Gatineau Hospital Orderly Insult Veteran Over English Language Use

jbg · November 11, 2013

This article (link, excerpts below) illustrates the lengths some Quebecois will go to humiliate Anglophones. One would think that language politics have no place when someone, particularly a veteran, is suffering an end-stage terminal illness. Presumably, the orderly has to be "bi-lingual" but what law says patients have to also speak both languages.

This kind of treatment of any vulnerable human being is beyond disgusting. Excerpts below:

Vet's family still angry at Hull hospital after incident with rude orderly

Michele Long had laid her father to rest only hours before she stood in front of the Hull Hospital, holding a megaphone and demanding justice.

Long was one of dozens who on Saturday protested the way John Gervais, who recently died at the age of 77, was treated while he lay dying of cancer in the hospital.

Gervais was so ill at the point he had no memory of being yelled at by an orderly, who told him "This is Quebec!" before refusing to answer the elderly war veteran in English.

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"This hospital and one of its employees failed to provide my father, John, and my family with the very best care a hospital should provide," Long said, as supporters chanted "hey hey, ho ho, the orderly has got to go!"

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waldo · November 11, 2013

what's the point of this thread? The described insult is an isolated incident... it's not representative of anything other than the improper actions of one individual, no matter how longing you are to fan the broader flames of your purposeful wedge issue setup... your, as you say, "Quebecois humiliating Anglophones".

August1991 · November 11, 2013

jbg, you are American and live in the US. What's your point? Do you truly understand the life of a francophone in Ontario, or an anglophone in Hull?

I think Mark Twain said, I paraphrase, that good writers tell the truth. IOW, your opinion is valid when you tell the truth.

The_Squid · November 11, 2013

You should hear some of the English speaking rednecks and what they say about the French.... Rude people are everywhere.

jbg · November 11, 2013

what's the point of this thread? The described insult is an isolated incident... it's not representative of anything other than the improper actions of one individual, no matter how longing you are to fan the broader flames of your purposeful wedge issue setup... your, as you say, "Quebecois humiliating Anglophones".

Is it so isolated? My various trips to Montreal indicate otherwise. In Quebec City and environs the population is a bit nicer but it's not perfect there. I suspect that in the more solidly French areas there is less insecurity about the Anglos but again it was pretty bad in terms of attitude and that is even where tourism is the major industry.

jbg, you are American and live in the US. What's your point? Do you truly understand the life of a francophone in Ontario, or an anglophone in Hull?

I think Mark Twain said, I paraphrase, that good writers tell the truth. IOW, your opinion is valid when you tell the truth.

How is my post not the truth though? Did this incident happen? Was the orderly given serious sanctions?

You should hear some of the English speaking rednecks and what they say about the French.... Rude people are everywhere.

It seems to be earned in this case.

cybercoma · November 11, 2013

Is it so isolated? My various trips to Montreal indicate otherwise.

I only speak English and I had no problems whatsoever on the many trips I've taken to Montreal. Everyone switched to English for me and the one time someone didn't know English, she went and got someone right away that did. Montréal is largely a bilingual city. In fact, most of the French that I heard spoken in Montréal was with English accents from college students working in shops around town.

Smallc · November 11, 2013

I always Say Bonjour - Hello, and then everyone speaks English to me....I never had a problem.

The_Squid · November 11, 2013

I've travelled up the Gaspe to many small towns. Many people spoke no English. But so what? They were always polite and friendly and we communicated fine.

Perhaps if they were rude, they were reacting to something you said, or your attitude....

Michael Hardner · November 11, 2013

I agree that this seems like an isolated incident. If "rudeness" in any form is actually enough of a problem to warrant a thread in some posters' eyes then it's incumbent on them to explain why. I don't accept "this happens to me when I go to Montreal" as proof of anything.

jbg · November 11, 2013

I only speak English and I had no problems whatsoever on the many trips I've taken to Montreal. Everyone switched to English for me and the one time someone didn't know English, she went and got someone right away that did. Montréal is largely a bilingual city. In fact, most of the French that I heard spoken in Montréal was with English accents from college students working in shops around town.

