A move to Montreal - apprehensions (dermatologist, job transfer, high school)
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Considering a move from Alberta to Montreal through a job transfer. Thinking of landing in Saint Lazare/ Hudson area to raise our family. We live in a cookie cutter community right now on a postage stamp lot. Love the idea of larger lots, and a country feel.
Would the commute kill my husband? Is the commuter train good? Any thoughts on Saint Lazare or Hudson areas?
My apprehensions are NOT the french language issue. My kids know no french at all. I know my high school french so can barely get by. I look at this as an adventure. I am somewhat nervous about my kids picking up the language and actually developing fluency ( they are 9 and 11)
My apprehensions are the political instability and constant 'nattering' that you hear - will this wear us down and will it break us? When I think of Montreal, I think of political unrest, unhappy and volatile political conversations. I just want to meet new people (french or english) have a beer or some wine, and some long nights of laughter.
All of my research points to the negativity of Quebec.
Cost of living in Alberta is lower with only 5% GST, but we have higher utility rates, and sky high housing costs. I think it really all balances out in comparison. maybe I'm wrong.
Health care - we have long waits for specialists (8 months to see a dermatologist, 11 months for my son to get a CT scan) and I still haven't found a family doctor after 2 years - unless you count the walk in clinic sketchy ones that herd you in and out like cattle.
We're in the process of going the other direction - Montreal to Edmonton.
We have found the health care here to be horrendous, and that is why we are moving. If you think it is bad in Alberta, you will not like Quebec. Our son's specialist (urology) at one of the top hospitals here laughed when we told him we were moving because of it, because he plans on doing the same.
I will admit, I am very biased about this right now, but I would not recommend it if health care is a concern. You have a very real chance of not finding a family doctor here anyways, it took us 3 years for our kids, my husband and I are still on waitlists - since May 2011. At least you have real walk-ins there - they aren't as easy here.
My apprehensions are NOT the french language issue. My kids know no french at all. I know my high school french so can barely get by. I look at this as an adventure. I am somewhat nervous about my kids picking up the language and actually developing fluency ( they are 9 and 11)
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Language should be a source of apprehension. You will be treated poorly if you can't speak French. Language and political unrest go hand in hand. I grew up there and moved away 15 years ago. I will never return.
Last edited by leroythelion; 02-20-2014 at 06:51 PM..
Reason: typo
Considering a move from Alberta to Montreal through a job transfer. Thinking of landing in Saint Lazare/ Hudson area to raise our family. We live in a cookie cutter community right now on a postage stamp lot. Love the idea of larger lots, and a country feel.
Would the commute kill my husband? Is the commuter train good? Any thoughts on Saint Lazare or Hudson areas?
My apprehensions are NOT the french language issue. My kids know no french at all. I know my high school french so can barely get by. I look at this as an adventure. I am somewhat nervous about my kids picking up the language and actually developing fluency ( they are 9 and 11)
My apprehensions are the political instability and constant 'nattering' that you hear - will this wear us down and will it break us? When I think of Montreal, I think of political unrest, unhappy and volatile political conversations. I just want to meet new people (french or english) have a beer or some wine, and some long nights of laughter.
All of my research points to the negativity of Quebec.
Cost of living in Alberta is lower with only 5% GST, but we have higher utility rates, and sky high housing costs. I think it really all balances out in comparison. maybe I'm wrong.
Health care - we have long waits for specialists (8 months to see a dermatologist, 11 months for my son to get a CT scan) and I still haven't found a family doctor after 2 years - unless you count the walk in clinic sketchy ones that herd you in and out like cattle.
You wont find much difference in Quebecs healthcare,
Political Instability is about to be cranked up as the separatist government is about to call an election, current polls indicate they will win a majority government which would then be followed by a referendum on Quebecs separation from Canada., its a coin toss as to which way that would go.
Your kids will get intensive French language instruction even in the English schools.
Commuting from Hudson on the train would be a lot more relaxing than doing the daily rush hour grind in the car Hudson to downtown at rush hour would take about an hour, same again at the end of the day...
Unilingual Anglos moving to Quebec? Wouldnt be my first option if i was just looking for a larger property.
You wont find much difference in Quebecs healthcare,
Political Instability is about to be cranked up as the separatist government is about to call an election, current polls indicate they will win a majority government which would then be followed by a referendum on Quebecs separation from Canada., its a coin toss as to which way that would go.
Your kids will get intensive French language instruction even in the English schools.
Commuting from Hudson on the train would be a lot more relaxing than doing the daily rush hour grind in the car Hudson to downtown at rush hour would take about an hour, same again at the end of the day... Unilingual Anglos moving to Quebec? Wouldnt be my first option if i was just looking for a larger property.
I was gonna say this too. Also a larger property with a country feel that is an easy commute from a job in the city is probably easier to find in a metro of 1.3 million than in a metro of 4 million. It's only logical I'd say.
Also not saying this is the OP's attitude but moving to Montreal with the attitude of trying to ''get around the inconvenience of French'' in some way is not a good way to set yourself up to be happy here. Words to the wise.
Also not saying this is the OP's attitude but moving to Montreal with the attitude of trying to ''get around the inconvenience of French'' in some way is not a good way to set yourself up to be happy here. Words to the wise.
You are correct, not my attitude at all. That would be quite rude and ignorant of me to move to a French speaking city and expect them to speak English to me. I am excited to learn and immerse myself in the language and culture. And hey if they say something to me rude in French, I know enough of the language to know what they are saying!
Thanks for the info so far.
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