Bilingual Service at Canada's Airports: A Traveller's Odyssey
Aug 12, 2012, 7:40 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2011
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I have been to Canada twice in the past year (one trip to Montréal and one to Toronto), and even though I'm an Anglophone, I am bilingual and speak both of Canada's official languages. When I arrived in Toronto, I was greeted with a "Hello-Bonjour" at customs, and I responded the same way, so the customs official continued asking me the usual questions en français, even though I have an American passport. It was cool because it was almost like he thought I was partially Québécoise or something! As a Quebecophile, it's a story I love sharing and a source of pride for me (I know, I'm a big dork LOL) 
Aug 13, 2012, 6:02 pm
#18
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I was talking about airports. BTW there is no legally recognized "distinct society exemption".
Aug 14, 2012, 8:12 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Business will gladly serve you in English, although they are much 
when you respond en francais. The only (minor) issue being that Quebecois French sounds different than French French (some words evolved differently, too, just as they did in US English as opposed to British English), so it can take awhile for the ear to get attuned to the rhythms and cadences.
when you respond en francais. The only (minor) issue being that Quebecois French sounds different than French French (some words evolved differently, too, just as they did in US English as opposed to British English), so it can take awhile for the ear to get attuned to the rhythms and cadences.
Aug 14, 2012, 9:42 am
#20
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There are pockets of Quebec, where either they don't care which language you use or actually prefer English. For example, Shawville, QC in Pontiac County is about as English as it comes. In the Aylmer sector of Gatineau in the Outaouais, most people switch between the two languages with ease. In parts of Greater Montreal, such as Hampstead or Cote-St-Luc, you'll hear very little French. And in extreme eastern Quebec, places such as Blanc Sablon, the anglo majority sound like Newfoundlanders.
Aug 19, 2012, 10:18 am
#21
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While not air travel, this is CBSA related. When driving across the border at major crossings not near eastern Ontario or Quebec (e.g. Windsor or Sarnia), I love going to the ''Bilingual" line and speaking French to the ''bilingual'' agent, who in reality usually has difficulty stringing together a sentence in French. It sure makes for an easy crossing and it's quite amusing to catch them off guard like that.
Aug 19, 2012, 12:20 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York suburbs
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I heard from some people in the US who speak French that when they go to Montreal, locals hear a France-style accent and switch to English. I wonder why. Maybe the accent is unclear to them? I also wonder how these locals would react if the person replied they don't speak English.
Aug 19, 2012, 2:15 pm
#23
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I heard from some people in the US who speak French that when they go to Montreal, locals hear a France-style accent and switch to English. I wonder why. Maybe the accent is unclear to them? I also wonder how these locals would react if the person replied they don't speak English.
Aug 19, 2012, 10:33 pm
#24
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Aug 20, 2012, 7:53 am
#25
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