That was not at all my experience in my 2005 trip to visit the CPC Policy Convention. In the underground walkway, I asked a policeman, nicely, if a certain room behind him was a bathroom. I even used the French "salle de bans" (sp). He professed not to understand me. I started walking into that alcove and then he said, in pretty good English "one more step and you're under arrest." The "alcove" was where some "Sponsorship" hearings were taking place so I understand I couldn't go inside. However, I was not threatening or rude. I merely had a very full bladder and that officer was not nice. Fortunately, unlike the dying patient referenced in that article, I was about to turn 48 at the time, and quite healthy.

I've travelled up the Gaspe to many small towns. Many people spoke no English. But so what? They were always polite and friendly and we communicated fine.

Perhaps if they were rude, they were reacting to something you said, or your attitude....

I have had no problems in the rural areas northeast of Quebec City so I suspect you're right there. I think in the "bleeding edge" of the boundary between French and English speaking worlds, such as Montreal and Hull/Gatineau things are a bit rawer.

waldo · November 11, 2013

That was not at all my experience in my 2005 trip to visit the CPC Policy Convention. In the underground walkway, I asked a policeman, nicely, if a certain room behind him was a bathroom. I even used the French "salle de bans" (sp). He professed not to understand me. I started walking into that alcove and then he said, in pretty good English "one more step and you're under arrest." The "alcove" was where some "Sponsorship" hearings were taking place so I understand I couldn't go inside. However, I was not threatening or rude. I merely had a very full bladder and that officer was not nice. Fortunately, unlike the dying patient referenced in that article, I was about to turn 48 at the time, and quite healthy.

I have had no problems in the rural areas northeast of Quebec City so I suspect you're right there. I think in the "bleeding edge" of the boundary between French and English speaking worlds, such as Montreal and Hull/Gatineau things are a bit rawer.

:lol: almost a decade ago... someone, a policeman, wasn't nice to you!!! That's your measuring bar to cast the most broad brush statement of, "Quebecois humiliating Anglophones"? Get a grip!

by the by, what's "an American" doing traveling to Canada to, "visit the CPC Policy Convention"?

my personal anecdote counters your purposeful wedge play. I've spent a lot of time, working and personal, in both Montreal and Ottawa... with some of that directly in Hull. I never, not once, encountered the, "severity" of the lack of niceness you proclaim!

jbg · November 11, 2013

almost a decade ago... someone, a policeman, wasn't nice to you!!! That's your measuring bar to cast the most broad brush statement of, "Quebecois humiliating Anglophones"? Get a grip!

If I except anyone to be civil it would be a policemen. I have a grip. Do you?

by the by, what's "an American" doing traveling to Canada to, "visit the CPC Policy Convention"?

I felt like going, and wanted to attend certain of the night functions. Any reason I shouldn't go?

my personal anecdote counters your purposeful wedge play. I've spent a lot of time, working and personal, in both Montreal and Ottawa... with some of that directly in Hull. I never, not once, encountered the, "severity" of the lack of niceness you proclaim!

I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself. I did enjoy most of that weekend, not that one incident.

Smallc · November 11, 2013

One incident can happen anywhere, no matter the language spoken.

jbg · November 11, 2013

One incident can happen anywhere, no matter the language spoken.

But these were two, in two different cities, and to two different people.

This thread didn't start with a poll but I wonder if others have had or seen negative experience, either Francophones in the ROC or English-speaking Canadians in Quebec.

