Quebecers Share Diverse Views on What It Means to Be Quebecois

In the run-up to the Oct. 5 provincial vote, the author interviewed a cross-section of Quebecers about the meaning of "Quebec identity." Long-time South Asian residents Dolores Chew and Shaheen Ashraf reminisce about the Lévesque period and their evolving sense of belonging after the 1980 referendum. Young sovereignists Nabil Ben Ali Ouriaghli and Benjamin Gingras, members of the citizen group Oui Quebec, advocate for an inclusive independent Quebec. newcomer Shereen Joseph, originally from Malaysia, identifies primarily as a Montrealer and finds provincial language tensions distant.

English-school board commissioners Susan Perera and Allison Saunders emphasize the role of English-language schools in fostering a bilingual Quebec, even as they feel their Quebecness is sometimes questioned. The collection highlights the varied ways people negotiate pride, heritage and political aspirations in the province.