Regional Realities of English-speaking Quebec
Regional Realities of English-speaking Quebec is a documentary film series that delves into the everyday experiences of English-speaking communities across the province.
Born and raised in Montreal to a family of Italian immigrants, I long viewed Quebec’s cultural and linguistic landscape through an urban, Montreal-centric lens. This project emerged from that gap in understanding.
About the film series
Each film offers a unique lens on regional identity, community resilience, and minority belonging, highlighting how daily life is shaped by connections to land, heritage, and efforts to preserve language and culture. It invites viewers to reflect on the complexity of Quebec’s multifaceted character, where local organizations, political and social dynamics, and relationships with the Francophone majority influence how institutions foster inclusion, debate, and a sense of belonging.
This series builds upon Brian Lewis’ Memories of Entry Island project, where he engaged not as a distant observer, but as a curious and involved researcher, artist, and witness—responsive to the spontaneous, unanticipated reactions of participants.
Community members often face unique challenges that go unnoticed. By sharing their stories through video and ethnography research, filmmaker and research associate Anita Aloisio aimed to raise awareness, strengthen community bonds and understanding, as well as support informed decision-making by policymakers and other leaders.
The Quebec English-Speaking Communities Research Network (QUESCREN) at Concordia University, Montreal, runs this project.
Research-creation approach
Although standard questions served as a starting point, we deliberately encouraged participants to steer the discussion toward issues that mattered to them and emerged naturally during the conversation. This open approach created space for authentic, participant-led storytelling.
You’ll meet local changemakers—community leaders, media voices, and everyday people—who are working to make a difference. Whether they’re preserving culture, building inclusive spaces, or simply keeping traditions alive, their stories are at the heart of this project.
Film 1
English Speakers in the Outaouais
Filmed in Wakefield, Aylmer and Bristol, this documentary explores the everyday challenges English-speaking communities face in maintaining their vitality.
- English speakers in the Outaouais face growing barriers to accessing health and social services in English. Despite proximity to Ottawa, many Ontario services are unavailable for Quebec residents.
- Bill 96 has created confusion and anxiety around language rights. Anglophones report being denied services in English due to misinterpretation of the law.
- Increased French requirements at CEGEP under Bill 96 make neighbouring Ontario a more attractive destination for post-secondary studies.
- Many English-language organizations play a key role in fostering social connections among seniors and building bridges between linguistic communities.
Aloisio, Anita, filmmaker. Regional Realities, English Speakers in the Outaouais: Community Vitality and Challenges in Quebec. Montreal: Quebec English-Speaking Communities Research Network (QUESCREN), Concordia University, 2025. YouTube Video.
Special thanks to participants Paul Brown, Greg Graham, Trevor Greenway, Danielle Lanyi, Nikki Mantell, Judith King Matheson, Sally Swan, and Paul Tonkin.
Film 2
English Speakers in Rouyn-Noranda
This episode examines the challenges of sustaining Rouyn-Noranda’s only English-language school in a predominantly francophone region.
- Noranda School is a cultural and linguistic anchor, often the only place outside home where children live and socialize in English.
- Many temporary residents in Rouyn-Noranda speak English but not French (e.g., as in the case of newcomers from the Philippines). They can attend English schools up to three years, after which some families consider leaving the province, posing immigrant retention challenges.
- Students with learning difficulties often cannot access appropriate support in Rouyn-Noranda's small English school, one of the reasons 58% of families eligible for English-language education in the region choose French schools.
Aloisio, Anita, filmmaker. Regional Realities: English Speakers in Rouyn-Noranda, Small Schools, Big Questions. Montreal: Quebec English-Speaking Communities Research Network (QUESCREN), Concordia University, 2025. YouTube video.
Special thanks to participants Amy Barker, Brahim El Fadil, Sue Hamilton, Jessica Nesteruk, Sharleen Sullivan, and Mélissa-Lynn Villella.
Credits
This series was produced through the Quebec English-Speaking Communities Research Network (QUESCREN) by Anita Aloisio, Research Associate, in collaboration with co-director Brian Lewis, and QUESCREN staff Lorraine O’Donnell, Patrick Donovan, and Ana Gomez. Filming and editing by Mathéo Lemay and Jacob Mahfoud..
More videos in the Regional Realities series will be released in the coming years—stay tuned!
