To Lebanese living in Montreal, your opinion

[Dry Ice]

I am currently on a visit to Canada and have been to Montreal.

This city has a number of advantages such as beautiful and historic buildings, an efficient transportation system and a number of restaurants, clubs, theaters and other shopping malls that cater to the city's inhabitants and visitors.

However, I was amazed by a number of factors:

1. The roads' condition: Almost all roads have some defect, either by cracks or irregular shapes.

2. The cleanliness of the city (or the lack of it): Several places had dirt on the street, garbage laying right and left, places in the metro where dirt is acculumating, unclean corners, etc...

3. The number of homeless people in the streets: This really offended me, I felt sad for those men and women and wondered why in a country that is deemed to cater for so many social services, is there yet people sleeping in the street.

4. The really diversified population... up to an extent that it creates a little shock for the newcomer: Africans, Europeans, Arabs, Chinese, Philippinos, Indians, you name it.

5. Some people seem to have landed from Mars: some were walking chest naked on one particular day, others had all the weirdest haircuts you could imagine, some had their faces tattoed.

6. The girls look really good, I'll give you that ;)

7. Prices: Everything seem to be so expensive here. And it's not only the taxes, I know that I could find many items in Lebanon for less.

8. People are friendly... to some extent. It's only when you approach them and ask for directions and help that they open up, however when walking past each others, they seem a bit cautious and apprehensive on who that other could be.

9. By the end of March, the weather is good. I mean it's cold (6 to 12 degrees) but not the cold experienced in Lebanon, ours is more humid, Montreal's is more continental.

10. Where are the Lebanese? I only came accross a couple of them, but they don't seem to have a proper identity, a proper look, whichever you wanna call it :)

It seems that the Lebanese mix between the population and tend less to form ties accross their ethnic background and more towards the society in general and of course within family and friends.

Let me know what you think,

Cheers

[Free_Patriot]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

I am currently on a visit to Canada and have been to Montreal.

Ahlan wa Sahlan bil Istez Dry_Ice

However, I was amazed by a number of factors:

1. The roads' condition: Almost all roads have some defect, either by cracks or irregular shapes.

Maclean's magazine called Montreal Canada's thirld world metropolis (But I wouldn't take that right-wing magazine very literally), the city has been cutting maintenance budgets for a long time now.


2. The cleanliness of the city (or the lack of it): Several places had dirt on the street, garbage laying right and left, places in the metro where dirt is acculumating, unclean corners, etc...

This is related to item No.1 but at this time of the year the city looks dirtier than usualy because the snow has just melted and it takes some time to wash the streets, it will look a lot better in the weeks to come. The garbage you see was embedded in the snow, I don't have to remind you of the Lebanese proverb: Deb el Talj w Bayyan el ....

3. The number of homeless people in the streets: This really offended me, I felt sad for those men and women and wondered why in a country that is deemed to cater for so many social services, is there yet people sleeping in the street.

Every big city in North America is becoming like that. This is only limited to the downtown core. However, these people are being taken care of, special centres give them food and a place to sleep if they want to, but they prefer to stay in the streets.


4. The really diversified population... up to an extent that it creates a little shock for the newcomer: Africans, Europeans, Arabs, Chinese, Philippinos, Indians, you name it.

This is what makes Montreal the city that it is, a real multicutural place, everyone is welcome. Montreal is a unique experience, enjoy the culture, any culture you like.


5. Some people seem to have landed from Mars: some were walking chest naked on one particular day, others had all the weirdest haircuts you could imagine, some had their faces tattoed.




6. The girls look really good, I'll give you that ;)

don't forget to enjoy the night life

7. Prices: Everything seem to be so expensive here. And it's not only the taxes, I know that I could find many items in Lebanon for less.

Compared to Lebanon prices in Montreal are cheaper except for parking. I am not sure how you got that impression.

8. People are friendly... to some extent. It's only when you approach them and ask for directions and help that they open up, however when walking past each others, they seem a bit cautious and apprehensive on who that other could be.

Yes because you might be a homeless asking for some change, that's why they're cautious in the beginning. They're very friendly especially when they know you're a tourist.


9. By the end of March, the weather is good. I mean it's cold (6 to 12 degrees) but not the cold experienced in Lebanon, ours is more humid, Montreal's is more continental.

True. This is a little warmer than usual for this time of the year.

10. Where are the Lebanese? I only came accross a couple of them, but they don't seem to have a proper identity, a proper look, whichever you wanna call it :)

Montreal is full of Lebanese, they are very well integrated, one of the most successful communities


It seems that the Lebanese mix between the population and tend less to form ties accross their ethnic background and more towards the society in general and of course within family and friends.

Let me know what you think,

Cheers

[Dry Ice]

Thanks for the feedback FP,

I mean literally speaking, it might be a good move from Montreal to cut on road/cleanliness maintenance to invest in other issues such as the transportation sector, culture, taking care of the homeless etc... (it's like playing simcity ), however is this the message that you want to convey for people coming to the city?

The road from the airport to downtown was really littered, I asked myself how could that be in one of the countries that is most known for environmentalism? I know it's the snow effect that is duplicating all that, but com'on, a plan must be put in place so that as soon as the snow melts, teams of cleaners starts sweeping the areas!

