Our local demographics have been changing profoundly for years, but, since the pandemic, the pace of change has quickened. Our communities are older, bigger, busier, and more diverse than ever. A telling milestone from West Bolton: For the very first time in its 150-year history, only 49 per cent of West Bolton residents are English mother tongue. West Bolton’s town council just adopted a resolution to maintain the municipality’s bilingual status which, under Quebec law, requires at least 50-per-cent anglophone. As part of Quebec’s language laws, municipalities are required to speak and write to residents only in French unless they have been conferred a bilingual status.
Council said it is in the best interest of all residents to maintain West Bolton’s bilingual character and services, and it has appealed to Quebec to allow it to maintain its status. The Town of Brome Lake, at about 42-per-cent anglophone, went through the same exercise and in 2023, the Quebec government agreed that the town could maintain its bilingual status.
Our local leaders should be applauded for their actions. Mutual respect and appreciation for all residents is one of the qualities that makes our towns special and a great place to live.
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