Joel Ceausu – The Suburban LJI Reporter
Anglophones, evidently, need fewer reminders to behave respectfully than their francophone neighbours in Côte des Neiges–Notre Dame de Grâce. That’s one possible takeaway for residents of Montreal’s largest borough, following a change in signage at the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Sports Centre on Monkland. Citizens recently discovered that simple signage at the Benny pool had the smaller, less prominent English words taped over, including ironically, one reminding people that: “Respect: Because everyone deserves it.”
The rudimentary signs were not reprinted but rather covered with white tape or paper, as if the smaller English words constituted something vulgar such as pornographic material on public display. The Suburban asked Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa and Loyola councillor Despina Sourias who was responsible, who did it, and if the borough received any complaints about offensive English words on display. Also, if this is in CDN-NDG’s “new normal.”
No response or acknowledgement was received from the mayor or councillor by press time, but communications director Étienne Brunet explained that “last July the OQLF (Office québécois de la langue française) advised us that Loisirs-Sportif NDG, as a service provider for the borough of CDN-NDG, must now comply with the same obligations as the borough.” The changes were made in July and August.
A Benny centre employee who asked to remain anonymous was “embarrassed” that staff, who enjoy “incredible rapport” with the NDG community, were told to do so. Marc Perez leads and organizes various citizen and legal actions against Bill 96 with the Task Force on Linguistic Policy and has pushed at borough council for local élus to maintain English services. “It is completely insulting and a mistake for the OQLF to do this,” he told The Suburban, calling it “a grotesque overreach by the OQLF,” and a clear misunderstanding, misrepresentation and abuse of power. “Article 58.1. and 68.1 of Bill 96 clearly states that any signs or posters must be markedly predominant, not the only language. The signs clearly followed the law… The task force is demanding that that it be corrected right away.” The Suburban contacted the OQLF for clarification but did not receive a reply by press time.
Mona Verni had her children in tow en route for activities at the pool Friday. “They didn’t put new signs, just covered them to drive home the point. It’s undignified. And this is after I heard the city was taking down posters of children kidnapped by terrorists. What the hell is going on here? The exact opposite of what we expected living in NDG.” The reaction on social media was harsh, with one person suggesting it was prompted by ignorance, and others questioning if the borough had “caved to the jackbooting troglodytes?”
Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz told The Suburban, “My understanding is that English can be present, just smaller in cases of security. I asked the chief of staff to please put back the English at Benny pool.” In a French-only borough there is an exception for public safety or security, says Moroz, adding pool signs are a safety issue and should be bilingual in an area with so many English speakers.
It seems the borough didn’t put up a fight, said Ann McLaughlin, “maybe they need to be put on the hot seat…” adding, “I just don’t understand how or why people comply so readily with a ridiculous order.”