American family leaving Quebec after less than one year because of Bill 96

A family that moved to Montreal from Michigan less than a year ago is heading back to the United States after Quebec passed Bill 96 last week.

The Calixte family – parents Jeffry and Jackie – moved from Michigan to Montreal eight months ago to be closer to family, and for their young girl Nora to become bilingual.

While they say they still love the city, they feel Quebec’s French-language law reform is problematic.

BACKGROUND: Bill 96 French-language reform officially adopted in Quebec

“Montreal’s a beautiful city,” said father Jeffry Calixte. “The people here are great. Everyone is so welcoming. I think our main concern is the rhetoric is so divisive. The terms of the bill is very clear.”

Bill 96 would require those newly arrived and refugees to communicate in French to government agencies within six months of their arrival.

And it would require all students at English CEGEPs to take three core courses in French, or if eligible, take additional courses on the French language.

It also states those who do not have the speaking and writing knowledge of French required by the government cannot get a diploma.

“I am the second kid in my class that does not speak French,” said Nora. “The rest of my friends in the class speak French. And I feel like I am the odd one out, out of all those kids. Like I’m the odd number in the rest of them. Right. Which makes me feel like, ‘wow, I can’t learn anything.’

“The teachers have done something to make me not feel bad by writing zeros on the test, they just put a hyphen there instead of putting a zero. But that still doesn’t change my thoughts about the test. I still did fail the test.”

The Calixte family was at a protest opposing Bill 96 earlier this month before it was approved at the National Assembly last week.

“I say it’s not right just to just turn it all French,” Nora told CityNews at that May 14 rally. “Some of the kids there won’t understand a lot of French. They’re just completely wrong.”

Nora Calixte at Bill 96 protest on May 14, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Felisha Adam)

The Calixtes say they came to the decision to leave Quebec so that Nora has more opportunities growing up, one that doesn’t depend on the language she speaks.

“We don’t want to put Nora in a situation where she’s at a disadvantage,” said Jeffry. “So, you know, we feel to spare her that – and Montreal’s a beautiful city – but we’re going to spare her that part of it for now and continue to build her beautiful mind.”

“No one forced us to come here,” added Jackie. “We wanted to come here. We want to have a second language. There could be a better way of doing things. I beg the young French Quebecois who have been here to look at it from a different lens and not look at it like a challenge, but like an opportunity.”

MORE ON QUEBEC’S BILL 96:

• Bill 96: Anglophones share employment concerns as passing of language reform looms
• Will Bill 96 affect how English-speakers in the province receive health care?
• Does Legault care about English-speaking voters? Q&A with lecturer, anglo activist
• English-speaking nurse says Quebec more focused on culture than workforce
• Parents, educators in Park-Ex worried about Bill 96 send open letter to Quebec’s French language minister

Jackie and Jeffry say they will continue to have Nora learn French in Michigan, but on her own time and in a setting where they say she can succeed.

“We’ve come here for years and we’re going to continue to come here,” said Jeffry. “But at this time we’re just going to make the decision, the best decision for our family going forward and continue to grow Nora, continue to educate Nora. And I think going back to the States is the best thing for our family right now.

“We’re just trying to put her in the right space so she can continue to flourish.”