As you may have heard, Coveo has taken Montreal, Quebec, by storm. It is now home to Coveo’s Creative Hub, but it has been home to the team for quite some time. Our newest team of all stars is a wonderful mix of Montreal natives and newcomers. They’ve gotten to know each other, now it’s your turn to get to know them. Join us for a walk down memory lane as they recount their favorite memories in and of Montreal.
My favorite Montreal memory is when I first arrived from France, 10 years ago. I was on the Orleans Express bus (since replaced by the STM 747 bus) being transferred between Montreal Airport and Central Station. I remember seeing the highway signs in French but with a North American style. I was excited to live my “North American dream” and being able to do it in my mother tongue. Sitting on the bus and arriving in Montreal was a very special feeling. No one was expecting me there but still, I was excited to arrive. I remember hopping off the bus and feeling like there was a whole world to discover. It felt similar to looking at compass not knowing where to go; except that I knew I was at the right place for my future. – Gautier Lemesle
My fondest memory of Montreal takes place during summer when I was around 7 years old. Each spring, Montreal wakes up from a seemingly never-ending winter and gradually revitalizes. The energy builds up and culminates when the first few days of summer come and when the festival season kicks off. One long-lasting image I have of Montreal is going to the Jazz Fest with my father at the end of a hot and hazy summer day. Father and son, hand in hand, just before dusk and entering the belly of the beast. This is at least how I perceived the scene at 7 years old when going to my very first Jazz Fest, which I’ve continued to attend each year since then. – Mathieu Hanna
Back in ’87 there was a huge rainstorm that caused many properties and roads in the city to be flooded. There was a lot of damage and power outages that people had to deal with, but as a kid who had none of these concerns it was one of the coolest things ever! My family was in the car at the time and I remember we got stuck in a pool of water trying to cross an underpass and only got out when a kind stranger in a jeep managed to push us through. My siblings and I spent the rest of the ride home excitedly yelling out the window “there’s a flood, there’s a flood!” amazed at the state of things. – Dave Reisch
It is late September 2005. I’ve invited the man that will one day be my husband out on our first date to Casa Tapas on Rachel. I am secretly hoping to impress him with my knowledge of hidden dining gems in Montreal. Summer still hangs in the air as we crunch leaves below. Chorizo, scallops, calamari, heaven. Spanish wine he said needed to breath. 30 years of lives lived to share with each other. – Maia Kapahi
Summertime in Montreal is a season I never want to miss. It always amazes me how once everything was covered with snow and it then comes back to life, full of color! Having picnics in the city parks, riding bixi bikes to go anywhere and spending time on my balcony after work are among my favorite things. I still remember a particular summer when we went to harvest a variety of berries, not too far from the city. That year, the branches of the blueberries bush were so heavy, full of fruit as I’ve never seen before. It was a great year for berries. After enjoying our day picking all the berries we could, we went back home and baked delicious muffins, fruit crumble and we had so much fruit left that we froze the rest and enjoyed smoothies until almost Christmas! – Isabel Tinoco
Fondest Montreal memory? We need some backstory first. I received a job offer in late summer 2011 to work in Montreal. At that time, I was living in the bustling city (ha!) of Charlottetown, PEI. My job offer came in on a Wednesday, and that following Sunday I was onboard a train, heading towards Montreal. After a tiring 18 hour train ride, I vividly remember ending my journey at Sherbrooke metro, where I would be staying at a friend’s house for a few days until I got my apartment established. Exiting the metro I was greeted with the beauty that is Montreal in late August. We slowly walked through Square Saint Louis, two stuffed suitcases and a carry-on in tow. The sun was peeking through the trees, and I was smiling from ear to ear. This was my new home. – Isaac Berzins
The greatest memory I have of Montreal is surely when I met my current boyfriend. At the time, I had not explored much of Downtown Montreal. Old Montreal was pretty foreign to me, and as of yet I was only familiar with the student area that spanned Guy Street to Metcalfe. Why, you may ask? Well, there simply was no reason for me to go beyond that point… until now. It was the end of November. The trees, buildings and streets were full of Christmas decorations and the city of Montreal was shining a beautiful silver. Roman sent me a text asking to meet for coffee in Old Montreal, it would be our first real “date.” I greeted him and we immediately got along. We spoke for as long as we could, and when we left the shop, I lied about where I parked my car- just so I could walk him home. I remember that it was my first time in that area, pointing to the buildings that had been decorated with glistening Christmas lights and icicles and being so excited to do so. It was freezing cold, but my happiness shrouded me in warmth. About a year later we are happier than ever and I often think about the day where all of that happiness and love began. – Sarah Mancini
My fondest Montreal memory dates back to a winter (many) years ago, when I was in grade school. The fact that this is the first memory that comes to mind is surprising as I am not a fan of the cold weather. However, winter was not the same then. Digging my car out from beneath a snowbank, walking my dogs on what can only be described as a skating rink on the best of days, and paying outrageous heating bills were of no concern. The only concerns I had were 1. Where’s my snowsuit and 2. When can I go outside. Though the details of the memory are vague, I remember being outside for hours, well until the sun went down. My cousins and I dragged our toboggans up the hill and slid down the hill until our legs gave out. We built a family of snowmen, using our old scarves and hats. We made a village of igloos and drank hot chocolate with marshmallows within the walls we’d crafted, fingers numb from the cold. We laughed until it was time for bed and finally called it a night. We were essentially the cheesy family that holiday movies are made of and it was glorious. – Samantha Demers
Coveo isn’t just an employer in the eyes of its employees, it’s a family. No matter what office you’re in around the globe, you will notice a strong sense of trust and respect among peers. ‘Coveo Life’ isn’t a marketing gimmick, it’s a way of life that is expressed daily, allowing everyone to bring their personal touch to the professional workplace. It’s the little moments, like sharing our favorite memories, that really unite us and enable us to work together toward a common goal. Working together, growing together and succeeding together are the memories we have to look forward to creating as Coveo continues its journey in Montreal.