24-04-2025
No more ‘Go Habs Go': STM changes messaging after OQLF complaint
It may be playoff season for the Montreal Canadiens, but don't expect to see any 'Go Habs Go!' signs on the city's buses any time soon.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says it had to change its messaging to the French, 'Allez, Canadiens Allez!' following a complaint that was filed with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
'The anglicism 'Go' was replaced by 'Allez Montréal'' explains Isabelle Tremblay, a spokesperson with the public transit agency. 'The new wording also retains the team spirit, while complying with Law 14 [also known as Bill 94].'
The law, An Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Quebec, is considered to be a significant piece of legislation that strengthens the protection and promotion of the French language.
The STM says it made the decision to change the wording after it received a complaint last year about the message 'Go! CF MTL Go!'
'The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) asked the STM to modify its message,' Tremblay said. 'Given that the word 'Go' is considered an anglicism, the STM has decided to remove this word from its bus weathervanes.'
The STM notes it had to manually change the messaging on each vehicle, starting at the end of last summer.
It took several months for the modifications to be complete.
The public transit agency notes that writing messages on its weathervanes is a way of 'saluting national sports teams, supporting STM's official partners and establishing STM as a player in its community.'
The STM refused to comment further on the situation.
