MONTREAL — Montreal's English-language book club, the Violet Hour, faced significant challenges recently when it was initially denied use of space at the local Père-Ambroise library due to interpretation of Quebec's new language laws.
Christopher DiRaddo, the author and founder of the club, had announced through social media on January 31, 2025, the news of this setback after the library’s administrator ruled against allowing English discussions without mandatory French translations. A requirement DiRaddo deemed impractical, he later wrote about his frustrations publicly, prompting attention from both municipal and provincial authorities.
The situation escalated when city officials reiterated the library's requirement, claiming it was necessary to comply with Law 14, formerly known as Bill 96. This law strengthens the French language's prominence in Quebec’s public services and includes municipalities, which creates tension for cultural expressions like DiRaddo's book club.
DiRaddo reported receiving apologies from the city’s representatives shortly after he went public about the matter, allowing him to use the library for future meetings. "Just got off the phone with a rep from the City of Montreal, apologizing for the situation and letting me know our club, and others like it, are welcome in the city’s libraries. Thanks everyone for your engagement on the issue... We made change!" he shared on his Facebook page.
The library had previously stated they believed it was acting within the law's framework to protect the language rights of the community, yet this interpretation led to backlash and confusion about the law's intentions. The city aims to revise its protocols concerning language law interpretations to avoid such incidents. City officials have attempted to clarify their approach, emphasizing the importance of inclusion within diverse communities. "The city promotes the holding of events representing all its diversity. It is in this desire for inclusion and openness..." said the spokesperson for the city as reported by The Gazette.
Following the uproar, the Quebec government intervened, stating the original decision by the library did not apply as the Violet Hour was not offering public services on behalf of the municipal organization. Minister of French Language Jean-François Roberge affirmed, "Since the book club is only looking for premises to hold its activities...it is not covered by the State’s duty of exemplarity. Therefore, the Charter does not apply in this situation.”
The city expressed its commitment to finding clarity within the law’s framework, which they deemed complex, indicating it had already established plans to set up workshops for staff education. Additional measures include collaborating with representatives from each borough to prevent future occurrences. “This is an unfortunate situation and it is the type of situation we want to avoid...The application of this law remains very complex,” stated the city’s media relations department.
Human rights lawyer Pearl Eliadis stepped forward, criticizing the vagueness of the law provisions related to “exemplarity” and how they can lead to misinterpretations. “I looked at the relevant provisions of the law...and it appears the confusion is in part around this issue of what ‘exemplary’ means. One could certainly make the point...” she remarked, underscoring the law’s complexity and calling for broader interpretations of minority rights.
This incident sheds light on the struggles faced by English-language cultural groups within Quebec's tightly governed language regulations, emphasizing not only the immediate response but also the necessity of defining clearer boundaries within public policies. The City of Montreal is now seeking assurance from the Quebec government, favorably moving toward ensuring similar events won't face undue barriers moving forward.