The Meaning of Culture
We live and breathe through our culture. Culture sustains us.

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The meaning of culture in Montreal, its true significance is the equivalent of our collective accomplishments. Culture and collective achievements are one and only. Culture is what groups of people use to solve regional challenges. Every culture is different based on the the specific solutions people select to solve specific challenges. 

Our culture is the very symbol of our identity. What one culture may regard as essential may not be so vital to other cultures in the world. For instance we as Quebecois and Montrealers joined our French and English roots as well as our Amerindian heritage and, together we developed specific skills as well as knowledge and achievements adapted to our surroundings.

A French and English Population

As a French-speaking province in an English-speaking country, we are deeply attached to our roots and to our pride. We benefit from traditions and customs that are specific to our reality and that reflect our geography, our history and our people. We are influenced by our proximity to the United States and by our multi-ethnic and multicultural population that keeps shaping and reshaping our demographic profile and surroundings.

Meaning of Culture and Communication Style

When your verbal and nonverbal communication style and approach take our meaning of culture into account, you've made a giant step into blending in our surroundings and in being welcomed and accepted.

You may still feel like a stranger in a strange land but you are less likely to be treated as an intruder if you take into consideration the significance and the importance we give to our culture. Your most valuable message, that you want to behave courteously, is clearly received and understood.

Failure to pay attention to our cultural specifics is guaranteed to damage your prospects. Cultural skills are vital to effective personal and business relationships. A single cultural gaffe in an initial contact can reduce or eliminate the possibility of a second contact. In effect, a bad first impression can ruin any chance you may have of a new relationship, a job, a successful negotiation or an eminent business deal.

Explicit Culture

Explicit culture is the observable reality of the languages, buildings, houses, monuments, shrines, markets, fashions, arts, agriculture, foods people from all over the world created and developed for themselves. Unfortunately, the tangible, observable and symbolic aspects of all cultures are those that, more often than not, are the main targets for preconceptions, criticisms and contempt.

Norms and Values

Norms are the mutual sense we have of what is right and what is wrong. Written laws are formal norms and social laws and behavior are informal norms. Values determine what is good and what is bad and are closely related to the ideals we share as a group.

Negative comments, opinions or actions can generate antagonistic and damaging consequences and may slow down settlement and integration process areas such as finding housing, getting education, finding employment and accessing health care.

Cultural Midpoint

We, as a group and with our heritage, have evolved in these unique surroundings. As a result we have developed our own sets of logical assumptions along with our own problem solving strategies and skills. We, as a society and in these surroundings, have organized our lives in such a way that, over the years, we have improved our problem solving techniques and increased our effectiveness.

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