Language Activists Target Mile End

It was a brief statement, but one that nonetheless made an impact.

Late Saturday, activists pasted posters on bus shelters, parking pay stations, phone booths and lampposts in the Mile End district.

Their message: "Mile End 101 Fran?ais" and "Renforeons la Loi 101," calling for the Quebec government to strengthen its language charter.

The posters were printed on 8-by-11-inch papers and pasted around the district, mostly on St. Viateur St., Bernard Ave. and St. Urbain St., although one was spotted on Park Ave., at the corner of Laurier Ave.

No group claimed responsibility for the signs, and neighbourhood residents believe it was mischief aimed at upsetting the multicultural neighbourhood.

"They appeared Saturday night," said Frank Labelle, who spotted the signs on his way home from work. "I didn't like it. I think these people should get a life and a job. They clearly have too much time on their hands."

By mid-morning yesterday, most of the posters had vanished, said Ted Wright, an area resident and a local housing activist.

He speculated the people responsible for pasting the posters object to the cultural mix that makes up Mile End.

"There is linguistic peace here," he said. "I think someone is trying to come in from the outside to try to mess things up."

Wright walked around the area at 7:30 a.m. yesterday and saw all the posters, about 50 altogether. He said many had already been removed by 10 a.m.

Mile End's multicultural makeup was in the news this week as the city announced it will rebrand Park Ave. from Bernard to Van Horne Ave. to reflect the area's Greek makeup.

The area also became a flashpoint in the reasonable accommodation debate, after a local YMCA came under fire for frosting its windows to prevent male Hasidic Jewish students in a nearby building from seeing women exercising. The Y reversed its decision last March because of backlash from members.

March 31, 2008