Montreal is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the largest city in the province, the second-largest in Canada and the 9th-largest in North America. In 2011 the city had a population of 1,649,519.

City status
Population diversity

The profile of Montreal inhabitants is complex. According to the 2006 Statistique Canada report, the majority group includes people of Canadian and of French origins. People of Canadian origin are 537 625 (339 595 of both Canadian parents and 198 030 of mixed parents). People of French origin are 371 200 (148 965 of both French parents and 222 240 of mixed parents).

Migrant population consists of 488 090 people which correspond to 31 % of Montréal population. Non-permanent residents are 32 810, or 2 % of the population. The main groups of the population by origin are as follows4: Carribean - 86 490, Central and South America - 57 190, Europe - 393 100, African - 49 005; Western Asia - 29 745, Southern Asia - 53 980, East and South-East Asia: 105 295; Oceania – 5955. The largest migrant groups have their origins in: Italy (49 240), Haïti (39 280), China (25 070), France (23 930), Algeria (21 480), Morocco (20 850), Lebanon (18 845), Viet Nam (17 155)

Among residents aged 15 and over, 489 965 people (36 %) are foreign-born and therefore considered first generation migrants. Second generation migrants comptent are 174 040 (13 %). 679 people aged 15 and over (51%) belong to the third and following generations.

Globalisation and the economic downturn affect the economic fabric of the city and the prospects of migrants. Sectors which traditionally employ a lot of migrants,  particularly manufacturing, have been affected the most. Skilled migrants find it difficult to have their qualifications recognised. Some groups, expecially those belonging to visible minorities have difficulties finding employment despite the fact that the many of them have equal or higher levels of education compared to the general population. This trend concerns also the second the third generation. The city therefore is confronted with new challenges and needs to increase its efforts in enabling the social and economic integration of migrants and fight poverty and exclusion.

Profile and activities
Intercultural cities index
good practice

Back Habiter la mixité (Living in the mix)

A city council housing department that puts mixing at the heart of its practice

Today, just over one in four Montrealers is a first generation immigrant. Montreal has become unquestionably a multi-ethnic city.

The City Council openly acknowledges that all newcomers contribute to confirm the cosmopolitan character of the city, and that their contribution will enrich the cultural and economic life. But in order to realise this diversity advantage, it is important that people can live in adequate multi-ethnic housing and neighbourhoods.

To ensure the city maintains a special focus on this, it set up Habiter la mixité in 1999, the result of collaboration with the City of Montreal and the Department of Immigration and cultural Communities (MICC).

Its main objectives are

  • welcoming newcomers,
  • promoting exchanges between different cultures,
  • allowing them to connect with their environment and encourage them to participate in community life.

The project is implemented in five districts and takes the form of activities designed to:

  • break the isolation of people;
  • promote intercultural relations;
  • encourage immigrants to become familiar with their surroundings and their environment.
  • Commitment of local organizations

Many of the activities are set up with community organizations at the centre. This provides the advantage of allowing newcomers to discover the resources and community services available in their neighbourhood. Activities can take various forms, such as individual meetings with families, outings in the city or outside, community meals, workshops and parties, to name a few.

Further information
2016
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mayor

Valérie PLANTE

video

"Exchanging is everything": Nadia Bastien tells us why is important for a city like Montreal to be part of the Intercultural Cities network (in French).

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