Montral: The Quest For A Metropolis

How did a small French missionary colony become a major pivot of the North American economy and the leading industrial and financial metropolis of Canada in the nineteenth century, dominated by a Victorian bourgeoisie, only to see its role retrenched, by the later twentieth century, to one of a - contested- metropolis of the French-speaking province of QuA(c)bec? How does the city today reconcile the many facets of its identity: as French window on North America, but also as a bilingual, and increasingly multicultural, metropolis? How has a city seemingly allergic to urban planning managed to sustain, even revitalize, an animated and liveable urban core? How can its economy exhibit an excellent performance in terms of conversion to high technology and knowledge-based industries, yet suffer from persistent high unemployment? How can a city with such an extreme climate and long cold winter, and that remains significantly divided between two cultural and linguistic majorities, be so frequently ranked one of the world's most liveable cities?
The list of paradoxes characterizing MontrA(c)al is a long one. The portrait that Annick Germain and Damaris Rose strive to paint of the intriguing city, caught in the maAlstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the "National Question," addressing QuA(c)bec's place vis-A -vis the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves forming a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of MontrA(c)al, explore the twists and turns of MontrA(c)al's perennial quest for an identity and a mission worthy of ametropolis.

Part of the World Cities series, Montreal provides a guide to the birth, growth and contemporary life of this unique North American metropolis. The authors address some of the fundamental paradoxes at the core of the city's dilemma: How does the city reconcile its identity as a French window on North America and a bilingual, increasingly multicultural metropolis? How can its economy, currently undergoing a successful transformation into a high-tech hotbed, still suffer from high unemployment? How can a city that is seemingly allergic to urban planning, that has such a long and cold winter and that remains divided between two cultural and linguistic majorities be so frequently ranked one of the world's most livable cities?
The portrait that the authors strive to paint of this intriguing city, caught in the maelstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the "National Question," addressing Quebec's place in relation to the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montreal, explore the twists and turns of Montreal's ever-changing identity.