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Overall, Anglo-Canadians from across the country don't know much more about Quebec than Quebecers know about them, even though many of the former (Anglo-Canadians) seem to think they do.
There was a massive exodus of Anglo Canadians from Quebec to the rest of Canada in the 1970s and 1980s. I was one of them.
Former residents of Quebec (and there are a lot of them) in the rest of Canada in general probably know more about Quebec than Quebecers who have never lived elsewhere in Canada know about the rest of Canada.
It depends on the Quebecker. The more nationalistic ones don't know or care. But many Quebeckers do know about the rest of Canada and some of them even move to other parts of Canada for work.
Former residents of Quebec (and there are a lot of them) in the rest of Canada in general probably know more about Quebec than Quebecers who have never lived elsewhere in Canada know about the rest of Canada.
There are some of course, but a few hundred thousand Anglo-Quebecers (who moved away long ago - many have died and their kids raised in Ontario or other provinces generally know little about Quebec) are a drop in the bucket in the population of Canada-outside-Quebec which is over 25 million.
Also, many of those who fled knew next to no French and wanted nothing to do with the wider society of Quebec which was and is predominantly francophone - I mean, that's one of the main reasons they left.
Do not think Canadians are MEAN ( am a former Canuck living in Mexico).
Recall way back to the 1940's of people from Niagara Falls NY or Buffalo would cross into Ontario with a slight chip on their shoulders and the locals took offense as a result.
Later on visited family and heard negative things about the French in Quebec wanting many things the FRENCH way also the mass exodus of certain financial firms and retail establishments.
Many yrs later my new landlord in Calif had lived in Quebec as a small building contractor. (we are both Hungarians)
He would put in bids for some jobs and had a problem getting some work even tho his bid was low.
One day a person told him he would have to speak FRENCH if he wanted any work.
His answer was "HELL NO, I moved to Canada and learned English to work in this country. If I had to learn French, I would have moved to FRANCE instead of here".
He then moved to Calif and purchased a business and property.
Just one little true story......besides Canada has many people whose ancestors came from Europe.....my mother and Paternal Grandparents came from Hungary.
Many yrs later my new landlord in Calif had lived in Quebec as a small building contractor. (we are both Hungarians)
He would put in bids for some jobs and had a problem getting some work even tho his bid was low.
One day a person told him he would have to speak FRENCH if he wanted any work.
His answer was "HELL NO, I moved to Canada and learned English to work in this country. If I had to learn French, I would have moved to FRANCE instead of here".
.
Isn't that kind of like moving to Geneva and complaining that everything isn't in German?
Anyway, since he left Quebec eventually maybe he could have been one of cdnirene's so-called *experts* on Quebec who used to live in the province?
I had an unfortunate incident flying into Montreal a couple of weeks ago. The stewardess neglected to state some of the information in English. I understood most of the French, but wasn't confident that I understood it all. I mentioned to the man next to me that the comment was not made in English, and asked if I understood correctly. He laughed in my face, telling me that when in Montreal, I should expect to understand and speak French. Not nice. I told him that English is still an official language in Canada.
I had that experience and the flight attendant spoke in French what turned out to be for a French Movie....ear phones for those who wish to view and I had to close my window blind to accommodate them.
I always fly with a window seat being my preference.
Not everyone was a French speaking person or desired to watch a movie.
Strange to hear people laughing when there is NO movie sound and you wonder what they were laughing at.
I had that experience and the flight attendant spoke in French what turned out to be for a French Movie....ear phones for those who wish to view and I had to close my window blind to accommodate them.
I always fly with a window seat being my preference.
Not everyone was a French speaking person or desired to watch a movie.
Strange to hear people laughing when there is NO movie sound and you wonder what they were laughing at.
Well French is an official language in Canada and Air Canada is a Canadian airline. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that unless the staff were being rude to you. In fact I think it's great french is being promoted, even outside Quebec. I say this as an Anglophone.
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