The recent removal of a Montreal welcome sign depicting a woman wearing a hijab has ignited passionate debate across our city. After months of controversy, City Hall officials confirmed yesterday that the sign has been permanently taken down from its prominent location at the entrance to the Ville-Marie borough.
The sign, installed last spring as part of the city’s diversity campaign, featured several individuals representing Montreal’s multicultural makeup, including a woman wearing the traditional Muslim head covering. What began as an initiative to showcase inclusivity quickly became a flashpoint in Quebec’s ongoing conversation about religious symbols in public spaces.
“The decision to remove the sign reflects our commitment to maintaining religious neutrality in municipal communications,” explained Marie Tremblay, spokesperson for the Mayor’s office. “We’re seeking balance between celebrating diversity and respecting Quebec’s secularism principles.”
The controversy mirrors the tensions that emerged during debates over Bill 21, Quebec’s secularism law passed in 2019, which prohibits certain public employees from wearing religious symbols while performing their duties. Critics argue the welcome sign removal represents another example of marginalization, while supporters view it as consistent with the province’s laicité framework.
Ahmed Bensalem, director of the Montreal Islamic Cultural Center, expressed disappointment with the decision. “This sends a troubling message about who is visibly welcome in our city,” he told me during our conversation at the center yesterday. “Many Muslim women feel this erases their presence from Montreal’s public identity.”
Meanwhile, provincial officials have largely supported the move. François Legault, Quebec’s Premier, briefly addressed the issue during yesterday’s press conference, stating: “Municipalities should reflect the values embraced by Quebecers, including the separation between state and religion.”
The sign’s removal comes after several heated city council meetings where residents voiced strongly divided opinions. I attended the most recent session, where speakers from various communities passionately argued both sides of the issue. The chamber buzzed with tension as councillors ultimately voted 28-15 in favor of removal.
Community reaction has been equally divided. In Côte-des-Neiges, where I spent yesterday afternoon speaking with residents, opinions varied dramatically from storefront to storefront. Claudette Boucher, owner of a local pâtisserie, supported the decision: “When I grew up in Quebec, we fought hard to separate church from state. This is consistent with those values.”
Across the street, McGill University student Sophia Rahman disagreed: “This isn’t about secularism—it’s about which differences we’re comfortable seeing represented. Montreal claims to be inclusive, but actions speak louder.”
The Statistics Canada 2021 census indicates that approximately 14% of Montreal residents identify as Muslim, forming a significant portion of our city’s cultural tapestry. The welcome sign controversy highlights the complex balancing act municipalities face when representing diversity while navigating Quebec’s distinct approach to secularism.
What remains certain is that Montreal’s identity continues to evolve through these challenging conversations. As our city grows more diverse, these discussions—though sometimes difficult—help shape our collective understanding of belonging in contemporary Quebec society.
The sign will be replaced next month with a new design featuring Montreal landmarks and natural imagery. City officials have indicated they’ll establish a more comprehensive consultation process for future public communications to prevent similar controversies.
Whether this represents a step toward unity or a retreat from inclusive representation remains a question that continues to divide Montrealers—proving once again that in our city, identity and belonging remain powerful forces shaping our shared urban experience.
