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Misconceptions about Quebec fostered by many who’ve never been outside of B.C.

Students bound to be enthralled by the culture, cuisine and more during exchange
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I was very pleased to read about the BC/Quebec student exchange (Chemainus students cherish the thought of Quebec exchange, Courier, March 9).

After 20-plus years of growing up in Montreal, I moved to Vancouver in 1971 and then Chemainus about 16 years ago. Western Canadian natives generally have not much good to say about the PQ or the Quebecois people in most conversations we’ve had. The majority of poor opinions coming from people who’ve never been there.

I have 100 per cent confidence that the next lot of Quebec bound students will come back with glowing admiration for the culture, fashion, cuisine and hospitality that abounds there. I also believe students that come out to Chemainus will be welcomed and they will fit right in.

There are many undeserved misconceptions about Quebecers fostered by people that have never been outside of B.C. I still love Quebec and visit as often as I can afford, but only in summer these days. It can still get deathly cold, which made my choice to leave for better climes a difficult, but necessary one. I finally ended up in Chemainus when my friend bought the Saltair Pub and I ended up helping him, along with his girlfriend, to run the place.

These exchange students are vital to relating how Quebecers are after coming back home. I’m confident their experience will help spread the word that not all easterners are any more ‘separatist’ than a good percentage of Western Canadians. And, for what it’s worth, Montreal is now ‘winter insulated’ with a fantastic downtown underground world that keeps you warm while going out in the winter.

Anyway, I’d love to read about their experiences in this newspaper after or even during this adventure.

Peter K. Holeczek,

Chemainus