Joel Goldenberg – The Suburban LJI Reporter

The Ye Olde Orchard Pub, which is in NDG and other Montreal locations, is changing its name to Maison Publique Orchard, a year after the establishment received a letter from the Office Québécois de la Langue Française due to a language complaint.

The change is similar to those made by other establishments to comply with the language law, adding a French-language descriptor to an English business name. Examples include Winners Mode and Best Buy Electronique.

The Quebec government has said more strict sign laws are coming June 1, 2025, as part of Bill 96, but have not released details. As reported by The Suburban this past May, those new rules are expected to at least demand that the French descriptors be more prominent.

Owner Joe Pilotte told The Suburban this past spring that he would have already added the descriptor if that was all that was needed, but that he also wanted to maintain the pub’s longtime identity. However, he said the law’s specifics were unclear.

“They gave us a heads-up the rules will change, and even then my sign might not work if it’s got English words,” he said in May. “You see it isn’t clear. So we’re a little bit in limbo.”

Now, Pilotte, who said his dealings with the OQLF have been amicable, is still not sure his new sign will be in compliance with what is coming in a year and a half.

“We don’t want to spend thousands of dollars or get fined, or upset anyone, because remember at the end of the day it’s the government we’re dealing with,” Pilotte said in May. “We’re just trying to make it work and I’m sure we’ll find something that will make them happy.” n