anglos on the rest of the Island make up a minuscule amount. You sound like a CAQ or PQ propagandist.
Dan, your contribution to Montreal maintain its soul is unmeasurable! Pls keep doing these city videos, as ppl all over the world are watching and looking forward to move in to MTL 🇨🇦
In the past, before the McDonald's set up shop, there was a small restaurant called the Rapido, an institution for all Plateau night owls in the 2000s. We came there to eat, but also to see Carmen, the waitress and pillar of the place, who had always been there, with her almost maternal presence...J'y repense avec émotion. Merci pour cette vidéo Dan, et pour cette belle et profonde réflexion sur l'âme de Montréal 🙏
Also, you're one of the reasons I live here now. I was watching your videos just last summer. And last October, I moved here. Been here since.
Funny YT suggests this vid right now, I was reflecting on that matter this weekend. I've been living in MTL for 42 years, raised and born, and I left cuz it's too expensive now. I find it sad and frustrating to think I have been working here, studying, going out, shopping, paying taxes, volunteering etc. all my life and I'm now basically being told to pack my bags so a few already wealthy businessmen can make as much money as they can with real estate.
Seeing today's St-Denis/Mont-Royal corner kinda makes me wanna puke honestly
I’m a Montrealer, born and raised - and I LIVE for the mom and pop shops and restaurants.
Maybe you could interview some owners of spots. Not sponsored. It’s always cool to discover new spaces and give them a moment in the spotlight! Maybe people will pick the 4th corner if they know more about it
Thanks for talking about something that is in the heart of all Montrealers who live here for a long time. I've been living here for 36 years and I still clearly remember all the factories in the plateau and mile end when I was a kid. We used to go play hide and seek in some of these factories at night. Crazy times !
Wow! My aunt's worked in one of them.... Can't believe all the new condo buildings that are now replacing the Made in Montreal tags...
Yea let’s bring the factories back so everyone can play hide and seek😂
I'm from Toronto, have travelled a fair amount, and live in Montreal now. Unfortunately it's happening everywhere. You see the same chain stores in every major city, glass monolith condos springing up everywhere, everything and everyone with a soul being priced out...
came and lived here for a year as an exchange student from europe and absolutely fell in love with the city for the same reasons you describe in the video. it truly is an exceptional place, with its own beautiful spirit. im coming back this summer, beginning of august, and im so freaking sad to see that one of my favourite bookstores from a year ago is going to be gone by then... rip.
just moved here from vancouver. i'm a fulltime bartender. every single person told me i'd be much better off financially here but it hasn't proven to be true. you actually have more disposable income in vancouver for a few reasons. just thought i'd write this incase other people were planning on making the move! you might be in for a bit of a shock. still an awesome city and I prefer it to vancouver as a city, but no, it isn't more affordable if you work in hospo.
r u talking of income tax? sales tax?drinks in mtl and going out in general is more expensive. but if you like going for bike rides and social local events in montreal such as dance clubs then Mtl is more affordable. the bixi is more affordable. the communauto is less expensive than evo carshare. insurance is much cheaper than icbc. of course rent is more than half the price as opposed to Vancouver. it depends what you are doing with your life. if you live downtown montreal and go out clubbing a few times a week than its more expensive than living in Burnaby and going for nature walks, of course.
@@ktowniecity7269 hey ktown. my paychecks are half of what they were in vancouver, this is because the wage is 3 dollars lower and they put tips on your payslip so you get taxed on those too. I definitely agree food and drinks are a little ore expensive. rent is also not half vancouver, i'd say if you're lucky it's a third cheaper, you'd be lucky to get a nicer one bedroom in a decent neighborhood of montreal like mile end for less than 1300. a similar apartment in say, mount pleasant in vancouver would be around 2000.
@@tomlevitt4133 mille end is the hip area. id compare it more to commerical drive in vancouver more so than the old industrial part of vancouver and mount pleasant but yeah both are much more expensive than MTL. there are 1 bedroom apts available in verdun-ndg for 800-1000$, you just have to look a bit instead of relying on online ads. income tax is definitely the thing. i easily make 200-300$ less in mtl a pay cheque but save 150$ on car insurance a month and about 700$ on rent. its easily much cheaper in mtl compared to vancouver after living in both cities over 10 years but if you live in the mille end and work and play in the bar scene it will always be much more expensive
The subway is more affordable than Vancouver . You can drink in parks, housing is much affordable than Vancouver ..... If you go to farmers markets for food it is way cheaper , biking is amazing . Nature is everywhere and accessible . A lot of activities are free and offer by public librairies and cities .
@@jeanbolduc5818 And I also forgot to say that there aren't a million homeless everywhere in MTL unlike in Vancouver. They are well overdue for an earthquake in the ring of fire. Forest fires are a yearly concern now in a more dry climate with air pollution being a major concern for your lungs. They had major flooding last time in was there in 2021 that washed out all the highways including farmland in Abbotsbord, BC. The west coast has a ton of social and environmental issues not to mention every city is far as all hell whereas you can travel to almost anywhere on the east coast by car from mtl in 5-8 hrs. The benefits far outweigh any negatives besides the French and the cold but both those two factors also keep out all of the less agreeable and riff raff of society.
This video was slow in a way that I really enjoy. It's a nice feeling watching content like this. Thanks for sharing with us! 🐢
Toronto began to loose it’s soul in the late 90’s. I appreciated that Montreal still managed to keep much of what made the city so unique and special. Sad that Montreal is now going down the same road Toronto has.
