What We Choose To Remember

What We Choose To RememberWhat We Choose To RememberWhat We Choose To Remember
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What We Choose To Remember

What We Choose To RememberWhat We Choose To RememberWhat We Choose To Remember
ENG
FR
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Watch the film
Watch the film

What We Choose To Remember

Premier Legault has got to see this film!


-Aaron Rand: CJAD

Quebec is different. A linguistic island of French-speakers, it is surrounded by an ocean of English

Quebec’s citizens are divided by different histories, sources of pride and grievances. Young people experience Quebec differently than seniors, who lived through decades of religious and linguistic conflict.  Québécois living in the regions often see Montreal as a foreign metropolis.  Quebec is increasingly the story of immigrants, the distinctly labelled Allophones, who think it is time for old-stock Francos and Anglos to get over their long-lost wars of conquest to deal with the urgent problems of the 21st century.  What We Choose to Remember explores the things that make Quebec so fascinating, frustrating and different.   


Filming began on the 50th anniversary of the October Crisis to capture eye-witness accounts of seminal events that shaped modern Quebec. During the second half of the previous century hundreds of thousands of Anglophones left Quebec.  This is the story of those who stayed and the subsequent waves of immigrants who chose to make this colourful, quirky place their home.   


What We Choose to Remember features a cast of more than 30 characters, whose families arrived in successive waves of immigration. The oldest families arrived during the period of ‘two solitudes’ when Montreal’s population was more than 50% English. They share firsthand accounts decades of political upheaval. The most recent immigrants arrived believing linguistic conflicts were ancient history.   


Twenty hours of interviews were originally filmed for a 6-part documentary series that aired on MAtv in 2021 under the title Waves of Change. A French sub-titled version will be broadcast on MAtv this summer and the material will also be adapted into a one-hour documentary special for CBC Television, scheduled to broadcast September 2022.  The CBC special is titled Waves of Change: Reimagining Quebec.   

Watch the Full Film on YouTube

Nous sommes en train de créer une version sous-titrée en français et rajouterons le lien bientôt. Si vous voulez voir la version sous-titrée « in progress », envoyez-nous un courriel dès maintenant.

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Reviews

"Compelling new documentary a "must watch" for all anglos. At a time when Quebec’s anglophone community is under constant threat by the CAQ government, Guy Rex Rodgers has come out with an extraordinary documentary which really puts our place in this province in perspective."

Mike Cohen – The Suburban

"The Quebec Anglo: A new documentary portrays a reality far from the “pampered elite” myth. With the recent introduction of Bill 96 constantly affirming the limits of the rights of English-speaking Quebecers and once again putting the language issue front and centre, the documentary’s release this coming weekend is timely and will resonate strongly with many."

Toula Drimonis: CULT MTL

"Documentary gives a voice to anglophones. Using the notion of various historical waves of immigration, and weaving together archival footage, interviews on the street and a series of group interviews, the film gives a voice to anglophones of a surprising number of diverse communities."

Carolyn Boll: Montreal Gazette 

"It is so interesting to listen to the people who live in the different regions of Quebec. We forget there are pockets of Anglophones all across this vast province! "

Andrea Howick: Global TV

"What We Choose to Remember: A film on identity and Quebec’s Anglophone Community. Writer-Director Guy Rex Rodgers said he values the communal experience that went into making this film and hopes people will view the film in groups. He explained such viewings could spark discussions that go beyond the ones he captured."

Megan Le Stum: The Link

Production Crew

Guy Rex Rodgers arrived in Quebec in 1980, the year of the first referendum on independence. As a student at the ‘bilingual’ National Theatre School he discovered two worlds that coexisted in stubborn silence and has been trying to make sense of his adopted homeland ever since.


He has worked extensively in multimedia, writing shows in Canada, the USA, Europe and the Middle East, as well as working with the Montreal International Jazz Festival for many years on music documentaries.


While making a new home in Quebec Guy Rex Rodgers founded or co-founded several cultural institutions: The English Language Arts Network (ELAN), the Quebec Writers’ Federation and the Quebec Drama Federation. He was also a member of the founding board of le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) and in 2015 he was appointed to the newly created Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec.


Youssef Shoufan is a filmmaker, photographer, author and creator of multiple projects. Very active in the artistic, cultural and social scenes in his hometown and around the world, he uses his professional and personal communication skills as vectors of positive change, for the short and the long term.


Born in Damascus in 1987 and based in Montréal since 1994, his interests in minimalist aesthetics and his values of social justice and representation of marginalized narratives are at the heart of his work. To do so, Youssef uses his creativity, curiosity, mediation tools, leadership and critical thinking.


English being the third language he has learned, working on What We Chose to Remember was a way for him to discover many new realties through the stories of the people met on the journey of creating this documentary.


Betty Esperanza - is a first-generation Canadian of immigrant parents of France-Hungary descent who was the first in the family to attend English Protestant School where she  was exposed to diverse cultures and welcomed into the English-speaking diaspora.   


She has been building communities worldwide for three decades through her passion to unite people of all cultures to champion causes in the philanthropic, skateboarding,  and arts and culture spheres.  She studied diplomacy and business and marketing while juggling careers as an artist, musician and entertainment manager of Canadian Jazz Musician, Vic Vogel  for 10 years, as well as an avid street photographer participating in over 30 International exhibits where some of her black and white series “A BOOK ABOUT DEATH” are archived in the Museum of Modern Art. She is also the Founder and Organizer of 100 Thousand Poets 4 Change, a Montreal poetry festival in its 10th year.  


She is part of the TED Talks brand and a recent Radio Canada documentary “L’Esperanza de Cuba” tells her story in Cuba about her non-profit, Skateboards For  Hope which empowers youth using skateboarding as a tool to break the cycle of poverty. 


