Bettina Karpel

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The Bonjour-Hi artwork that blanketed much of NDG last month, to the delight of many residents but the chagrin of the city and borough, is becoming a hot commodity.

As reported in The Suburban last month, west end curbs, bike and walking paths, SAQ outlets and roadways were adorned with stencilled Bonjour-Hi artwork with happy faces and dog and cat symbols, the simple bilingual expression the bane of language hawks, denounced by the National Assembly and rejected by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante appearing prominently throughout NDG.

Within days of appearing, city crews erased them. Following a second swath with added “woofs” and “meows,” city workers were busy in the wee morning hours washing away fresh artwork a few hours following their appearance.

Despite the mayor’s and province’s distaste for the word “Hi”, people are clamouring for a version on their property. NDG resident Nancy Breitman says she heard from many asking for artwork on their walkways and driveways, some want posters. She doesn’t know the artist responsible but sent a message through a third person and was told they were agreeable.

“When I first saw one on Monkland I thought it was so neat. It seemed like it just fell out of the sky, and then I saw another one, and another one, and I found it adorable,” she told The Suburban. “It’s friendly, it makes you feel good, and I don’t get a political vibe from it. Not at all. It’s just something beautiful.”

Another resident told The Suburban, “it’s the city that’s making the political statement, by erasing it so fast. Not the artist.” Breitman was also annoyed. “Then of course your mind goes to politics. How petty! This is the best neighbourhood. I’ve lived here for 25 years, we get along. I’ve never had a single dispute on language in my life. It’s just not a thing.” For that reason, she was taken aback by the city’s swift removal, as were many on local social media. “Apart from the few ‘petty and grumpy’ I found this absolutely beautiful, and part of what I believe exists in NDG and Montreal in general. Certainly in NDG this spirit is alive and well.”

She proposed it online and got an enthusiastic response. “We should flood NDG with this beautiful message that people here feel unity and love for each other. I want to be able to walk around and see these messages everywhere. It’s not a graffiti issue, this is art. Someone took the thought and employed visual elements to create a message. Art is the greatest disruptor. Let us have this little tiny pleasure space. This is real inclusion. We are part of the mosaic of Montreal, and we will not be erased.”

Bettina Karpel is one of the dozens of residents who want one on her property, “maybe with a meow” and says there’s nothing political about it. “I really think it’s a community building exercise. I’m aware some people are upset about it but it’s a happy thing and celebrating who we are as a bilingual community that really gets along despite what politicians try to do. It’s a happy message and we really need happy right now.” She said when the city painted “weird designs” on roads last year to spruce up areas and leisure spots, she thought, “how awful, but then I realized they’re trying to make it prettier. It grows on you. It’s the same thing here.”

The Suburban spoke with the artist who only confirmed that there is an initiative but offered no other details. n