In the late 90’s, it's when public transit started to go down.
I move to Toronto in 1994. Then the city said the fares were high because of low ridership.
By the early 2000, then they said the fares were high because of a 6% rise in ridership.
Go figure.
Oh forget it! The former cities of Vancouver and Toronto are long dead and gone. After being basically att acked for almost four decades, those places are just "zones" now. It's a Crimes Against Humanity and Treason to citizens of the places, and same for any other country going through this crime. Canada's situation is worse though, because the damage was further done with stopping or suppressing further building of mass transit, as well as Maas immigration for almost three or four decades. The amount of people let in during those periods, are basically a medium-sized city each year. The gov't, developers and corporations (The lines are blurred haha) need to grow up, flex their muscles and show off what they can do by building new cities. That's how cities and towns started anyway. But it's too late: this must have been done a long time ago.
@@alexsdb9712 I know the TTC has been lacking in it's service for decades. It became obvious that the system was becoming overburdened even before the migrant crisis. Toronto roads and highways are congested as hell. The city either has to spend billions on public transit and hopefully in a decade you get some improvement or somehow curb the influx of people coming to live there. The cost of living in cities like Toronto are pushing long-term residents who still want quality of life to leave and in their place we have one giant government supported "refugees" center.
Ce sandwich était énorme! 🐢
I am not from Montréal but I stayed to the end. Comme toujours. About the loss of a city's soul: It has been THE topic in San Francisco for decades, yes, decades, ever since it sold itself to tourism. But City Lights Bookstore (founded in 1953) remains on the border of Chinatown and North Beach even though those neighborhoods are not as they were. I'm not sure there's an answer to the issue because we certainly don't want our cities to become fossils and we also don't want them to cater to Ausländer more than residents. Example: Cable cars used to be merely another part of MUNI and one could transfer to them from buses or streetcars or trolleys; now locals cannot transfer to them and they are quite pricey because the tourists wanted to ride on them and the City wanted to make more money.
Also, I'd like to think that this issue is solely about cities in North America but I'm not sure it is. You have traveled much more extensively than I and I wonder if you have seen this kind of homogenization/globalization and resistance in cities other than Lisboa.
PS I love to see grass growing. 🤣
Thanks for sharing your interesting YT video on Montréal... Born, raised and lived in the city throughout many historical events (FLQ, Blue Bird fire, EXPO 67, cone-free Downtown, Expos at Jarry Park, HABs winning at the Forum, Rockheads, Centre Bell, Champlain Bridge). The city will always have its unique multi-culture flavour and the bilingual languages. Montréal has had its glory days in the past and is struggling to get back up on its feet. The Plateau, Mile End, Villeray areas used to the the hoods of the "artists"... Remembered spending time in friend's warehouse lofts but corporate greed and the real estate boom has changed all that. It's too expensive just to live in your OWN space... Supporting the local cafés and businesses will always help but corporate greed is just a few steps away waiting for the right time to jump in. St-Henri was a hidden gem until it was discovered... changes will always happen... better for the future? Montréal will always be Montréal... and pop, pop, pop condos went up all over. Still one of the Best cities in the world to live in... Hang in there Montréal!
It's hard to say something without pissing someone off, but I will be honest. Montreal is not what I remember from 10, 15 years ago for example. Completely different city today, different people and population. Montreal is basically the next Toronto now.
agreed. its changed for the worse since 2007 or so
Is French still widely spoken? 😢 I hope French remains in Quebec forever❤️❤️🤍🤍 I’m currently learning the language now
The next Toronto ? How do you mean ? Montreal has no interest in being the next great American city.
@@oliviamedeiros8882 i would not be so sure about this im in the building industry and we build only american style now nothing like it was before...
@@jekl3loodmoon642 I meant about culture...
Man I live in montreal and completly agree with you.
Everytime I find a small independent shop the employees are always passionate about what they sell and are happy to work there.
Where as everytime I enter a fast food everyone seems dead inside and even agree they are working there just for the money.
There is no better experience then to discover new things. Keep searching for that 4th corner guys!!
Dave. You forgot to show that at saint Denis and mont royal corner a pastry chef had te courage to open his own bakery despite the international restaurants. It was just behind you and is called Zébulon pastry. Opened one year and a half ago. They make delicious coffee and many other delicious food
Yes it is. As bloggers, journalists and websites keep promoting Montreal as a top university city, it's more and more becoming a city of international students.
So what?
@@elhassanhannouni6598 Rent goes up in central parts of the city and it's chasing long-term residents in favor of temporary resident. Heck, I was driving in the McGill area when the semester was over and students were moving, the streets full of trash, broken furnitures all over the place.
@@cedric3883 I understand where you're coming from, but i just didn't see the correlation, i think the area is not only made of international students, plus the people renting places are the ones favorizing itl students because they can make a larger profit bu overpricing. And the fact that there was broken furniture i would redirect you to the times where people broke everything in the nineties when the habs won the cup, and i didn't see any people of color on the footage, I AM NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST, i just want to show that whenever there are large groups of people, a small group tends to do bad stuff which gives off a bad image of the larger group, which is unfortunate. My point is, generalizing is bad, and no matter where you live, there will be good or bad, regardless of their status or their race.
@@cedric3883 To be fair, this is not a recent phenomenon. Been growing for decades. And it is a Canadian-wide. And I have no problem in attracting young people from around the world to study here and then make it their home. As far as I am concerned, they are welcome.
Im a soon to be international and hate corporatism just as much as the next person. It's the tasteless folk with big buck and little brains.
