Article content

An Outremont woman sparked outrage after she and other citizens wore yellow badges on their clothing at a borough council meeting. They were protesting the Jewish community’s use of school buses in her neighbourhood.

Outremont is a wealthy francophone borough in Montreal, covering part of Mount Royal and the surrounding area. It was once a hub for Jewish immigration in Quebec, and is now home to much of Montreal’s Hasidic community.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A history of culture clashes in this wealthy Montreal neighbourhood Back to video

The borough banned the eruv in the 1990s, a religious barrier made of string to enclose Jewish homes. That ban was struck down in court.

In 2006, the YMCA du Parc installed frosted windows in an exercise room after complaints from the neighbouring synagogue. Some residents complained that gesture went too far in a secular society like Quebec.

In 2013, residents tried to close a Synagogue because it violated a zoning bylaw. The Hasidic community also won that battle in court.

In 2016, a bylaw was adopted that banned new places of worship on Bernard and Laurier Aves. That was after a permit was issued for a fifth temple in the borough. A referendum was held on whether to keep the ban in place. The yes votes won 1,561 to 1,202.