Montréal, Montréaler, Montrealer

According to the Geographical Names Board of Canada, the names of virtually all Canadian cities and towns have only one official form. Thus, Montréal is spelled with an accented é in both English and French.

• McGill University extends over many blocks of downtown Montréal.
• Some of Montréal’s potholes are very large!

However, when the official spelling for an institution or corporation omits the accent, that usage should be respected.

• The Bank of Montreal now has its headquarters in Toronto, not Montréal.

A native or resident of the city is called a Montrealer or occasionally a Montréaler. And, while the demonym Montrealer is encountered in newspapers and magazines, it is often replaced in more formal writing by native, resident or inhabitant of Montréal, or some similar phrase.

• Montrealers (or Residents of Montréal) are justly proud of their city’s history.

It should be noted that Montréal and Montreal are commonly used as modifiers, while Montrealer is not.

• Mordecai Richler was a Montréal writer (or a Montrealer) known around the world.

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