Montreal is a world class city of 400 years old , UNESCO design city, unique in North america and french is the official language .
Montreal used to be the Capital of Canada , a resilient city , even after some conservatives ( tory) anglophones burnt down the parliament of Canada in Montreal in 1849 , that event never changed the Quebec culture . Montreal ( Quebec ) has been a resilient society for the past 500 years and will always survive .
400 yrs or 500 yrs. Time to decide
No it's not
@@emiriebois2428 En fait, ni l'un ni l'autre, Montréal ayant été fondé en 1642. En 2023, Montréal serait dans sa 381e année depuis sa fondation.
Quebec is French today because it is a province within Canada.
@Terry Hall it's an old debate. On the long run, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic will be the dominant languages with English.
🐢 I don't live in Montreal but I enjoy watching videos about it. Thanks for this one!
Compare all the Montreal Parks. Jarry Parry, Lafontaine Park, etc Best park during the day, night, socializing, dance, yoga, medieval swords club. Be as random as you can
🐢Damn I’ve been telling my friends this. Ever since the pandemic, Montréal has been losing bits and pieces of it’s soul. Thankfully, it still has Tam Tams and I don’t think that will ever go away. Which is a good thing because to me Tams is a big part of Montréal’s spirit🐢
Have you been to the Tam Tams recently? a mere shadow of what once was. There are usually 2 polarized competing drummer areas...the traditional one in front of the Angel statue and now, another , further up the hill...so u gotta hear a double bass hit when you get nearby. Kinda polarized ?
There are maybe a few hundred people around the drummer area where there used to be 1000's...the park is busy but everyone is spread out over a vast area of parkland. Definitely dying out post Covid.
And don't get me started on how magnificent the Tam Tams were when I first moved here over 20 years ago when Montreal was kinda almost bankrupt, racist politicians were rampant (some things never change) and the city had an almost decadent Berlin like atmosphere and was so different from Toronto , where I'd previously lived. Well, all that has changed as this city joins the gentrification bandwagon.
The Tam Tams were where everyone who was cool met on a Sunday. One would rise, rather late, likely with a hangover, and just head over,alone, to the Tams in the areas where your friends usually hanged around 3 or 4pm..No cell phones but you always met up with friends from all over the city. In those days , it was a free for all, anarchistic hippy-like gathering where everything was a go. Gays and straights would just wander up into the woods for some sex al flagrante, people wandered about selling weed, mushrooms, cocktails out of large thermoses and food galore , often barbecued , delicious and from around the world...but they were not "licensed" so the city wasn't making any money out of this brilliant , very busy , Sunday event. And the big handsome shirtless burly boys who'd walk about carrying big garbage pails filled with iced beers for sale...It was absolutley brilliant. The city and the cops turned a blind eye and pretty much let us have our fun on our holiest of days.
And then the police state started to transform the city...the prostitutes were driven away from St Catherine and St Laurent, the Village gay bars closed down their back rooms...all of the low lying bushes in parc Lafontaine were cut down and police surveillance picked up for the hunt of gay men who used to frequent the parks for fun.
The "city" announced that one could drink alcohol in a park, only if you had a picnic lunch with you. One could be ticketed if you'd already finished the food but were still drinking. The cops swept through the Tam Tams ticketing and busting tons of people every Sunday with the claim that "the bikers and drug dealers" had taken over the event and that violence was on the rise in the park. Nonsense...there may have been some sort of gang infiltration because there was a lot of drug use in the park but it was mostly weed. Its a peaceful hippy Sunday gathering. All of the "illegal" food vendors were ticketed (health dept.) and the alcohol sales dissappeared. We now had to bring our own booze and food but always had to keep an eye out for the cops. People stopped going, en masse, and it just became a tourist trap . The suburbanites gathered and all of the cool downtown/Plateau people stopped going.
Its really sad...but .Montreal has become , a lot, like any other big american city. I left Toronto for a reason.
Still a great city...at least the people. On another note, My room mate was recently fined a 150$ ticket for smoking a joint right at the Tam Tams by police. He is a big Latino boy who was alone and minding his own business. The facist racist conservative separatist government in Quebec city are forced to legalize weed , but here you're only allowed to smoke it at home. It is illegal to smoke cannabis ANYWHERE outside in quebec. Pathetic really...people still smoke weed in droves all over the city , but do watch out cause Montreal ain't that cool anymore.
Montreal est en train de mourir, en partie grace a sa mairesse actuelle. En plus, ca coute cher ! Du beau travail !
Being native from Montreal, my biggest take or fear is the French eroding from the city. Which I believe is the essence of the city. I grew up thinking that the whole world spoke only French as grew up on the east side. Today, I sometimes struggled to be served in French in my own neighborhood I grew up in. Truly heartbreaking.
In my opinion, french is the essence of Montreal much more than it’s stores.
And it’s loosing it to be an English/North American city. Disheartening
You understand that 90% of quebec is french. How can u say french is disappearing?
@@TheSinfuljustice it used to not so long ago that it 51% of people spoke French in Montreal, it is now less than 50%
@Caetano.Galli.Gonzalez I think your opinion is based on whatever small interactions you're making in your personal life that doesn't reflect actual percentages and survey studies in reality. Of the 9 million+ people who populate quebec 8 million speak French (first language). Within the 1 million who are considered to have other languages as their mother tongue, 25% of those people are fluently bilingual. French isn't going anywhere in quebec with the language laws in place. Unfortunately, for a very stubborn demographic, the importance of English is not valued in a vast majority of French households. You don't learn English. You close doors it's just that simple of a concept to understand. You remain in a minority mentality as well, which is often less progressive, more victimized, and progressing is very slow going. It's a hard language to capture young and even harder as you get older. It's unfortunate, but it's reality. But come back to Québec in 500 years from now, and there will most definitely be a majority populous of French speakers. IF we keep immigration in check!
