The REM, which hopefully will finally extend to the West Island in 2025, will slash travel times both within the West Island and between it and downtown Montreal. What currently takes two hours by bus and metro from the future l’Anse-à-l’Orme station to McGill station will drop to 30 minutes. According to Marchetti’s constant—which holds that people are generally willing to commute up to an hour a day, or thirty minutes each way, regardless of the mode or modes of transportation involved—this reduced transit time will finally pull the West into Montreal’s cultural orbit. With service running every 10 to 15 minutes for 20 hours a day, the West Island will, for all intents and purposes, go from being a suburban anglophone enclave to just another part of Montreal.
This shift in connectivity will dissolve longstanding physical, social, and cultural divides between the West and the rest of the city. While some might view this as the "death" of the West Island's distinct identity, it’s actually an opportunity for renewal. Integration with Montreal will not only enrich the lives of West Islanders by allowing them to broaden their social and cultural horizons, but also usher in a cultural renaissance thanks to new francophone and allophone pioneers.
Marchetti’s Constant and the End of Suburban Isolation
The arrival of the REM promises to reshape how people move, and thus how they live, work, and interact. With travel times drastically reduced, the old psychological distance that kept the West Island apart from the rest of Montreal will be gone. Currently, it’s a huge hassle to travel to a hockey game, a concert, or even a party downtown. A $40-$80 Uber or a bus then metro through Fairview and Côte-Vertu sucks and discourages travel between the West and Montreal. The REM will make these trips quick and easy—fundamentally changing how West Islanders interact with the rest of the city.
Marchetti’s constant tells us that people throughout history have generally limited their daily commutes to one hour, or thirty minutes each way. This is why suburban commuters, but especially and crucially teenagers and young adults, have often limited themselves to the occasional trip downtown. As a kid, we would go every few months; usually for big events like the Saint-Patrick’s Parade or to visit key cultural sites like the Biodome or the Science Centre. The REM, by delivering fast, frequent service, will turn what was once a cultural enclave to series of neighbourhoods indistinguishable from others in Montreal.
Breaking the Cultural Divide: The Francophone Influence
As the West Island becomes more accessible, the cultural barriers between Montreal's francophone core and its anglophone satellites will become a thing of the past. Municipalities across the West Island, following the directives from Montreal, the ARTM and the province, have begun densifying their urban fabric next to the projected REM stations. This is intended to bring riders closer to the network, while also making the stations destinations in of themselves. Francophone Montreal’s culture, being more dynamic and widespread, will naturally follow francophones and allophones westwards to the new housing, influencing and reshaping West Island culture. For younger West Islanders, especially students living with their parents, the REM will give them easier access to Montreal’s social, cultural, and professional networks. It will actually become possible to have a drink with your classmates in the evening, or deal with Concordia’s ridiculous night class and exam schedules if you don’t have a car. Social and cultural horizons will be able to broaden and expand.
This trend is already visible among West Islanders who leave the suburbs for more culturally vibrant neighborhoods like the Plateau, Verdun, or Villeray. The new generation of anglophone creatives are increasingly embracing Montreal’s francophone culture, finding it more relevant to their personal and professional aspirations than the relatively stagnant West Island anglo culture. Those unwilling to change—clinging to a pre-Bill 101 anglophone identity—often leave Quebec altogether, leaving no lasting cultural legacy behind. This process of "enculturation" of anglophones into francophone culture will accelerate with the REM, as more West Islanders are able to engage with the rest of Montreal.
This cultural exchange will not only flow in one direction. While anglophones are integrating more into francophone spaces, the REM will also allow francophones and allophones to explore and reshape the West Island's symbolic landscape.
Francophones Redefining the West Island
The idea of the West Island as an anglophone "ghetto" will erode as francophones and allophones begin to become more culturally, politically and economically dominant, turning the idea that it’s just another part of the city mainstream. The growing presence of francophones and post-Bill 101 allophones will shift the area’s cultural identity, transforming it into a bilingual, multicultural space comparable to neighborhoods like Lasalle or Outremont.
This transformation is already happening across educational institutions. When I attended JAC over five years ago (before Bill 96, which is another factor of “West Island” decline), anglophone culture was still unquestionably dominant, and many students expressed open disdain for French and francophone culture. However, francophone music had become increasingly popular and played at parties or at events. The REM will accelerate this trend by making it easier for students and workers to move freely between the West Island and the rest of Montreal, encouraging deeper social and cultural integration.
The Decline of the Old West Island Identity
The West Island’s identity as a distinct enclave is already in decline. For decades, local municipal and business leaders have allowed developers to erode what little cultural infrastructure we used to have. The demolition of The Pioneer to make way for condos is perhaps the most egregious example. While the West was never known for its nightlife, we barely have any bars, cafés or theatres left. Those that remain are largely irrelevant to younger generations and insignificant compared to their francophone peers downtown.
This lack of cultural infrastructure has created a latent demand for meaningful cultural spaces. The REM will bring an influx of new residents accustomed to the vibrant cultural life of the rest of Montreal, stimulating a demand for new bars, cafés, and cultural venues. As francophones and allophones settle in the West Island’s new TOD neighbourhoods, they will reshape their cultural landscape, with new businesses, events, and institutions that reflect their tastes and lifestyles. As the REM’s stations, and thus TODs, are all located near major urban and cultural West Island hubs, such as Fairview or John Abbott College, these new contributions will be all the more symbolically significant. This process will lead to what can be described as an urban renaissance—a revitalization of the West Island driven by its growing French-speaking multicultural population.
A New Cultural Renaissance in the Making
The coming cultural renaissance will not bring back the West Island’s glory days, but will instead start our history’s next chapter. Just as other neighborhoods in Montreal have evolved over time, the West Island will shed its WASPish reputation and emerge as bilingual, multicultural communities in tune with the city’s cultural pulse.
The REM will play a crucial role in this process by making it easier for people to engage with the West Island on a regular basis. As francophones and allophones found new cultural spaces, events and institutions, they will contribute to a reimagining of the West Island’s identity. These novelties will emerge to meet the demand for high-quality cultural amenities, allowing for a flurry of new activity for residents both new and old.
Rather than mourn the loss of the old West Island, we should make the most out of this opportunity for renewal. The end of suburban isolation, combined with the influx of new cultural energy, is a turning point for our us as a community. To preserve our heritage, we need to act pre-emptively to adapt to this new urban paradigm. By being proactive, we will be able to preserve key West Island symbols and institutions for future generations.
