MONTREAL — City buses in Montreal have revised their support messages for the Montreal Canadiens from “Go! Canadiens Go!” to “Allez! Canadiens Allez!” in response to a complaint addressed to Quebec’s language oversight body.
The Montreal transit authority, through spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay, explained that the shift was made because the word “go” is considered an anglicism. Consequently, the buses now display the French equivalent, “allez,” on their electronic signs as a gesture of support for the NHL team’s playoff pursuit.
The chant “Go Habs Go!” remains a popular rallying cry among Quebecers cheering for the Montreal Canadiens. It is frequently used not only by fans but also on official team channels, including its social media platforms. The phrase is prominently showcased in oversized lettering outside the Bell Centre, the team’s home ground in Montreal.
According to Tremblay, the decision followed a formal complaint received by Quebec’s French-language office the previous year concerning bus displays that promoted “Go! CF Mtl Go!” The message referred to Montreal’s professional soccer club. Consequently, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) made a decisive move to replace “go” with “allez” across all bus communications.
Tremblay emphasized that this change aims to uphold team spirit while adhering to Quebec’s recent updates to its French language charter. She further detailed that since last summer, STM has been gradually implementing the alteration, with manual adjustments required for each bus. The transition was finalized earlier this year and received attention in a Thursday report from the Montreal Gazette.
The Montreal Canadiens have not commented on the bus message change. The team recently secured a playoff spot but currently trails 2-0 in their first-round series against the Washington Capitals, with Game 3 slated for Friday on home ice.
On Thursday in Quebec City, opposition parties, including the Parti Québécois known for advocating French language issues, criticized the move. PQ’s legislature member, Catherine Gentilcore, stated that the party has other concerns regarding the French language in Quebec, noting that party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will continue using the hashtag #GoHabsGo on the X platform.
Additionally, the Quebec Community Groups Network, which voices the interests of English-speaking residents in Quebec, dismissed the decision as “silliness” via a post on social media. “EVERYONE yells #GoHabsGo! at the Bell Centre,” the group asserted, arguing that Montreal buses should be permitted the same expression.