@@Caetano.Galli.Gonzalez Malheureusement, il y en a qui refusent de voir la vérité en face. C'est triste, franchement.
@@TheSinfuljustice i once worked downtown in service sector. Many do not try to speak french and use the racist card when they encountered some salty moments due to their disrepectful attitude. In Rome do as Romans do
🐢 Just got back to Toronto from a short trip to Montreal May 17-20. Walked past that exact Thai Express/AW/McDonald's corner. Was hanging out in the Mile End area myself... Love that incredible, quirky neighbourhood. Devastated to think mtl may be losing its essence. 😢
If the people of Montreal want to maintain the community spirit, just don't patronize these big chains.
I don't live in Montreal, I've only visited the city twice as a tourist (I'm from Puerto Rico) and in the 14 or so days I've spent with my family in your city, not once we have visited an A&W, a Tim Horton's or a Starbucks. We always support small businesses and shops because it's money that stays in the city and at the same time it generates more income and opportunities for the residents.
In my opinion, you really have to be a fool to live or visit a city so gastronomically wonderful and diverse as Montreal to eat fast food from a chain restaurant (Sorry for my English or any typo).
I was in Italy (Rome) back in 2018. With all the amazing Italian food and charcuteries that one can choose, I was amazed to see people going into Subway for sandwiches. I've lived most of my life in NYC (since 7 yrs old) and had my fair share of these fast food chain store but it only taught me that these are not good and definitely not healthy food. They're disgusting! So, when people use the term 'comfort food', I still don't get it bc I don't find it comforting at all. It actually makes my stomach and digestion quite uncomfortable. I also wonder if it is the amount of medications people are on and if that has an effect on their taste buds.
I have to say, i dont know if you were born in Montréal but you are a great ambasador to our city. I mean, we fell that, this is the city that makes you vibrate. Merci l'ami!
Indeed: Look for that special 4th corner!
Yes it's just not the same as even just 5 years ago never mind 10, 15 etc.
I moved away a year ago because what's the point of putting up with the cold and the high tax if the costs are now close to other cities and the unique charm of those small places is gone and replaced by global brands?
I'll visit in a few years and hopefully there will still be a few of those cool little spots left and not shiny new condos in their place.
I watched this video from beginning to end despite the fact that I am Ukrainian and live in Ukraine. And it is quite relevant for our cities, not only because of what you said, but also for some other reason. We have bad people inside the country demolishing ancient buildings to build new ordinary 15-25 story buildings in the middle of an old neighborhood with 2-5 story buildings. They look like aliens among other old-fashioned houses. That's why I completely understand your feelings. But an active society can intervene in the decision-making process and create changes. So videos like this show that you are on the right track! Wish you good luck!)
I guess we could remember that the emergence of Mile End as a trendy and vibrant neighbourhood is relatively recent. Similarly, the Gay Village wasn't always at Beaudry metro station, but instead was located around Shaughnessy Village. Neighbourhoods will always change, but i think the soul of the city will always remain. And like Montreal's inhabitants, the soul can move around to try a new hood. It's never lost though.
Watching this video before going to bed on my last night living in Montreal after four years here in graduate school studying music. 🐢
Finding the "fourth corner" was one of the true joys of living here. It's been a tough four years with lockdowns and all that, but I will always take a piece of the city with me.
And I won't be far... going back to New York, where I'm from. I certainly don't plan to be a stranger.
Thanks for all the videos!
The changes you‘re describing really somehow resemble the changes happening to the neighbourhoods of Berlin, with new neighbourhoods forming where mostly fast food chains are found, and in existing neighbourhoods, especially in the inner city, the prices and rent is going up as a lot of “hipsterish” people like expats and more wealthy people are moving in and “discovering” these areas of the city that were previously more left to their residents’ own.
The city is losing it's affordability especailly when it comes to housing, it's really crazy and sad...
i notice this 15 years ago , the night life dying slowly and all the small place that presenting show closing one after the other .the price of the rent kill almost everythings .
Born and grew up in Montreal.... I have seen this city throw fires in downtown 2 mins from my home like today's to unexpected Verglas. This City's beauty is in it's unexpected corners. I agree with what you said about the changes. Change and progess is good as long as it doesn't strip it's soul. I love this City! Montreal is home... No matter how many times people ask me where I'm from.... My answer is always Montreal! I hope that threw all the changes, it remains hip, boho, humble and crazy!
Edit: i wish you all the luck! I hope you get big projects coming your way inshallah!
I just watched your videos series about Ukraine from a few months ago - these were very powerful and insightful - the Kharkiv one especially wow
Supposedly in some European countries rents are subsidized for legacy businesses.
i got the f out of montreal 10 years ago, alot of little city up north in Laurentides still have that vibe.
This is what Berliners say about the city now and how the 90s’ was the true peak cultural era of the city… but newcomers feel that way about the city now. So I think the grass is greener and Montreal will always change but remain interesting and artistic.
I saw the title of your video and just had to say 'YES'. I have been living in Montreal for 27 years and it has changed, and not for the better.
