Waves of Change

a story beyond language


A six-part documentary series


Waves of Change is a 200-year (1820-2020) oral history of Quebec’s English-speaking communities, recorded on the 50th anniversary of the FLQ crisis. Five of the documentaries focus on families that arrived in Quebec during historical waves of immigration, and a 6th episode features English-speaking communities living in many regions of Quebec. An important untold story recounted by eyewitnesses of major events in Quebec’s history since the mid 20th century, Waves of Change is also a universal story about immigration, adaptation, languages, complex identities and the quest for belonging.   

Participants in Waves of Change came to Quebec from every continent (except Antarctica!)

The earliest families arrived in the 1820s and the most recent arrived in 2015. They came as adventurers, farmers, entrepreneurs, labourers, exiles, refugees, students, teachers and immigrants seeking a new life in North America, Canada and Quebec. They share fascinating stories about language, identity, and belonging.


Now a feature length documentary

What We Choose To Remember


 See the film 


What We Choose to Remember features a cast of more than 30 characters, whose families arrived in successive waves of immigration. The oldest families arrived during the period of ‘two solitudes’ when Montreal’s population was more than 50% English. They share firsthand accounts decades of political upheaval. The most recent immigrants arrived believing linguistic conflicts were ancient history. 

Visit the website to watch the trailer and find tickets to our public screenings ︎ Visit the website to watch the trailer and find tickets to our public screenings ︎

Acknowledgements

Our story takes place on the Indigenous lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Tiotià:ke (known as Montréal) has existed as a meeting place of many First Nation peoples, including but not limited to the Abenaki , Anishinaabeg (Algonquin), and the Huron-Wendat. We extend our deepest respect to the elders of these nations and to all Indigenous peoples who carry the history of this island’s land and waters. We also call upon all levels of government to adopt and implement the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation commission.


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