04-21-2015, 08:51 AM
I can't speak as to whether the situation you described in Montreal was based on any particular reason, but there are certainly more cloistered groups anywhere you go in the world. I'll say again, for whatever reason, no matter the background, Quebec is often a harder place to feel at home in.
I hear you when you say you don't want it to be a language issue, but it is indeed something that will be the most prominent potential barrier between your family and other families. The good news is that there are many sources out there (http://www.popsci.com/article/science/as...easier-kid, http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/easie...15590.html) that show that the younger a child is, the better they will handle multiple languages. When you make speaking one language (usually a mother tongue) a priority at home, and then refocus to use the area's language prominently elsewhere, each language becomes useful (as the mode of communication for particular areas, or with particular family members, especially elderly relatives or new friends) and gets absorbed very effectively. It's unfortunate that like a parent who wants to carefully introduce their kid to new foods, and end up going so slowly as to encourage food allergies like nut, dairy, etc, we can also doubt so much children's natural ability to pick up multiple languages easily (I think consensus is that it is easiest until 5 or 6, and then degrades until roughly puberty) that we shield them from "the easy, spoken everywhere language" hoping to strengthen another tongue, when it is best to work on both, together. Similarly, a child will know flavours and foods much better if they are shown not only sweet baby/infant/toddler foods, but also exposed early and consistently to sour, bitter, spicy, peppery, savoury, etc., foods.
I would indeed agree, though, that at this reasonable distance, a weekend down here is not too hard to find time to visit and check it out. Community festivals like the KW Multicultural Festival/Kultrun/Open Streets and more can give you a good experience to start with, and hitting some other great young family destinations can show you more what the area is all about :-)
I hear you when you say you don't want it to be a language issue, but it is indeed something that will be the most prominent potential barrier between your family and other families. The good news is that there are many sources out there (http://www.popsci.com/article/science/as...easier-kid, http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/easie...15590.html) that show that the younger a child is, the better they will handle multiple languages. When you make speaking one language (usually a mother tongue) a priority at home, and then refocus to use the area's language prominently elsewhere, each language becomes useful (as the mode of communication for particular areas, or with particular family members, especially elderly relatives or new friends) and gets absorbed very effectively. It's unfortunate that like a parent who wants to carefully introduce their kid to new foods, and end up going so slowly as to encourage food allergies like nut, dairy, etc, we can also doubt so much children's natural ability to pick up multiple languages easily (I think consensus is that it is easiest until 5 or 6, and then degrades until roughly puberty) that we shield them from "the easy, spoken everywhere language" hoping to strengthen another tongue, when it is best to work on both, together. Similarly, a child will know flavours and foods much better if they are shown not only sweet baby/infant/toddler foods, but also exposed early and consistently to sour, bitter, spicy, peppery, savoury, etc., foods.
I would indeed agree, though, that at this reasonable distance, a weekend down here is not too hard to find time to visit and check it out. Community festivals like the KW Multicultural Festival/Kultrun/Open Streets and more can give you a good experience to start with, and hitting some other great young family destinations can show you more what the area is all about :-)