I've been in Montreal for 12 years and the changes are clear. I lived in Griffintown (which was an empty neighborhood full of abandoned warehouses), lived in Downtown, and the Plateau...
It's sad to see Montreal getting so expensive, but I still LOVE this city!
Buying on line does not help too .
Totally true ! And it is often the same people to blame that the cities are dead
Montreal has world-class charm, European chic and knack for innovation, Montréal shines as both a business powerhouse and cultural nexus. Its strategic location, openness to new cultures and reputation for excellence attract a unique blend of professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and artists who have helped it emerge as a smart, savvy and creative city that dares to do things differently. Creative, curious and keenly business-oriented, Montréal is a city where people converge and ideas flourish. Medecine, pharaceutical, high tech, aerospace, enginering ,Artificial intelligence, transport , finance , arts, fashion, sustainibility ( parks, trees , 500 greenhouse roof tops and agriculture ) and the best creative chefs and food in the world .
Don't know how I stumbled across your channel but I'm sure glad I did. I enjoy the soul you give your videos. Thank you for being you.
I love the content you make, its great to see someone who sees the world this way, we all have to adapt to this changing corporate world, i doubt things will ever be what they once were.
I see a lot of people talking about how Montréal has "lost its identity" while also complaining in the same breath about immigration. It makes me wonder if all the belly aching about French identity is basically the same emotion as the American "they're taking our jobs" or the west Canadian "they don't belong here"
No it isn't. The sentiment in the USA is one of anger and resentment, the one from English Canadians is one of animosity towards francophones; whereas for montrealers it is a feeling of regret and loss (not towards the language...as it was already a multilingual area) but rather the multi faceted (different cultures/races/foods/religion (beliefs)) communal relationships that have dwindled, as more and more "lifeless" corporations are integrated there. A independent business owner must not only make money but has to mingle with the community as too flourish. Whereas a corporation is there only to supply a need but brings nothing to a community (in the larger sense of it) other than employment.
@robert-antoinedenault5901 Respectfully, we can also say that the sentiment of French Canadians toward anglophones is one of intolerance and animosity. At least, that's what being an anglophone in Québec for my entire life has taught me. We're quick to point fingers, but the problem is equally bad on both sides.
7:30-7:38 @New Travel I totally relate to what you have to say Dan especially since I am experiencing this in Tennessee where i live.
50 years ago, Plateau used to be a neighborhood of immigrants and factories. then it became an artist paradise in the 90s, then it switched to a neighborhood for mcgill student on the west side and french from france on the east side. People might scoff at the mcdo, but there was one for decade on the corner of Parc and Mont-Royal, and it went away. Verdun was poor as hell 30 years ago, it had a really bad reputation, enough to outlaw any bars. Now it's the new young hip place (and already overpriced). Neighborhood comes and goes, the new mile-end/plateau might end up being in Mercier in 30 years, or Parc-Extension. It's the beauty of this city, things are in eternal motion.
Sure, I'll grab McDonald's from time to time but I *absolutely* refuse to eat at any chain on The Plateau, Saint-Henri, etc. I to support independent places as much as I can. Absolutely no McDonald's for me in any of these places.
This Alberta county guy enjoys your videos ! Good job 😁
I lived in Montreal for almost 20 years. Still love the city. There are plenty of things that continue to make Montreal unique. It helps to get out of the Mile-End and the Plateau to see them.
Montreal isn't just the fast food restaurants and the chain stores taking up older spaces. It's also about the people, about the gatherings and activities. Montreal has plenty of soul if you remember that you make up part of it.
C'est mon quartier! Je vis juste en face d'Ubisoft. Je pense que le problème est que des gens font de la spéculation immobilière depuis des années maintenant. Depuis 20 ans un nombre incalculable d'appartements ont été convertis en condos, et l'industrie immobilière s'est enrichie de façon honteuse avec les flips et la surenchère. C'est ce qui fait augmenter les loyers aussi. On louait un condo sur l'Esplanade et on l'a vendu. Malgré le loyer indécent, on ne faisait pas un dollar de profit. Zéro. Il fallait payer l'hypothèque. Seuls les investisseurs super riches contrôlent la situation. Pas nous. New York est le meilleur exemple. Maintenant, des quartiers complets sont occupés à 50% par des gens parce que des investisseurs achètent des appartements et les laissent prendre de la valeur. Ça tue la vie de quartiers les "local shops" et c'est exactement ce qui se passe dans le Mile End. Personnellement, je trouve que l'épidémie de graffitis de tags dans le quartier rend aussi les lieux très laids et déprimants. Les murales, j'adore, c'est artistique et beau. Les tags mal faits et les slogans idéologiques, non merci.
Well, I've been living in Montreal for almost 8 years and yes, the city has changed a lot. There are good and bad.
In what is bad, overpriced housing (for purchase and rental), a city with poorly maintained infrastructure (roads, bridges, houses, sidewalks... in short, everything that is "in common" ).
For the positive, the laid-back spirit, a strong artistic spirit (for a North American city), a good work/personal balance and the professional opportunities are really appreciable.
Montreal's main problem is that it is a city that is struggling to maintain its identity. The fact that businesses are closing is sad, but in reality, it comes from a real lack of adaptation by merchants. Montreal has changed a lot and the locals as well. It's always sad to see businesses close after 20, 30 or 50 years of activity, but these businesses haven't reinvented themselves. There is a great immobility of all these businesses which plays on the nostalgia of a Montreal that existed 20 or 30 years ago.
