Prices are rising and the city is changing. There’s less room for slackers and more artists being forced to work a day job. There is still a vibrant art scene but the lifestyle is different.
When I first arrived in Montreal I was taken aback by the way of life here as people appeared more focused on hanging out in the parks than buckling down on a career. I liked that. I was looking to live in a city and was deciding between Montreal and Vancouver. I ended up choosing Montreal because it was cheaper and I had heard good things about the art scene.
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Artists here had time on their side–which can be good or bad. A part time worker could pay the bills and use their free time as they pleased. Artists weren’t so much struggling but instead had freedom. Those who could make good use of their time were living well.
Now, as Canada is hit by inflation, the cost of living in Montreal is becoming more like Toronto or New York were not long ago. And of course it effects everyone, not just artists. You can’t live the same way here—at least for now. Even Segal’s—Montreal’s notoriously cheap (almost 100 year old) grocery store—is being forced to sell at almost normal prices. If your rent hasn’t been locked in for years and you are looking for a place, you either have to get lucky or be forced further and further from the city’s core. Neighbourhoods like the Plateau are being swallowed up fast.
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It’s not all bad though. Too much free time can ruin an artist as many aren’t gifted with the ability to manage time. When time becomes precious you begin to use it wisely and that’s why some people can benefit from the changes. Great artists have always found a way to create during tough times and this city is getting just a taste of tough times.
Maybe when things cool off the City will be more like it was for so long before I arrived. Artists will always chase the scene to new neighbourhoods–as the cycle goes. But while many are being forced to pinch pennies, Montreal’s arts scene is still strong and will be for a long time.