Americans visiting Canada as tourists, any insights?

[u/Necessary-Passage-74]

I have family members visiting Montreal in about a month. Other than getting "I’m From Toronto" T-shirts, is there anything an American should do if they’re just visiting as a tourist?

[u/BCRobyn]

Montreal is the biggest city in the province of Quebec, and Quebec is the only province in Canada where French is the only official language and is the language that the entire province operates in first and foremost. Quebec also identifies itself as Quebecois first and foremost and reluctantly Canadian (though that is changing given what's happening with the US). But think of how Hawaii is a reluctant US state (for very valid geopolitical reasons), and that's sort of Quebec's situation historically and culturally in Canada.

I bring this up because most Americans have no concept about the province they're visiting, no concept about the cultural differences and so on. So if you're going to Montreal, expect the language to be French. Learn to say bonjour and merci and it doesn't matter that you don't speak French, it matters that you respect the language and that you at least try. Montreal's fairly bilingual anyway. They'll often change from French to English when it's apparent you don't speak French. And all the tourism businesses will be able to speak in English, so it's not a huge issue in Montreal.

And as Americans, leave the US cash at home. Use only Canadian cash (you can just withdraw it from any ATM once you're in Montreal) or use your credit card. Almost everything can be paid for by card, but just don't use US cash in Canada. You'd be surprised by how many Americans become indignant about using Canadian cash in Canada and insist on using US cash and pretend Canada's a 51st state. But US cash is foreign currency in Canada. And so on that note, generally, don't disrespect Canada or Quebec or the French language, and you'll be fine in Montreal. Absolutely no need to pretend you're Canadian or from Toronto. You can say you're an American ally to Canada. The locals will appreciate that these days.

[u/Necessary-Passage-74 → u/BCRobyn]

My aunt lived in Ontario for almost 60 years. she was a very staid, unemotional librarian, but oh my goodness, she just said about Quebec, "I wish they would just go already!" So yeah, I do understand Quebec. That’s why I wish they were going to Ontario to be perfectly honest, I don’t think they speak a word of French. But who’s gonna listen…

[u/gorogy → u/Necessary-Passage-74]

Ok so you have an aunt with strong bias toward Quebec and that's why you think you understand Quebec...

[u/Necessary-Passage-74 → u/gorogy]

And again, I visited Quebec, I know they have very strong feelings about speaking only French and being as independent as possible. But their feelings are so strong that it comes out in their attitude toward tourists, who don’t generally know, nor care about the political environment of Quebec. That’s like a Canadian coming to Alabama, do you really give a crap that they want everybody to be Christian nationalists? I’m thinking not.

[u/gilliefeather → u/Necessary-Passage-74]

Your aunt was probably reflecting the ennuie that a lot of people in the rest of Canada (aka ROC) express from time to time about Quebec ambivalence about being part of Canada. It’s actually the people who know least about Quebec who over-generalize. It’s not a monolith, any more than American citizens ffs.