With e-commerce and COVID, a lot of businesses are not suitable and with the increase in rent, closures are inevitable.
Most of these problems exist in other cities and one of the solutions is to create experiences connected with the present, and not with the past, we must be able to address the new clientele of Montreal.
Montreal is still stuck in the past, stuck between its European and American identity. I think entrepreneurs should look at what is happening in Europe or Asia (Japan and South Korea especially), these cultures are hundreds and hundreds of years old and a lot of businesses from these countries/cities have figured out how to "synthesize "their histories/cultures to mix them with modernity, in order to adapt to the customer's needs.
In short, Montreal (and Quebec) is 15 years behind most Western cities with the same standard of living and is paying the price for lack of adaptation.
Quebec is not behind .... We have our own distinct society and identity .... If you are not happy move to Toronto and Vancouver with high crimes , horrible public transport ( no wifi in the Toronto subway), 22 ,000 homeless sleeping on the sidewalks in Toronto , People are living in ghettos in Toronto and VAncouver ( Chinese , Indians )
@@jeanbolduc5818 Chinese and Indian people are not living in ghettos in Vancouver, what are you talking about?
@@jeanbolduc5818 Yes, let's deflect and resort to the old "if you don't like it here, then move" ideology and ignore the very real problems that Québec as a whole is currently facing. If we don't address it, we can't correct it. We can be proud without lying to ourselves that Québec is some type of utopia.
You spoke real facts here. So many North American and European cities refuse to adapt and create a synergy that mixes history and modernity in unique ways. I've been to Japanese cities and they are facing a depopulation crisis, but those cities still have an edge when it comes to supporting their history and welcoming in modernity.
C'est les êtres humains qui perdent leur âmes. Nous optons constamment pour l'efficacité et la convénience.
One more awesome video. Thank you ! 🐢
Hey Dan :D 🐢really enjoyed this video, and i've always enjoyed the neighborhood ones as well. Ended up moving here after watching enough of your videos and ive been loving it ever since. Wanted to say thanks again for all you do
Hi Dan, I am a fan of your interesting Montréal videos. I am swedish myself and had the privilege to visit this wonderful canadian city twice in the early 90s. Have not been there in decades I have a feeling through different articles and your videos that Montreal is going through some sort of a 'revival': new construction projects, lifestyle and quality of life that can be found there, famous universities and that Montreal stands out as an french speaking metropolis in North America.
With this long introduction I would like to ask you if you could make a video with people with experience of Montréal in the 60s and 70s and let them compare now and then.
This guy is a strange character : he has been for years in Montréal and apparently an advocate of learning languages but his command of French still seems rather poor and broken, far from "local" and fluent. What I also mean by that is that culturally he seems totally cut off from Québécois culture. Well I don't know his life for sure but I would not count on him to have any clue on the Montréal atmosphere from la Révolution tranquille till the 80s. For instance he probably doesn't know who Robert Charlebois or René Levesque are...
It's amazing how so many "anglophones" on YT do say how they appreciate Montréal for its French/European vibe but seem totally ignorant and distant to any Québécois culture (or even French). As if to them "French" just comes down to a few basic civilities in French ("bonjour, merci"), some old buildings near the port and a couple of food clichés (poutine, queues de castor, ...).
Honestly you've convinced me to visit Montreal, and i will one day.
I loved your video. Greetings from Mexico City, new subscriber.
🐢 Love it, since I've always lived in Montreal everything you've shown, I've also notice it. Been trying to avoid big chain restaurant, the food is okay, never really great or bad, it's stable and you know what you get. But trying more independent restaurant yield so much more discoveries. I know it's not authentic, but like going to chinatown and trying all the different general tao, singapore noodles or other similar dishes is so much fun.
you should've covered metro metro and forego forego, in general, more festivals and activities that happening in around Montreal.
Yeah! I believe this is right: "Keep looking to the 4th corner".
I also think the city has a responsibility to keep his city affordable, but cities never do.
Tellement dommage pour les commerces emblématiques comme Main, ou les petites librairies ou boutiques indépendantes...
I'm from Saudi and fall in love in Montreal since 2010 and i studied there for couple of years and visited every summer till covid hit and now what I hear from friends back in Montreal that city has changed and from what I see the vidoes on youtube its not the same as before which is sad, I had some of the best memories in my life in Montreal 😔
Wow, that's a shame about the closure of that book store! I'm watching this as the Lisbon Book Fair is on, and it's sad when book stores closes. Funny at 0:08 , a Portuguese roasted chicken store. And finally, loved your words at 12:08. I support you, man, and wish you all the strength and luck possible in this Universe :) Cheers from Lisbon!
PS - I did make it till the end ;-)
Born in Montréal, now living in the suburbs, it saddens me that I even have to leave the suburbs to get closer to Quebec city so I feel like home just like I did in Montréal back in the days
Changes are normal ,it is the only thing that is constant.
Montréal shines as both a business powerhouse and cultural nexus. Its strategic location, openness to new cultures and reputation for excellence attract a unique blend of professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and artists who have helped it emerge as a smart, savvy and creative city that dares to do things differently. Creative, curious and keenly business-oriented, Montréal is a city where people converge and ideas flourish. Medecine, pharaceutical, high tech . Aerospace, arts, Artificial intelligence , engineering , finance , transport , video games etc
Pas sûre si je devrais écrire en français ou en anglais donc j'y vais avec le français.
