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The language things makes it a bit tricky to compare, since more culture in Toronto is English-based, and it's more prominent in Canada as a whole for that reason. Montreal is too French now to really reclaim top spot in Canada.
If you came to Canada one thing you would notice is that English-Canadian culture (most - but not all - of which is produced in Toronto) is not really that ''prominent'' to begin with. Even in Toronto to be quite honest. Canadian stuff is there for sure and bravely tries to carve a niche out for itself but aside from popular music, most Canadian stuff is almost ''fringe'' and American stuff represents the mainstream.
As a result, when it comes to sheer numbers, the most popular Canadian stuff is often stuff produced in French. Astonishing when you consider three quarters of the country is basically a write-off for French-language stuff.
For example, over the past 15 years, the top-grossing Canadian film of the year has been a French-language Canadian film no less than 10 times. Of the other five, one was a Quebec film by Christian Duguay that he made in English, and three were Resident Evil movies that technically counted as Canadian but were American films made in Canada to save money. Only one film was a legitimately English Canadian film - the First World War drama Passchendaele.
On the album sale charts it's the same imbalance, and it's not uncommon for French-language albums to be at or near the top of the cross-Canada charts (ahead of Justin Bieber and all of the other American stars even) based on sales almost entirely in Quebec.
The top DVD in sales across Canada in 2013 was a concert recording by Quebec singer Ginette Reno.
If you came to Canada one thing you would notice is that English-Canadian culture (most - but not all - of which is produced in Toronto) is not really that ''prominent'' to begin with. Even in Toronto to be quite honest. Canadian stuff is there for sure and bravely tries to carve a niche out for itself but aside from popular music, most Canadian stuff is almost ''fringe'' and American stuff represents the mainstream.
As a result, when it comes to sheer numbers, the most popular Canadian stuff is often stuff produced in French. Astonishing when you consider three quarters of the country is basically a write-off for French-language stuff.
For example, over the past 15 years, the top-grossing Canadian film of the year has been a French-language Canadian film no less than 10 times. Of the other five, one was a Quebec film by Christian Duguay that he made in English, and three were Resident Evil movies that technically counted as Canadian but were American films made in Canada to save money. Only one film was a legitimately English Canadian film - the First World War drama Passchendaele.
On the album sale charts it's the same imbalance, and it's not uncommon for French-language albums to be at or near the top of the cross-Canada charts (ahead of Justin Bieber and all of the other American stars even) based on sales almost entirely in Quebec.
The top DVD in sales across Canada in 2013 was a concert recording by Quebec singer Ginette Reno.
TV? More of the same.
Interesting. Yeah i've noticed even big English artists like Arcade Fire or earlier on Leonard Cohen are from Montreal. It seems Canada has less local media/pop culture than Australia then? Yes in some ways Quebecois culture seems more unique and distinguished from American culture, while Canadian culture is often lumped with American. From Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, William Shatner, Michael J. Fox, Jim Carrey, Pamela Anderson to Alanis Morisette, k.d. lang, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback or Justin Bieber it seems outside of Canada most people just view these people as Americans, since they're really part of the American entertainment industry. You have a few Quebecois like Celine Dion who are well known around the world as Canadian not American.
Are these French-Canadian films/music popular in Anglo-Canada? What about France and the Francosphere?
Toronto is still new to the scene as Canada's largest city... 40 years isn't that long but I think the future will be kind to Toronto in this regard and it will simply happen without 'forcing' it..
Except that being the biggest in all of Canada isn't really relevant to this particular aspect, since Canada is not a single homogenous entity culturally. What counts cultural and where Toronto is relevant is in English Canada, and it's been English Canada's largest city for much longer than 40 years - it was the biggest anglo city with the biggest anglo population in the late 1800s even. Sure Montreal was more of a rival and pulled some weight in anglo culture with Stephen Leacock, Mordecai Richler, Leonard Cohen, Irving Layton, etc. but the top dog's spot has been there for Toronto to seize for something like 125 years.
