Over the past decades, a rich Colombian community integrated into the beautiful cultural melting pot that is Montreal. Explore why Montreal became a popular destination for Colombian newcomers in the 1950s and continues to attract new Colombian residents to this day.
The first Colombian newcomers in Montreal
While records show Colombians living in Montreal as far back as the 1930s, the Colombian community truly bloomed in the 1950s. At the time, École Jean-de-Brébeuf’s excellent academic reputation circulated amongst Colombia’s social elite and attracted students to study abroad there. Naturally, some liked the city so much, they decided to stay. There really were only around a hundred Colombian-Canadian residents in the 50s, but now that number has risen into the thousands.
Why Colombians want to move to Montreal
Montreal is Canada’s second largest city, and it boasts a reputation for a good quality of life. It’s also known for manageable cost of living, low college tuition fees, great nightlife, low crime rates, an intriguing dual language culture, large Latin American population, and friendliness towards newcomers. With all these advantages, it’s no wonder why Colombians fall in love with Montreal and choose to make it their home.
Cost of living
Compared to Canada’s largest and most expensive city, Toronto, rent prices, groceries, and other living essentials are significantly lower in Montreal. That’s a big deal for many Colombians selecting their new home.
Low college tuition fees
Many Colombians come to Montreal as students. When choosing which Canadian college to study at, many select Montreal’s schools for their significantly lower tuition rates compared to colleges in other Canadian cities.
Nightlife
Montreal’s world-famous nightlife appeals to young Colombians looking to live abroad. With options ranging from budget-friendly bars for students to upscale clubs for local professionals, there’s a lot to choose from. Montreal is often compared to European cities, and its vibrant nightlife scene creates some of that image.
Low crime rates
Montreal is known for being one of the safest Canadian cities, and this fact draws in a lot of Colombians moving with families. Additionally, the city continues to grow safer each year. Since 1989, Montreal’s crime rates have nearly halved.
Bilingual culture
Montreal’s bilingual culture also attracts Colombians. Most Montreal residents are fluent in both English and French. Some Colombians may already know the local language before moving to Canada, but others must learn once they arrive. Fortunately, French is a romance language just like Spanish, meaning they are similar and relatively easy to grasp if you already speak one of them. English does not share Spanish’s language roots and can be harder for some Spanish-speakers to pick up.
Large Latin American population
There are over 280,000 Latin Americans in Montreal. It’s hard to move to a new city in a completely new country, but having people who come from similar backgrounds around for support makes the transition much easier. Colombians have no trouble making friends with other Latin Americans in Montreal. The Latin American community celebrates their heritage throughout the year, and Montreal is home to several festivals and arts events to celebrate Colombian culture.
Friendliness towards newcomers
The city of Montreal is very friendly towards newcomers from all countries. It’s so much easier finding your footing in a new place when other residents greet you with a smile rather than a glare. One of the many cultural differences Colombians face when moving to Canada is expressive friendliness, or lack thereof. Generally, Latin Americans are more emotionally expressive than Canadians. That said, Montreal is known for being one of the friendliest cities in Canada, a factor that sways some Colombians into choosing this city over others in the country.
Sending money from Montreal to Colombia
Colombian newcomers often send money to family living in Colombia—especially with the value difference between Canadian dollars and Colombian pesos swaying in their favor. When transferring money overseas through banks, you may face hidden fees and long wait times for your transfer to hit your family’s bank account.
Western Union is an affordable way to ferry money transfers to the people you love, without hidden fees. Convert Canadian dollars to Colombian pesos to get an accurate sense of what your transfer will look like, then set up a profile on our website or download our mobile app to get started. We remain completely transparent with our customers every step of the way so you can avoid the unexpected and prepare for what’s next.