J'ai grandi sur le plateau pendant 11 ou 12 ans. C'est une place très spéciale pour moi. Je marchais chaque jour à l'école, à cinq minutes de chez moi, et chaque fois je voyais une ville remplie de vie! À quelques rues il y avait la maison de mon ami, et plus loin, il y a la rue qui longeait la cour de recré. Les portes de garage étaient peinturées par des élèves pour des projets d'école. Je me rappelle très vaguement d'un dépanneur aussi. Ces places sont tout le temps remplies de vie c'est fou! Je ne doute pas qu'il doivent tous avoir une histoire. C'est des commerces indépendants, avec beaucoup de coeur. Je me rappelle des concerts de musique que mon père organisait dans notre cour! Il jouait ses pièces sur sa guitare avec son grand ami avec une flute traversière. Je me rappelle du grand ménage de printemps, où tous les gens de la ruelle participaient à nettoyer et tout, c'est fou comme ça me manque, tellement d'âme! Oh et la ruelle hantée que mon père organisait chaque année pour l'halloween! Toute l'école y allait et les sixième années participaient à préparer la ruelle!
Le plateau, c'est mon enfance. Ça me brise le coeur de voir des compagnies américaines s'en emparer.
Keep up with that content of yours!🐢
Very interesting and true ! I have seen Montreal change from a people city to a city more superficial and creativity is less affordable like Toronto. Mais il y a de l’espoir, quand je regarde New-York, je me dis qu’il est encore possible d’avoir une ville originale.
Hey Dan, if you get a chance to make friends at Fattal fest, you'd have something unique to talk about. It happens during the first week of August in St-Henri at Fattal Lofts. I left Montreal a few years ago and am pretty sure that Fattal lofts are on its last leg, thanks to gentrification, but it is definitely a microcosm to explore. It's on St-Remi and Acorn ;)
🐢 move from France five years ago (2018) and I really like your content! I can see some changes happening in Montreal already in a few years. What happens in Mile End remains me of what happened in the Marais in Paris a little bit. Anyways love your content and I would be definitely interested by the neighborhoods videos! I really like Montreal for the diversity of its different places. Like if you go from St-Henri to Mile End or Outremont it is a total different vibe. Thank you for sharing nice videos with us!
Un peu . Beaucoup ! Le marais n'est plus même après 20 ans d'absence
et pendant ce temps, les Français on élue Valerie Plante et aime ses mesures dévastatrices, qui ont fait que les Français sont parti de France, les taxes augmentent parce quelle n'aime pas Montreal, elle ne fait rein pour améliorer mais dépense des millions pour des âneries, regardez les rues, les trottoirs et les changements pour le pire, le plateau était tres vivant avant, maintenant personne ne veux y aller parce que c'est ridicule. La rue St-Denis est tellement stupide comme aménagement, c'est pas pour rien que les commerces disparaissent, Elle détruit tout ce qu'elle touche.
@@acarriere8534 Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec vous ! On perd ce qui fait notre identité. :(
@@acarriere8534 " les français ont élu Valérie Plante" ?? La majorité des français n'ont pas de droit de vote et en plus même s'ils avaient le droit ils ont pas le nombre pour faire fléchir le vote ! Mdr vous êtes victime de vos préjugés et ignorance !
@@acarriere8534 " les âneries" l??? C'est pas parce-que vous êtes pas d'accord que ses des âneries. Il fait sortir de votre petit confort personnel. Une ville C'est fait pour les citizens qui y vivent pas pour les voitures !
I'm born raised in mtl, and live in the mile end. i actually dont mind the corner of st-denis and mt royal, cause where you're standing is a really cool old diner that's been there forever. I don't see it going away anytime soon. Also that mcdonalds will be a godsend in the hot summer days with their 1$ ice coffee deals. Montreal isn't losing any soul. It's going to take a Looooong time before every neighborhood becomes globalized. I grew up in park-extension and it is still the same to this day. I lived in NDG for a few years and it's completely the same. I walk around Mile End and it is still pretty good. I think the french language laws and influence will keep montreal cheap for a long time to come.
The fourth corner is "Le Fameux" and we use to go there many late nights after clubs closed. They would have poutine, lasagna, meatballs or greek salad.. Much prefered that than Mcdonalds. Right in front, where the Mcdonald is, was the "Rapido" restaurant which had a very similar menu to Fameux. Also the Main smoke meat place was one of Leonard Cohen favorite restaurant (smoke meat at least). You could avoid the huge line up of Schwarz and have their great verenikis. Sad it closed but lots of new places are opening! Important to try them out and support them!
Great video! Not Montreal-based but visited last summer for the first time, love getting a taste of it in your videos 🐢
I would say your channel is a window that allows us to see the world through honest opinions from ordinary people.
Hi Dan. Love your videos. I really hope Montreal don't change much but change seems to be a global thing nowadays with the advent of the internet. I've been in central florida for five yrs now and my head is spinning down here. Buildings popping up left and right and any wooded area getting cleared for development. Traffic is insane now compared to five yrs ago. That's why Montreal is my escape every summer.
Isn't it cynical though to move to another nation's metropolis during an housing crisis and then claim the city that has welcomed you is losing its soul? These waves of people moving here in Quebec, requiring English accomodation, shopping at global stores because it's what they know and increasing rent prices because anything here is cheaper than where they are from, are exactly the cause of all this. And I say this as a landlord who could see this as a financial opportunity, but I'd rather Montreal keep its quebecois fabric and soul.
It would keep its québécois fabric if quebequers actually reproduce
The 4th corner has awesome cheese cakes 🍰
'a little Toronto', a place with no soul! you have a good point, it is a reality for the entire north america unfortunately.
