THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome. Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.
Monday, March 30, 2009
HOW DO VERDUNITES FEEL BEING PART OF MONTREAL?
Since Verdun was made part of Montreal, do Verdunites feel the change was for the good or the bad, now that many years have passed? What is the biggest difference its made to Verdun life on a regular basis? Did it destroy the proud allegiance residents felt for the area, or has that continued despite being part of Montreal? I've noted that Westmount has parted ways with Montreal and are now a separate city...has Verdun considered following suit? It would be nice to hear from some longtime Verdun residents who could let us all know how the change over time has affected our beloved Verdun....Diane
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When asked where I come from I used to say Montreal easier than explaining where Verdun is.
Now if I meet someone from home and they say they are from Mtl. I say me too Verdun..
Sometimes u get the look like where?
If Verduners were any thing like Brossarders we were pretty peeved . You go to bed living in Brossard and waking up in Longueuil. We lived in Longueuil for a few years until the citizens got back most of our Brossard.
I went on a day-trip to Montreal about two months ago, just to look around old haunts. I was born and lived in Ville Emard, then moved to Crawford Park when I was six. Graduated in 72 from VHS, had my first apartment in Verdun before moving on to NDG, West Island and finally took the drive down the 40l.
I had a good childhood, but I could have had that anywhere my family was. My first apartment really was the (naughty word)..... Asselin Apartments at Verdun and Richard....You could hear the person next door stirring their tea or coffee. It was awful....drunken janitor....but again I could have had that any where else. I lived there four years, because it fit my budget.
As a result, I am happy with my bittersweet memories, but you know, I have moved on. I much prefer to stay where I am. Verdun is definitely part of my past, but it left some good imprints on me.
I used to feel that Montreal would swallow up the surrounding cities and suburbs. I think Verdun will still keep it's unique character for years to come.
I didn't even know Brossard was part of Longueuil now. When I lived there on rue Bretagne, the City Hall was located across the street from the shopping center at the end of Matte Blvd and the area was called Ville Brossard....everything changes....Diane
A few years back all the south shore was swallowed up and renamed Longueuil including Brossard. As I said you woke up in Longueuil. There was no vote to merge. They just did it. Very democratic. Our new Brossard city hall on Rome Blvd. was renamed Longueuil City Hall and used for the whole south shore. One police department called Longueuil police etc.
The citizens of Brossard St Lambert Greenfield Park St. Hubert Longueuil were up in arms and held petitions to get back their cities. Nice eh. Anyhow Brossard citizens complained enough and finally got back most of what belonged to us in the first place. . I think the only service that we have to share is the water. I still have to pay my water tax to Brossard and another water tax bill to the city of Longueuil But now I live in Brossard we got back our city and our city’s name BROSSARD BROSSARD belongs to BROSSARD, unlike ST Hubert, Longueuil, Greenfield, they belong to Longueuil I’m not sure about St. Lambert.
Hey Pauline, good to see the residents of Brossard had a win over the politicians! Nothing like a good fight for your rights and you usually have a win if enough people get involved and speak up...Diane
I think the only reason why we won was because our Mayor was on our side unlike Montreal their mayors only promise de merger but didn't do anything about it.
people who live in verdun still say there from verdun.......no one who lives in verdun says there from montreal......
Most people I've met who were from Verdun would say they are from Montreal & I would say where abouts and if it was Verdun, it was like meeting an old friend!
That's been my experience too.... we all proud to be from Montreal,but quicker to say Verdun,when asked the 'wherabouts' question...... HF&RV
Carole, you're lucky to meet "an old friend" from Verdun occasionally. Having lived in Western Australia for nearly 35 years, I'm excited just to meet someone from La Belle Province!..Diane
I had this occasion just last Sunday. We were attending Mass at St. Pat's and there were a lot of tourists around. Somebody asked me for directions and said she was from Toronto and down here for the week. And I just automatically said "oh I'm originally from Montreal but I live here now" and she declared me lucky to live in New York - she said she didn't want to leave :)
I can understand that Sandy. After spending 17 nights in a gorgeous apartment on the Upper East Side, I didn't want to leave either! Can't wait to go back, but it'll be a couple of years as Richard is heading to Montreal on his own this time, just for three weeks in September to organise some things for his mother....Diane
Hi dr676third. It is nice to meet someone from Verdun. Our nephew from my husband's side (from Guelph) girlfriend's father lived in Verdun (and on my street at that) & her grandmother still lives there.
You never know, there may be a Verdunite out your way and you don't know it yet!
I'll keep looking Carole...yesterday I met a young woman (waitress) from Valleyfield...at least she was from the right province! Most Canadians I run into are from B.C. or Alberta...probably because Perth is the oil and mining capital of Australia, it attracts a lot of people in that industry. My girlfriend Maria whom I met about 5 years ago is from Westmount originally and she's been in Australia for 35 years (same as us), yet we still all sound like Canucks!...Diane
dr676third, it's amazing in itself that you have met someone from Valleyfield and Westmount in Australia. That's close enough to know just about the same areas as you do. I know an older woman in the small town here in Ontario where I live (Erin) and she's from Westmount.
After all these years living there, you haven't picked up the accent? I'm betting that we could probably detect an accent & wouldn't know you are from our home town.
I'm sure my accent has changed since my Verdun days, but when I visit Montreal every two years, friends comment that I virtually sound the same, although my vocabulary is slightly different. Example:footpath/sidewalk, car bonnet/hood, car boot/trunk etc. I think Montrealers accent has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. The younger english speakers have a a slight French sound in their speech these days, which makes it rather unique in North America. We loved our birthplace and still do, but the political situation 35 years ago became unsettling and we started to feel like strangers in our home province. Sadly, It was time to pack up & leave to begin a new life with our children in a new country. Australia was a HUGE change and adventure, but we knew if we stayed in North America, we would always be drawn back to La Belle Province. We lived in Toronto for 18 months in 65-66 and the best thing about that was the road to Montreal!...Diane
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