Working on the documentary, Betty felt very connected to the storytellers she interviewed and found her own sense of belonging as an English-speaking Quebecer  anchored and validated. 


Additional Credits

Aaron Saloman – Composer

Parker Mah - sound engineer /sound editor

Nadia Frantova – Graphic Designer for Logo, Maps and Charts

Mayssoun Tadlaoui – Assistant Editor

Swati Khanna – ELAN Program Manager

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

See a Public Screening of the Film

14/04/2023

4 Korners

1:00 pm

-

3:00 pm

United Church - 27 rue Bellevue Morin-Heights, QC. J0R 1N0

Event Details

14/04/2023

4 Korners

What We Choose To Remember will be screened in Morin-Heights, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Writer/director Guy Rex Rodgers will be present for th...

Event Details

1:00 pm

-

3:00 pm

United Church - 27 rue Bellevue Morin-Heights, QC. J0R 1N0

11/04/2023

4 Korners

10:00 am

-

12:00 pm

United Church 232 Av Hamford Lachute, QC. J8H 3N6

Event Details

11/04/2023

4 Korners

What We Choose To Remember will be screened in Lachute, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Writer/director Guy Rex Rodgers will be present for the film...

Event Details

10:00 am

-

12:00 pm

United Church 232 Av Hamford Lachute, QC. J8H 3N6

06/04/2023

4 Korners

2:00 pm

-

4:00 pm

Holy Trinity Church 12 rue Prefontaine Ste-Agathe, QC. J8C 1C3

Event Details

06/04/2023

4 Korners

 What We Choose To Remember will be screened in Ste-Agathe from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.  Writer/director Guy Rex Rodgers will be present for the ...

Event Details

2:00 pm

-

4:00 pm

Holy Trinity Church 12 rue Prefontaine Ste-Agathe, QC. J8C 1C3

28/03/2023

ARC Montérégie - Greenfield Park

1:30 pm

-

4:00 pm

Royal Canadian Legion 205 Empire Boulevard Greenfield Park, QC. J2V 1T9

Event Details

28/03/2023

ARC Montérégie - Greenfield Park

 What We Choose To Remember will be screened in Greenfield Park,  13:30-16:00. Writer/director Guy Rex Rodgers will be present for the film ...

Event Details

1:30 pm

-

4:00 pm

Royal Canadian Legion 205 Empire Boulevard Greenfield Park, QC. J2V 1T9

9/03/2023

Colby-Curtis Museum

5:00 pm

-

7:00 pm

Colby-Curtis Museum, 535 Dufferin Street, Stanstead, QC J0B 3E0 Tel:(819) 876-7322

Event Details

9/03/2023

Colby-Curtis Museum

What We Choose To Remember will be screened at the Colby-Curtis Museum,   535 Dufferin Street, Stanstead  from 5:00 pm -7:00 pm. Writer/dire...

Event Details

5:00 pm

-

7:00 pm

Colby-Curtis Museum, 535 Dufferin Street, Stanstead, QC J0B 3E0 Tel:(819) 876-7322

More Events

In the News

Bulletin d'Aylmer

Bulletin d'Aylmer

Bulletin d'Aylmer

New documentary on English speakers in Quebec highlights the complex history of language in the province


Read more

CULT MTL

Bulletin d'Aylmer

Bulletin d'Aylmer

The Quebec anglo: A new documentary portrays a reality far from the “pampered elite” myth


Read more 

Montreal Gazette

Bulletin d'Aylmer

Montreal Gazette

Documentary gives a voice to anglophones


Read more

The Suburban

Bulletin d'Aylmer

Montreal Gazette

What We Choose To Remember: Compelling new documentary a "must watch" for all anglos. 


Read more

Sherbrooke Record

Sherbrooke Record

Sherbrooke Record

What We Choose To Remember is the title of a new film by Guy Rex Rodgers, but it is also a pertinent question in a province whose motto is “Je me souviens,” what exactly are we meant to remember?  


Read more

GLOBAL NEWS

Sherbrooke Record

Sherbrooke Record

Film explores English roots in Quebec 


Read more

Portraits of English-Speakers from diverse cultures.

QFHSA Newsletter

Sherbrooke Record

QFHSA Newsletter

 3 pages PDF  (read pages 17-19)

newsletter about What We Choose To Remember Documentary exploring what it'slike to immigrate to Quebec, the challenge of belonging and who we are and where did we come from.


Read more

Film screening announcement and photo of Director Guy Rex Rodgers.

MIKE COHEN

Sherbrooke Record

QFHSA Newsletter

What We Choose to Remember is  a fabulous documentary which will resonate with every member of the anglophone community. Courtesy of our CSL Public Library, there will be a free screening in the Harold Greenspon Auditorium on Wed. January 18 (2 pm).


Read More

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

A new documentary explores the thorny issues of history, belonging and identity in Québec, especially through the lens of English speakers in this province.


Read more

City News Everywhere

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

Identity and belonging within Quebec. 


Read more

ChronicleTelegraph

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

ChronicleTelegraph

New film dispels clichés about Quebec anglophones.


Read more

The Link

CBC | Breakaway with Alison Brunette

ChronicleTelegraph

What We Choose to Remember: A film on identity and Quebec’s Anglophone Community. Documentary premieres May 13 at the Hudson Film Festival


Read more

See more about these stories at Waves of Change

Watch waves of change >

Our Storytellers' Souvenirs

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We acknowledge the support of our sponsors

What We Choose to Remember

Acknowledgment

Our story takes place on the Indigenous lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Tiotià:ke (known as Montréal) has existed as a meeting place of many First Nation peoples, including but not limited to the Abenaki , Anishinaabeg (Algonquin), and the Huron-Wendat. 

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