🐢 I think you should try surfing in the st. Lawrence for a video 🏄♂️
You asked about more content on Montreal. I live in Boston and love visiting Montreal, but there's not a lot on UA-cam about the arts there; if you did a video with an artist, a musician, and one other creative person and have some coffee and discuss the arts there, and then go on a tour with them to one (or two) of their recommended choices of arts places for visitors to see, that would be a major addition to your page, and to UA-cam.
Small businesses are the soul and character of a community. Once the chains start to replaces that then there's nothing special about the area.
Ever been to Banff? It's nothing more than a strip mall in the mountains.
Le gars ne comprends pas pourquoi Montréal commence à devenir une ville qui perd son âme??? C'est sûr que lorsqu'une ville à été popularisé par certains chroniqueurs qui parcourait le monde à essayé de trouvé l'endroit où il fait bon vivre. Et que Montréal figurait dans le palmarès, à un moment donné ben, ça finit par attiré des gens, pas souvent les plus attentionné, qui finissent avec les années par " scraper" un quartier au début. Puis après, d'autres quartiers et finalement vous avez eu certains politiciens qui voulait révolutionner cette ville en permettant à des entrepreneurs en construction de gentrifier nos quartiers, détruire la vie de quartiers, faire quitter des résidents, des commerces de proximité. Pis éventuellement, c'est la société françophone de Montréal ainsi que ça culture française qui finis par disparaître tranquillement à cause d'une trop forte immigration concentré dans les grands centre urbain, sans que le gouvernement fédéral ce soucie des réalités du Québec et de Montréal à continuer de devenir une société francophones. Puis nous les francophones du Québec savons très bien que le gouvernement son seule objectif est que le Québec deviennent une province anglophone et d'assimiler les Québécois une bonne fois pour toute. La seule solution. L'indépendance du Québec! Point finale!!
I mean Montreal is attracting more and more people from everywhere in the world and the country, and they do not necessarily know about the small local stores but will recognize the bigger brands. It's part of the life of any city that is becoming more and more reputable and desirable. Montreal will always be the city with the most soul on the continent, though, because it is intrinsically connected to a nation that is very much in touch with its patrimony and culture, the quebecois
It's gentrification. Montréal has become heavily sanitized and yuppie-fied. My aunt lived here in the late 70s/early 80s near the Laurier station and she said MTL at that time was sin city.
Très bon vidéo! Très intéressant, merci!
🐍🐢 Thanks for making these videos. The first video of yours I saw was about Ruelle Verte. As someone who is studying Architecture, that video was inspiring. Please make more videos of the neighbourhood and give your critique on it. It would help as research for the next generation of city planners.
I've seen an idea where a youtuber invites 5 strangers for a special dinner at a michelin star restaurant , you could get a version of each people vision on montreal. Its a costy project but it will reach max audience
But you invites them without telling them what the activity is so you only get the interesting people willing to risk it for the experience 🔥
Nice video as usual, love your videos, keep going to grow up for yourself, I think a vlog concerning what is changing in Montreal with montrealers should be interesting, you have a nice day
That scene at the end is a normal day for a beetle.
It's all changing in the name of LOVE
It's a shame. Major cities across the globe are falling victim to this soul-sucking globalization at the expense of local business (an overlooked contributing factor to the very essence of a city). I was disappointed walking the main streets of Barcelona just to find beautiful architecture occupied by the same big name stores you find in Chicago, Toronto, London, Dubai... Every city is becoming every city :/
I think going to the cool skate parks and talk to the local skaters, also vinyl records shops and the music scene would be sweet!
My New Orleans is a playground for Showtime exécutives and White Alt Boys and Girls.
Sad, and dévastating.
Thank you for your vidéos.
I am still coming North to my Québec Bayou.
I live in a beautiful 3.5 in Verdun that when I moved in was 600$, it's now 625$ while comparable apartments are now going for 800-900. There've been marches against gentrification and there's good and bad to both sides. A few decades ago I don't think I'd feel safe living where I do and walking around at 3am alone but I do now... Wellington street in Verdun is awesome and closes the street for the whole summer with street art and festivities the whole summer long. The virus combined with the rent/housing crisis has sped up the process for good and ill. I think a healthy balance through careful legislation is the right answer... The Plateau still has some of the coolest underground art scenes out there and Verdun now has Verdun Beach and gorgeous bike paths/forest paths... If we can balance low cost living with middle class living there'll be much less issues. Many of the smallest restaurants have had to close but many are also flourishing... a lot of this had to do with the virus more than anything else but general increase in the cost of living and housing is making people like me hold onto their apartment leases for dear life. That said with where my apartment is in a decade or so I fully expect my landlord to sell the building to condo makers...
Funny thing is, the Plateau (where I live and love to live) already is gone and done. Been that way for 20 years now. Plateau used to be a very poor/middle class/artists place. But for the past 20 years it's been (edited) gentrified out the wazoo. The plateau you are seeing and living right now is the gentrified version of the plateau. Now it's just getting more touristy. Dem times, they are always changing.
Why is a neighborhood being really poor a good thing?
@@tomlevitt4133 Its not. Never said it was.
@@tomlevitt4133 I am actually one of those gentrified people coming and doing the gentrification. Its good for me. Not so much for those who used to live there.
@@tomlevitt4133 I guess we could say its a bad thing because people are not getting richer. Its just that the poors are getting displaced.
@@leo-js6nk From French ? The percentage please . If not it is just a myth !