"Of course, it's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's not that far from the truth. Hugh MacLennan published his classic novel, Two Solitudes, in 1945, forever cementing the phrase in the lexicon in Quebec and in Canada, but things have changed big time in the decades since. English Montrealers speak a lot more French than they did in 1945, and the two communities are more closely knit than they were back then."
"But-and it is a gigantic "but"-the solitudes are still a thing. From Quebec nationalism to city politics to culture, the two communities see things very differently. Even the Canadiens. The English and French can both agree that we live and die with le bleu-blanc-rouge, but in some ways, we don't see the same thing when we go to the Bell Centre."
"He became more famous after he retired, hosting a show on Montreal radio station TSN 690 and then later becoming a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada. In recent years, he's become a regular on L'Antichambre, the very popular post-game talk show on French-language sports network RDS. So he knows all about the contrasts between how the English and French see the Canadiens."
English- and French-speaking Montrealers both passionately support the Canadiens while maintaining distinct cultural perspectives and social separations. The phrase Two Solitudes described mid-20th-century divides, but English Montrealers now speak more French and communities are more interconnected. Persistent differences remain across Quebec nationalism, municipal politics, and cultural outlooks, and those differences influence how fans experience games at the Bell Centre. P. J. Stock grew up on the mostly English-speaking West Island, played junior hockey with the Victoriaville Tigres, and appeared in the NHL for several teams, including the Rangers, Bruins, Flyers and briefly the Canadiens. Post-retirement broadcasting roles include TSN 690, Hockey Night in Canada and RDS's L'Antichambre. English fans are passionate but generally less fanatical; many French fans treat the Canadiens as more than just hockey.
Read at The Walrus
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