MONTREAL

Abstract

This article examines a recent city amalgamation

in Montreal as a political game

by shedding light on some of the social

and symbolic aspects related to administrative

borders in the city. These borders

are not neutral; they are imbued with

meanings, which are manifested when the

borders cease to exist as a result of a merger.

In other words, city amalgamations

do not only involve questions of efficiency

and money; they bring into light more

abstract concerns of identity and of how

to maintain a sense of home in a big city.

To fully understand these concerns attention

must be paid to the wider regional

and national context in Quebec and

Canada. Concerns and disputes invoked

by the merger, the author argues, are not

isolated from but embedded in language

conflicts and the Canadian notion of

regionalism.