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SAINT-LAZARE – The town of Saint-Lazare has lost its bilingual status, and that means English is disappearing from its official signs.

Bill 101 states non-bilingual communities must have signs in French only.

Saint-Lazare has always been bilingual, but because the number of Anglophones dropped below the 50 per cent mark in the 2011 census, its official status has been revoked.

The English on Saint-Lazare’s old signs were blacked out after the results of the census.

The town’s mayor said that, despite language laws forcing them to drop English from their signs, the focus of the new signs will still be on reflecting the entire community.

“There will not be a ‘welcome’ or ‘bienvenue,’ there will be the identity of Saint-Lazare,” town Mayor Robert Grimaudo told Global News.

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But members of the Montreal-based bilingual group Unity argued people in Saint-Lazare should fight to maintain their bilingual heritage.

“Maintain the peace? That’s so wrong. English is not bad,” said Antoinette Mercurio, the group’s president.

Residents will be consulted about the new signs and a decision will be made in the spring.

The town hopes the changes will be taken as a sign that everyone is welcome.