Montreal
A Region of Cutting-Edge Innovation and International Culture
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The Montreal region of Quebec offers a fascinating study in contrasts.
The Vieux-Montreal, or old city, has a decidedly European flair with its charming cobblestone streets, stately French colonial buildings, and lively sidewalk cafes.
While the postcards showcase Montreal’s quaint side, make no mistake: The region is also a bustling economic powerhouse that’s become a global leader in cutting-edge sectors such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence research.
The Montreal region is home to industrial giants like Bombardier, which supplies many of the jets used by Delta Connect; white-collar powerhouses such as CGI, one of the world’s largest IT and business consulting firms; and nimble high-tech firms like Rodeo FX, a visual effects company that won awards for its groundbreaking work on the HBO series Game of Thrones.
The University of Montreal’s MILA institute boasts perhaps the world’s largest concentration of AI researchers. MILA’s director, Yoshua Bengio, is a visionary pioneer whose innovative ideas helped spark the development of AI chatbots like ChatGPT that are all the buzz these days.
Quality of Life
Montreal’s “secret sauce” may be its great quality of life. The city is frequently ranked among the best places to live in North America (The Economist recently placed Montreal at No. 4 in a list of the most livable metro areas, one notch above Atlanta).
On any given day, you can find people relaxing in the region’s numerous parks, visiting a neighborhood festival, or enjoying the many miles of walking and biking trails, including a new express bike network, the Réseau Express Vélo (REV). The cost of living is relatively low, especially compared to Canada’s largest city, Toronto.
The region is also a major cultural capital, boasting world-class museums and performing arts groups.
Yes, the winters are brutally cold, and long. But Montreal copes with the deep chill in style.
Residents bundle up (experts say it’s all about layering), walk and shop in the “Underground City,” a 20-mile network of tunnels and above-ground passageways, and get their blood pumping through outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, hockey, and snowboarding.
Parlez Vous Francais?
The Montreal region is the capital of French-speaking Canada, and French is – proudly – the official language.
About 65% of the population speaks French as their first language, according to the Canadian Census, with 13% speaking English at home. The region also includes sizable numbers of Arabic, Spanish, and Italian speakers.
But don’t worry: Most residents are bilingual, fluent in both French and English. You should have no trouble getting around.
That said, some simple French phrases might come in handy, and show you’re making an effort to respect Quebecois culture. Here’s a few to get you started:
| French | |
|---|---|
| Bonjour (BON-zhur) | Good day |
| Bonsoir (BON-swar) | Good evening |
| Merci (mer-see) | Thank you |
| S'il vous plait (seel-voo-play) | Please |
| Au revior (or-uh-vwar) | Goodbye |
This year’s LINK trip will explore the Montreal region from many angles.
We’ll learn about the region’s innovative economic development efforts.
We’ll talk to local leaders about recent transportation investments (including a brand-new bus rapid transit, and a newly opened light rail funded by public pension funds).
And we’ll get an insider’s look at the region’s ambitious climate mitigation strategies.
Getting Oriented
Montreal's Geography
The Montreal region, also known as Greater Montreal, is located in southwest Quebec province. The region consists of three main areas:
- The region’s core, the City of Montreal, is situated on the Island of Montreal in the St. Lawrence River, a major shipping corridor that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Laval, a major suburban area north of the city.
- Longueuil, a city on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, directly across from the City of Montreal.
The Island of Montreal is big – about 182 square miles. To put that in perspective, it’s about eight times larger than Manhattan. The city is named for Mount Royal (Mont Royal in French), a 234-meter hill at the center of the island. The City of Montreal is divided into 19 boroughs, or neighborhoods.
Montreal, Where the Sun Sets to the 'North'
One interesting note: Montreal has a quirky way of referencing cardinal directions. That is, everything is oriented to the St. Lawrence River.
So, even though the river runs diagonally through the region, from northeast to southwest, the street grid is labeled as if the river runs directly from east to west.
As a result, the Montreal-Est (East Montreal) neighborhood is actually at the north end of the island. And the suburban South Shore communities are actually east of the city.
That’s all to say, just don’t be surprised if you are walking “north” in the late afternoon and are starting directly into the setting sun.
Population & Demographics
With a population of 4.3 million, the Montreal region is the second-largest in Canada and the 19th-largest in North America, one notch above Seattle.
The region has experienced steady growth in recent years, adding about 500,000 people over the past decade. That’s about half the growth rate of metro Atlanta over that time.
Race and Ethnicity
About 25% of the Montreal region’s population is defined as minority, according to the 2021 Canadian Census. The largest minority groups are Black (8%) and Arab (6%), followed by Latin American (3%) and Chinese (2%).
Montreal’s Black community has diversified in recent years, led by the region’s growing Haitian community. Today, Haitian Creole is the sixth most spoken language in Montreal.
Economy
The median family income in the Montreal region is about US$75,000, nearly the same as metro Atlanta (US$77,589).
About 12% of Greater Montreal’s population is considered “low income” according to the Canadian Census. About 12% of metro Atlanta residents are living below the official poverty line, according to the U.S. Census.
Age
The Montreal region population skews older, with a median age of about 41 years, compared to 36 in metro Atlanta. About 18% of Montreal’s population is age 65 or older, compared to 10% in metro Atlanta.
Sources: U.S. Census, Statistics Canada
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