Orchard pub adds “Maison Publique” to sign after issues with Quebec’s French language watchdog

The owners of what was formally known as Ye Olde Orchard have added the words “Maison Publique” to their outdoor signs after issues with the OQLF – Quebec’s French language watchdog.

The pub has several locations across Montreal.

Last Spring, the owners were ordered by the OQLF to add French to their signage, after the French language watchdog said a complaint had been filed against them.

The OQLF said French would have to be “clearly predominant” on outdoor signs.

In an interview with CityNews, Joe Pilotte , the Vice President of Operations with Orchard Group – who owns the pubs – said “Maison Publique” is not the new name just the descriptor.

“The language police asked that we had a descriptor added by law. I can’t have the word pub and grill there as a descriptor without also having a French descriptor. So, that’s where the Maison Publique comes in,” Pilotte explained.

He said the company was already in internal discussions to change the pub names to reflect each neighborhood where they are located so the OQLF complaint just accelerated the process.

“Of course, it’s never fun to be threatened with fines or anything like that held over you. But we were already in the process of having each pub have its own identity. If we were going to change our names like we were planning on doing, we wanted to add the descriptors and we wanted to do our best to comply because we don’t want to have to change it again. It does cost thousands of dollars to change a sign,” Pilotte explained.

“I don’t see why they had to do that. I mean, Pub and Grill was good enough for me,” said on Montrealer.

“I think it’s silly,” adds another Montrealer. “I don’t think French is threatened in Montreal.”

However, one Montrealer likes the change, “Quebec wants to keep French alive so, it’s a good addition. In Montreal, a lot of people speak both French and English so mixing both is always a good initiative.”

As for the pub, they’re ready to put this issue behind them.

“It’s not a political debate for us at all. We’re a public house and we welcome everyone from all walks of life, all languages,” he concluded.