Trudeau Talked With VP Kamala Harris & She Spoke About Her Time In Montreal

In her memoir, she made clear she had mixed feelings about living in the city.
Senior Editor

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. Vice President (and former Montrealer) Kamala Harris. They discussed, among other more important topics, the vice president's time growing up in the Quebec metropolis.

Harris "recalled fondly her years spent in Montréal," according to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister.

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I used to joke that I felt like a duck because all day long at our new school I'd be saying 'Quoi? Quoi? Quoi?'

Kamala Harris in her 2019 memoir

The two leaders also spoke about the pandemic, trade, diversity and inclusion, "the importance of mental health, as well as the need to address online hate, firearm trafficking, and gender-based violence," the statement readers.

Harris attended Westmount High School while her mother, Dr. Shyamala Harris, worked at the Jewish General Hospital and McGill University.

The vice president's meteoric rise in U.S. politics has made her a bit of a local celebrity.

On the day of her inauguration, Westmount High students, staff, and teachers sent her well-wishes and expressed their excitement at having an alumna in the White House.

Quebec Premier François Legault and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also sent Harris congratulations on social media.

In her memoir, however, the vice president made it clear she had mixed feelings about living in the city.

"Moving away from sunny California [...] to a French-speaking foreign city covered in twelve feet of snow was distressing, to say the least," she wrote.

Though she said she eventually adjusted to life in Montreal, Harris always planned to return to the United States.

  • Thomas MacDonald
  • Senior Editor

    Thomas MacDonald was the Senior Editor of MTL Blog. He received a B.A. with honours from McGill University in 2018 and worked as a Writer and Associate Editor before entering his current role. He is proud to lead the MTL Blog team and to provide its readers with the information they need to make the most of their city.

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