125 years ago, LA had something like 25,000 people!
Interesting. Yeah i've noticed even big English artists like Arcade Fire or earlier on Leonard Cohen are from Montreal. It seems Canada has less local media/pop culture than Australia then? Yes in some ways Quebecois culture seems more unique and distinguished from American culture, while Canadian culture is often lumped with American. From Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, William Shatner, Michael J. Fox, Jim Carrey, Pamela Anderson to Alanis Morisette, k.d. lang, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback or Justin Bieber it seems outside of Canada most people just view these people as Americans, since they're really part of the American entertainment industry. You have a few Quebecois like Celine Dion who are well known around the world as Canadian not American.
Are these French-Canadian films/music popular in Anglo-Canada? What about France and the Francosphere?
French Canadian culture has very little resonance in English Canada. At the very most the movies for example would get art house screenings in the bigger cities the same way that Danish or Indonesian movies would. You can't even buy francophone Quebec music albums in music stores in English Canada.
Our culture does better in France and the francosphere, although for films it's quite variable. Certain films can have a good measure of success in francophone Europe, but most are for our domestic market only. A lot of the music has exported well though, and if you listen to the radio for an hour or two in France you're likely to hear a song from Quebec eventually. Quite a few Quebec singers are pretty big stars in France.
If you came to Canada one thing you would notice is that English-Canadian culture (most - but not all - of which is produced in Toronto) is not really that ''prominent'' to begin with. Even in Toronto to be quite honest. Canadian stuff is there for sure and bravely tries to carve a niche out for itself but aside from popular music, most Canadian stuff is almost ''fringe'' and American stuff represents the mainstream.
As a result, when it comes to sheer numbers, the most popular Canadian stuff is often stuff produced in French. Astonishing when you consider three quarters of the country is basically a write-off for French-language stuff.
For example, over the past 15 years, the top-grossing Canadian film of the year has been a French-language Canadian film no less than 10 times. Of the other five, one was a Quebec film by Christian Duguay that he made in English, and three were Resident Evil movies that technically counted as Canadian but were American films made in Canada to save money. Only one film was a legitimately English Canadian film - the First World War drama Passchendaele.
On the album sale charts it's the same imbalance, and it's not uncommon for French-language albums to be at or near the top of the cross-Canada charts (ahead of Justin Bieber and all of the other American stars even) based on sales almost entirely in Quebec.
The top DVD in sales across Canada in 2013 was a concert recording by Quebec singer Ginette Reno.
TV? More of the same.
Outside of Quebec how many English Canadians soak up French Canadian cultural icons, Television production and movie productions etc? Where else are Quebecois going to get their cultural fix in the N.A context if not from their own homespun stuff - nowhere else really... Seriously Who in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver etc watches French Canadian Language Film and TV production en masse. The fact is as the Postman said - regrettably many Canadian entertainers (many from Toronto and Southern Ontario) are sucked into and exported to the American Cultural black hole right beside us and English Canadians consume American spun fare but with much exported Canadian talent .. English Canada is certainly buying more Justin Bieber and Drake (both from Southern Ontario) CD's before they are buying Ginette Reno.. Even though Ginette Reno may be the biggest selling Canadian artist in Canada - most likely the vast majority of sales are in Quebec not in English speaking Canada.. There is a trade off but as I mentioned before, the biggest strength of cities like Toronto vs Montreal is that it has embraced growth from cultures around the world at the expense of its own 'identity'.. not necessarily a bad thing - just is what it is. Certainly the U.S cultural machine is more of a threat to Toronto than New Orleans is to Montreal.....just stands to reason and not at all disingenuous.
There are other areas of culture in Toronto that make it an important centre of English Canada - news media, festivals, museums etc - but yeah with the U.S right beside us it is exceedingly difficult to keep 'entertainers' here. It is born/bred but ultimately exported..
