“If I didn’t speak French, I wouldn’t have understood my Moroccan taxi driver when he matter-of-factly informed me that I spoke the language ‘avec l’accent de Céline Dion,’ making me howl with laughter in the back of his cab.” montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...

WATCH: Heni x Beyond the Plate: Skydiving and cooking with Montreal chef Julien Robillard Turns out the chef behind Heni, Barley and Épicerie Lulu has also jumped out of a plane over 750 times.

Same. I’ve never felt as confident speaking French as when I was in Paris and Lyon. I felt welcomed with open arms. Here I’ve been asked what state I’m from.

Great piece, Toula!

When in the south of France I sometimes get French people switching to English, which they do just because they hear an accent -- and they'll tell you as much -- but they'll continue in French if you say you're from Quebec.

As an anglo Montrealer who also proudly speaks French avec l'accent de Céline, I feel seen!! Great piece.

Près des deux tiers des espèces d’oiseaux au monde voient leur population décliner. L’Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature publie une mise à jour de sa liste rouge des espèces menacées. www.lemonde.fr/planete/arti...

I couldn’t agree with you more. Speaking several languages or simply learning a few expressions in the language of the country you are visiting goes a long way and helps you connect with the local people on a whole different level. Efcharistó poli, Toula.

“If I didn’t speak French, I wouldn’t have understood my Moroccan taxi driver when he matter-of-factly informed me that I spoke the language ‘avec l’accent de Céline Dion,’ making me howl with laughter in the back of his cab.” montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...

Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.

As a Montrealer, this makes me so proud! 🙌 “Though other cities offer bike-sharing programs, “Montreal revolutionized the trend,” TIME wrote, calling Bixi’s technology “the backbone” of bike-sharing services in cities including London and New York.” montrealgazette.com/news/bixi-bi...

Opalite x Friends is making me laugh

Hier, un nouvel ami, Francophone, qui a oeuvré pour entreprise touristique deux ans ici est venu me dire Adieu. Son statut d'immigrant temporaire expire; il est obligé de partir. Merci François Legault de nous libérer de travailleurs Francophones.

My statement on Middle East peace

“What kind of credible threat justified shooting a minor point blank like that, without trying to engage with him first?” cultmtl.com/2025/10/the-...

“Make no mistake: There’s a direct line between systemic racism — which the Quebec government continues to deny — and the racial profiling and unwarranted police interventions it often leads to that causes Black and brown bodies harm.” An editorial by @mtltoula.bsky.social.

😂

Asking rents in Montreal have literally doubled since 2019: “Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Montreal has grown from $1,130 in 2019 to $2,272 in October 2025.”

I was surprised during a recent reporting trip to see West Bank settlers living in Tel Aviv. What were they doing in this bastion of liberal secularism? The answer speaks to the triumphalism of the ascendant far right, which has penetrated every level of Israeli society.

What to do today in Montreal 🤖🩷

Quelle émotion formidable que de recevoir une boîte d'exemplaires de mon prochain livre Fascisme tranquille fraîchement sortis de l'imprimeur! Cela dit, je dois avouer que mes sentiments de joie et d'excitation se mélangent à des émotions de tiraillement et d'inquiétude...

Well said @joshjohnsoncomedy.bsky.social

This strikes me as pretty bad

The Visual Arts Centre in Westmount is having a fundraiser. facebook.com/events/s/en-...

I’d pretend to be shocked, but I’m a pedestrian www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2...

“Quebec restrictions on work permits for international workers and reductions in the categories of specialists permitted are making it increasingly difficult to hire and retain foreign talent, Lutfy said.” montrealgazette.com/business/loc...

Sad to hear of his passing. For many of us he was the face of evening news for so long. RIP. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but he seemed immensely likeable. montrealgazette.com/news/local-n...

So far, only one candidate is seriously following at least one of those potential solutions. So that is where my vote goes, but mentalities will have to change within the entire population in Montreal in order to address the housing crisis.

Spot on venting online doesn’t fix potholes or rising rents! Civic engagement starts at the ballot box. How can Montreal better motivate young voters to participate?

I will definitely be voting but for the first time here in years now that I’m back home so need to do more options research (still a bit outta the loop on who’s who) & have a few informed convos.

It's like a magician's trick: "Look, over there!"

Thanks Toula for this People should learn more about what services cities offer before complaining on social medias it echoes this report from CBC ⤵️ Wish the franco medias would do the same...

“Post-pandemic budget shortfalls and decreased resources have affected Montreal’s public services, while our premier appears to think unions and “radical Islamists” are our biggest problems.” montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...

THIS - If you don't vote, don't complain montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu... @mtltoula.bsky.social

Immigrant families in Quebec say they were shunted into English Protestant classrooms, but francophones say these families freely chose English in the pursuit of economic advantage. “The stories clash,” writes @mtltoula.bsky.social. “They also feed each other.” thewalrus.ca/were-immigrant-k...

A very good commentary piece by Toula Drimonis, un excellent billet, à lire.

“Thúy has been a Quebecer longer than Bock-Côté has been alive. Why is she being treated by him as a foreigner, branded as ungrateful the minute she criticizes policies & rhetoric that deeply impact Quebec’s reputation and many Quebecers’ sense of belonging?” www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...

“There are many living witnesses to what happened,” Mastromonaco says. “But it’s either not broadly acknowledged or it’s trivialized, perceived as anecdotal and insignificant. But it wasn’t anecdotal, and it wasn’t insignificant.” @thewalrus.ca thewalrus.ca/were-immigra...

“Thúy has been a Quebecer longer than Bock-Côté has been alive. Why is she being treated by him as a foreigner, branded as ungrateful the minute she criticizes policies & rhetoric that deeply impact Quebec’s reputation and many Quebecers’ sense of belonging?” www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...