2 weeks Ago By Montreal Gazette
Article content Re: “ Terry DiMonte vowed to never move back to Montreal. ‘Well, I’m here to eat crow’ ” (Bill Brownstein, Sept. 13) “Should I stay or should I go now” seems to be the anglo-Montreal theme of the day.
I myself chose the latter. However, like Terry DiMonte’s departure, mine has not been without challenges. Re-establishing a sense of belonging is no easy task.
Being new in a place where people have established lives can lead to a deep feeling of isolation. You are an outsider and possibly always will be. I, too, miss Montreal.
Not the potholes or politics, but the place itself and all it has to offer. I have family here and beautiful beaches to visit, but few connections. Some, yes, and they are growing slowly, but I will never be able to re-create what I left behind in my beloved city of Montreal.
I feel its absence every day. Do I regret leaving? No. It was the right choice for me.
Would I advise people to leave? No. Not unless you have a strong personal reason for doing so, or are at the end of how much political poppycock you can handle. I fell into both categories.
If you do leave, prepare to miss more than the bagels. Lori Weber, Dartmouth, N.S.
There is no place like home. Bienvenue, Terry. Welcome back.
It only goes to show you can take someone out of Montreal, but you can’t take Montreal out of our souls. Victoria Jonas, Beaconsfield I’m happy to see Terry DiMonte back in Montreal with wife Jessica Dionne. I agree with the sentiment that we are all part of the landscape in which we live and put down our roots.
Part of the city’s DNA comes from immigrants who made their home here and helped put Montreal at the forefront of the Canadian economy. But since the mid-1970s, the landscape has changed. Today, immigration is helping to change Montreal’s landscape once more.
I hope these new roots take hold and give us reason to stay and enjoy a rebirth in this city. Giovanni Perrotta, St-Léonard Re: “ How bingo and a new TV show restored my faith in humanity ” (Martine St-Victor, Sept. 12) Martine St-Victor’s unexpected encounter with a retired Verdun firefighter at a bingo hall in a local community centre, where she learned his life story, is inspirational.
We tend to take for granted the incredible numbers of people who make life as we know it possible — those who fight fires, heal our sick, purify our water, grow our food, pick up our garbage, keep our public transportation going, among so many others. Our society would be impossible without these essential front-line workers. We should find a way to celebrate them and show how much we appreciate their indispensable work.
Shloime Perel, Côte-St-Luc Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to [email protected] We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one.
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