Edited November 11, 2013 by jbg

Smallc · November 11, 2013

I had no negative experiences in Gatineau, Montreal, or Quebec City...I got a look once, but that was my fault, because I forgot where I was, and froze for a second when a waitress started speaking French.

cybercoma · November 12, 2013

That was not at all my experience in my 2005 trip to visit the CPC Policy Convention. In the underground walkway, I asked a policeman, nicely, if a certain room behind him was a bathroom. I even used the French "salle de bans" (sp). He professed not to understand me.

Well, your problem is that a public restroom is referred to as les toilettes. La salle de bains is the room in a home where you bath. They're different things in French, which is probably why he was confused. Moreover, your pronunciation may have been so bad that he literally had no idea what you were talking about. Maybe not, but you weren't using the correct terms anyway. So if your pronunciation wasn't very good, it would have been almost impossible for him to decipher.

I started walking into that alcove and then he said, in pretty good English "one more step and you're under arrest." The "alcove" was where some "Sponsorship" hearings were taking place so I understand I couldn't go inside. However, I was not threatening or rude. I merely had a very full bladder and that officer was not nice. Fortunately, unlike the dying patient referenced in that article, I was about to turn 48 at the time, and quite healthy.

At least he warned you. If it were the G20, he would have just clubbed you and pepper sprayed you.

I have had no problems in the rural areas northeast of Quebec City so I suspect you're right there. I think in the "bleeding edge" of the boundary between French and English speaking worlds, such as Montreal and Hull/Gatineau things are a bit rawer.

Again, I think this was just your own experience. I've never had a problem speaking English in Montréal. I don't expect to get a job there, since I'm not fluently bilingual. However, just about everyone speaks English there. If you would have just asked the cop in English, "Do you know where the washrooms are?," I'm guessing he would have responded to you appropriately.

cybercoma · November 12, 2013

I had no negative experiences in Gatineau, Montreal, or Quebec City...I got a look once, but that was my fault, because I forgot where I was, and froze for a second when a waitress started speaking French.

This is related, but quite aside from the thread. Out of curiosity, do you speak French? My wife wants to travel to Québec City sometime, but I'm worried about the language barrier. My French is awful. I don't speak or understand it very well at all. Is Québec City like Montréal due to tourism, i.e., most people are bilingual in Québec City?

Smallc · November 12, 2013

I don't speak French...in the traveled areas of the city you'll have no trouble finding someone to speak English. It was a great time.

The_Squid · November 12, 2013

I don't speak French and have toured small towns along the Gaspe. I think it's OK to struggle with language. Me and the people I was trying to communicate with had some good laughs over it!

Shady · November 12, 2013

Yes, it's an isolated incident. Unless it was a Conservative, or Republican, etc. Then it would proof of something larger, used to paint a big group of people. Funny how that works.

Black Dog · November 12, 2013

Yes, it's an isolated incident. Unless it was a Conservative, or Republican, etc. Then it would proof of something larger, used to paint a big group of people. Funny how that works.

Ever the victim, eh Shady?

Michael Hardner · November 12, 2013

Funny how that works.

That's the point, it doesn't work. Principled people follow principles, and principles aren't associated with groups - they're philosophical, symmetrical mathematical.

Generalizations are fraught with problems, but if people are trying to be positive and move the discussion forward then some good can come out of them.

Peter F · November 12, 2013

From the OP: " Presumably, the orderly has to be "bi-lingual" but what law says patients have to also speak both languages."

And the whole of what follows is based on the presumption that the orderly must be bilingual.

The presumption is wrong.

Argus · November 12, 2013

But these were two, in two different cities, and to two different people.

This thread didn't start with a poll but I wonder if others have had or seen negative experience, either Francophones in the ROC or English-speaking Canadians in Quebec.

It's well known around here that the gravest traffic offense you can commit in Gatineau is driving while having an Ontario license plate.

On the personal side, if you're sitting and talking with a francophone, however fluently bilingual they are, and another fluently bilingual francophone comes over, expect them to start talking in French, regardless of how well both of them know you and know that you won't understand. I've thrown people out of my office for doing it a number of times, including my boss.