Montreal buses remove ‘Go! Canadiens Go!’ after language watchdog complaint

The decision was made because the word "go" is an anglicism, said a spokesperson for Montreal's transit agency.

City buses in Montreal have dropped the expression “Go! Canadiens Go!” following a complaint to Quebec’s language watchdog.

Montreal’s transit agency is now using the French expression “Allez! Canadiens Allez!” on the electronic displays on the front of its buses to show support for the Montreal Canadiens’ NHL playoff run.

The decision was made because the word “go” is an anglicism, said spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay.

The expression “Go Habs Go!” is used extensively in Quebec to support the Montreal hockey team. It is also used widely by the team itself, including as a social media hashtag. But Tremblay said Quebec’s French-language office received a complaint last year about buses displaying the words “Go! CF Mtl Go!” — a reference to Montreal’s professional soccer club.

In response, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) decided to remove the word “go” from all of its messaging.

“This type of message provided STM employees with a way to salute national sports teams, support the STM’s official partners and establish the STM as a player in its community,” Tremblay said in an email statement. “Note that the use of the word “Go” was used in a sports context …. It allowed for quick understanding and a sense of belonging to these teams.”

Tremblay said replacing “go” with “allez” — the French equivalent — “maintains team spirit” while complying with Quebec’s recent overhaul of its French language charter.

The agency has been gradually changing the language on its fleet of buses since the end of last summer. Tremblay said the modification must be made manually on each bus, so the work was only completed earlier this year. The change was first reported Thursday by the Montreal Gazette.