For readers who are interested in famous Torontonians - here's a list across all facets from Business to music, television to world famous architects.. it may actually surprise you how many famous Torontonians there actually are. I lament that so many famous Torontonians have left - but a the same time they are still rooted here and the inspiration that they had from Farley Mowatt, Frank Gehry to Stephen Leacock is here whether they leave or stay.
French Canadian culture has very little resonance in English Canada. At the very most the movies for example would get art house screenings in the bigger cities the same way that Danish or Indonesian movies would. You can't even buy francophone Quebec music albums in music stores in English Canada.
Our culture does better in France and the francosphere, although for films it's quite variable. Certain films can have a good measure of success in francophone Europe, but most are for our domestic market only. A lot of the music has exported well though, and if you listen to the radio for an hour or two in France you're likely to hear a song from Quebec eventually. Quite a few Quebec singers are pretty big stars in France.
Don't all Canadian school children have to learn French in school? Of course, I'm sure many can still barely speak it. Still, since it's bilingual and there is French everywhere (like on signs and products) I'm surprised you can't even find any Quebecois media in the other provinces. Is there a French language channel broadcast nationwide?... Surely at least in Toronto and Ottawa you can find that? I mean even to cater for French Canadians living in those provinces. I'm sure there are many, as many are bilingual. Do you have any stats on how many Quebecers move to Ontario and vice versa?
Last edited by The Postman; 01-13-2014 at 10:03 PM..
Don't all Canadian school children have to learn French in school? Of course, I'm sure many can still barely speak it. ?
I can say that as an English Canadian born in Toronto and raised through the school system here - that only 1 French class was mandatory in High School and that's it... not even close to helping me become fluent in the language. In Toronto - French is simply not a necessary language to have except for maybe some government jobs and some private industry that need to fill a quota. Mandarin and Hindi will get you much further in T.O than French. Ottawa borders Quebec has loads of Federal Gov't jobs so you will find a more bilingual society there. Ottawa is much closer to Montreal than it is to Toronto as well. In Cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax - French is not necessary to get by either.
In Montreal - English is very prevalent actually.. which is not at all surprising given that Quebec is surrounded by English Canada and the U.S. Plus the importance of English in the business world. Make no mistake as well - American cultural influence is very strong in Quebec... as in most places in the world.
Also, do you think if Montreal was mostly English speaking it would be the biggest most important city in Canada today?
I'm not sure what the percentage is but Montreal has a large number of English speaking citizens. The Separatist movement of the 60's and 70's did not help Montreal as a number of business left Quebec for Toronto and to a lesser degree English Canada as a result. Additionally - Toronto's prominence grew at the same time as Canada became an immigration haven with Toronto taking the largest share of those immigrants and refugees and continues to this day.
Regardless - Montreal is still by far the second largest city economy in Canada and has a lot of impressive industries across diverse business interests.
I can say that as an English Canadian born in Toronto and raised through the school system here - that only 1 French class was mandatory in High School and that's it... not even close to helping me become fluent in the language. In Toronto - French is simply not a necessary language to have except for maybe some government jobs and some private industry that need to fill a quota. Mandarin and Hindi will get you much further in T.O than French. Ottawa borders Quebec has loads of Federal Gov't jobs so you will find a more bilingual society there. Ottawa is much closer to Montreal than it is to Toronto as well. In Cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax - French is not necessary to get by either.
In Montreal - English is very prevalent actually.. which is not at all surprising given that Quebec is surrounded by English Canada and the U.S. Plus the importance of English in the business world. Make no mistake as well - American cultural influence is very strong... as in most places in the world.
Yes, I would still guess you'd still need to know some French to get most jobs in Montreal, am I right? I hear even the English enclaves aren't as strong as more Anglophones leave. I'm curious as to whether Montreal could become like Singapore, which is sort of split between English and Mandarin speakers, with the former being the official language of business, government, law, education.etc.
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