I spent a decade in love with Montreal. Now I've outgrown what it can give me

Estefania De La Concha · for CBC First Person

· Posted: May 18, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 39 minutes ago

This First Person file is written by Estefania De La Concha, who lives successful Montreal. For much accusation astir First Person stories, spot the FAQ.

When I archetypal arrived successful Montreal successful February 2016, consecutive from the tropical vigor of Venezuela, I was successful awe of the metropolis lights connected the thrust from the airdrome to my cousin's place, wherever I'd walk my archetypal fewer nights. I was mesmerized by the quality of the buildings and excited astir the beingness I was astir to build.

For 9 years, Montreal was wherever I rooted myself. I travelled extracurricular of the city, but I ever looked guardant to coming back. I'd consciousness a unreserved of emotion each clip I passed the Jacques Cartier Bridge and glimpsed La Ronde oregon the Olympic Stadium from the autobus oregon car window, thinking, "Yes, this is home."

Throughout this time, I was enriched by the beingness of galore cultures. I partied, tried foods I didn't cognize existed, made lifelong friends, expanded my horizons and hiked Mount Royal much times than I could count. For years, I couldn't ideate surviving anyplace else, and I was the 1 wondering wherefore anyone would ever privation to leave.

Then came the pandemic, and the excitement of municipality beingness faded. I couldn't bask it arsenic I utilized to, so, similar galore others, I turned to quality to support my sanity. Every play meant escaping Montreal to observe caller hiking trails, cross-country skiing, crystal skating and paddle boarding. I'd bash thing to beryllium outside, successful nature, moving and breathing.

What started arsenic a coping mechanics softly became an indispensable portion of my individuality and my consciousness of belonging.

Ever since returning to "normal" successful 2023, the metropolis I erstwhile loved has perpetually reminded maine that my psyche is craving thing different. I consciousness the dense value of factual connected my shoulders — the noise, the traffic, the chaos, the endless operation and a increasing consciousness of insecurity that wasn't determination erstwhile I arrived. I inactive retrieve walking location unsocial astatine 3 a.m. done the Plateau Mont-Royal aft a nighttime out, feeling fortunate to unrecorded successful a metropolis wherever a pistillate could bash that safely. Now, adjacent successful daylight, I determination with much caution — a wont I thought I'd near behind.

It's similar surviving successful a changeless authorities of overstimulation: crowded streets, rushing strangers, everyone moving accelerated to get determination that seems important but astir apt isn't.

Even the escapes that erstwhile recharged maine person started to consciousness much similar a burden. On Saturday mornings, it often takes implicit an hr to get retired of Montreal and past different hr oregon 2 connected the road earlier I tin adjacent statesman my hike. I've explored astir each way successful and astir the city. I cognize the acquainted climbs and the lookout points by heart. I'm grateful for them, but I'm besides acceptable for thing new, and I crave the spontaneity that doesn't necessitate four-hour circular trips.

Now, aft years of watching prices emergence and apartments shrink, the thought of surviving determination with much space, little fiscal unit and easier entree to quality feels similar a relief.

In a fewer weeks' time, I'll beryllium moving to Sherbrooke successful Quebec's Eastern Townships, a spot wherever trailheads statesman conscionable minutes from home, and motorcycle paths tally on the Magog and Saint-François rivers.

When I archer radical I'm leaving, their reactions are often laced with interest oregon skepticism.

"You'll regret it." "Why Sherbrooke? There's thing there." These are the astir communal reactions. Once, a person laughed and said, "If cipher extracurricular Canada knows Sherbrooke, is it adjacent a city?" It was meant arsenic a gag — but beneath the laughter was a beardown connection rooted successful a worldview that perceives fast-paced municipality beingness arsenic inherently much invaluable than a quieter, slower 1 with deeper roots and much abstraction to breathe.

I don't blasted them. Like galore others, I grew up successful a nine that taught maine occurrence meant chasing large cities and striving for much — much money, designation and shiny things. I cognize their reactions travel from a spot of care, but they often uncover much astir their fears than my decision. It's not truly astir Sherbrooke. It's astir what leaving the metropolis represents: the anticipation that a antithetic beingness mightiness beryllium conscionable arsenic valid.

Montreal erstwhile felt similar everything I had hoped for: a harmless spot to rebuild my life, acold from the instability I had experienced successful my homeland, and alongside household members already established here. And for astir a decade, the metropolis gave maine everything I needed. It allowed maine to immerse myself successful a diverse, dynamic world. I felt connected, live and afloat of potential. But implicit time, my needs shifted.

Part of maine already misses it, adjacent though I haven't near yet. I find myself walking acquainted streets, savouring mundane scenes, knowing they mightiness not beryllium excavation overmuch longer. Nostalgia came arsenic an unexpected guest, not due to the fact that I uncertainty my decision, but due to the fact that goodbyes are ne'er that simple.

Choosing to permission isn't astir rejecting Montreal oregon choosing Sherbrooke; it's astir honouring who I americium today, recognizing that I've grown and trusting that it's OK to privation thing antithetic present — adjacent if someday, beingness calls maine back.

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