Sheet No. 02
By Dr. Reza Moafi, Founder and President ·
In short
Interculturalism is when people of different cultures do not just live side by side: they talk, get to know each other and build something together. In Québec, they do it in French, the common language.
A simple picture
Picture a bench in a park. Two neighbours sit there every day, but they never talk. They live side by side. One day, one says hello. The other answers. They talk about their children, the snow, the country where they were born. That is interculturalism: going from “side by side” to “together”.
It does not mean forgetting your culture. Everyone keeps their own. But we also look for what we share.
And Matin? This is why Matin exists: to create chances to talk. Our motto says it: “Cultures in Dialogue”.
The role of Canada and Québec
Canada has had a multiculturalism law since 1988: every culture has its place in the country. Québec speaks of interculturalism: it puts the focus on cultures meeting and on a common language.
In Québec, French is the common language. It lets someone from Mexico and someone from Vietnam talk to each other. That is why the government offers free French learning to adults, through Francisation Québec.
Every November, Québec also holds the Semaine québécoise des rencontres interculturelles (Québec Intercultural Week). Across Québec, local organizations offer activities to meet each other.
And Matin? In November 2026, Matin is taking part in this week with an intercultural walk in Parc Angrignon.
The role of the City and the borough
The City of Montréal has an office that helps newcomers find their place: BINAM, the Bureau d’intégration des nouveaux arrivants à Montréal. Maisons de la culture and libraries are also places where everyone crosses paths.
In LaSalle, the 2026–2030 Cultural Action Plan wants more residents, of every background, to take part in cultural life.
And Matin? Matin aspires to contribute to this plan. We want to work with LaSalle’s organizations, not next to them.
Matin’s role
Matin is an intercultural institute born in Montréal in October 2026. Our work: helping cultures meet, and the people who carry them.
And Matin? Already done: these “Culture in Plain Words” sheets and, on our site, a greeting for the national day of many countries. Coming soon: the “Café des cultures”, to talk around a table, and “Mon quartier, nos cultures”, to discover our neighbours’ cultures.
To remember
- Side by side is not yet together.
- We keep our culture, and we look for what we share.
- In Québec, French is the language that connects us.
- The government, the City, local organizations and every neighbour have a part to play.