Plus, there shouldn't be garbage in the first place if people did not throw it in the streets!

Seriously, a team like Sukleen would have done wonders :P

[Free_Patriot]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Thanks for the feedback FP,

I mean literally speaking, it might be a good move from Montreal to cut on road/cleanliness maintenance to invest in other issues such as the transportation sector, culture, taking care of the homeless etc... (it's like playing simcity ), however is this the message that you want to convey for people coming to the city?

The road from the airport to downtown was really littered, I asked myself how could that be in one of the countries that is most known for environmentalism? I know it's the snow effect that is duplicating all that, but com'on, a plan must be put in place so that as soon as the snow melts, teams of cleaners starts sweeping the areas!

Plus, there shouldn't be garbage in the first place if people did not throw it in the streets!

Seriously, a team like Sukleen would have done wonders :P

You're right. The public is not happy with the way the city is being maintained. The snow melted pretty quickly this season, these guys work on schedule planned ahead of time. About the garbage, people always throw garbage on the streets but it never accumulates, in the winter it get lost in the snow and you get the picture.
The city will be clean soon I can assure you. Have you visited other cities?
Montreal is a good place to live, trust me, no body came and regret it.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Free_Patriot

You're right. The public is not happy with the way the city is being maintained. The snow melted pretty quickly this season, these guys work on schedule planned ahead of time. About the garbage, people always throw garbage on the streets but it never accumulates, in the winter it get lost in the snow and you get the picture.
The city will be clean soon I can assure you. Have you visited other cities?
Montreal is a good place to live, trust me, no body came and regret it.

Haven't visited other canadian cities yet.... worldwide, I visited Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Nicosia, Kuwait City, Dubai, Manama, Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.... I can assure you that they were very well maintained ;)

I'm speaking really for the pride of Montreal... this city deserves better than this.

[Free_Patriot]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Haven't visited other canadian cities yet.... worldwide, I visited Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Nicosia, Kuwait City, Dubai, Manama, Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.... I can assure you that they were very well maintained ;)

I'm speaking really for the pride of Montreal... this city deserves better than this.

Dry Ice, don't forget that the quality of life is not just the infrastructure, actually, maybe I should forward that thread to some of the media outlets, a testimony of a tourist on the streets of Montreal. Why don't you visit us in Ottawa, the nation's capital? You could also check the homeless of Toronto. Since you're here!

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Free_Patriot

Dry Ice, don't forget that the quality of life is not just the infrastructure, actually, maybe I should forward that thread to some of the media outlets, a testimony of a tourist on the streets of Montreal. Why don't you visit us in Ottawa, the nation's capital? You could also check the homeless of Toronto. Since you're here!

:P

Call me picky, but I enjoy seeing clean streets and homefull people!

[kappa273]

the road conditions are like that in most of the cities of north america...

the problems is more intensified in the midwest where temperature variations are even bigger...

water melts during the day (from the sun, rise in temperature or the salt), goes through the cracks in the asphalt and during the night, the temperature drops so much that it cracks the pavement.

the only successful roads are those made of cement but the same problem raises at the borders of the concrete blocks..

also there is so much heavy weight vehicles (large trucks) which contribute as well to the problem..

another potential reason is the lack of maintenance of the roads which may encouraged by the car companies (heard it several times here in cleveland) so that they make people ruin their cars earlier and buy new ones..

kappa

[Bazek]

Dry Ice,

Welcome to our beloved city Montreal, you have some good observations but Montreal has a lot to offer as a multicultural city in north America beyond what you have mentioned.

The people are wonderful, Lebanese are many here, in some streets you don't need to speak French or English even, all you will hear is : Marhaba, Sabah el kheir, etc.

Black, Yellow, White, or whatever is does not make a difference here, no discrimination based on your color.

feel free to PM me and I will be happy to show you the real face of the City

[TCA01]

Dry Ice

If you still in Canada you should visit Toronto, it's pretty much like New York but at smaller scale, I'm sure you will enjoy your visit but you have to come in the summer.
Toronto is a bigger city, richer, cleaner and better organized. I cannot say that there aren't any homeless people on the streets, the government and charities are helping them but unfortunately a lot of these people chose to live on the streets because they're alcoholic or on drugs and refuse to stay in places funded by the governement and municipality especially in the winter. But I garantee you that you won't see garbage on down town streets or residential areas.
As for the roads, it's the same as in every Canadian city. They're damaged due to the heavy snow, salts and extreme cold weather, maintenance and construction never stop.
Canada is diversified mutlicultural country, descrimination is against the law in public and workplaces.
Who said Canada is cheap? we pay a lot of taxes, if you're shopping you need to know where and when to shop because you can get a good bargain sometimes on high end and designer items when the department stores are having a big sale.
This year we've been blessed with mild warmer winter and we cannot complain.
Keep in mind that Canada is not perfect as it's presented in the media, and people here are not living the perfect happy easy life, we pay very high tax for the social service and health care meanwhile the government is cutting and reducing the services, in the last 15 years the system has changed a lot because the immigrants took advantage and abused the system.