Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, spent five crucial, formative years of her life in Montreal, from the age of 12 to 17. Her mother, a pioneering breast cancer researcher, took a teaching position at McGill University in the mid-1970s.
These were momentous years for Kamala Harris. Moving from sunny California to multicultural Montreal came with a set of challenges that shaped her into who she is today.
Firstly, the new language – French – was a barrier for Harris in the beginning. She attended Westmount High School, one of Montreal’s most culturally diverse high schools. Being in the diverse city of Montreal, with its cosmopolitan vibe and multicultural ethos where more than 40 languages were spoken, gave her a real-world perspective towards immigration, diversity, and multiculturalism.
Secondly, it was a time of significant personal growth for Kamala. Living in Montreal’s diverse community helped shape her worldview, especially in terms of understanding the immigrant experience – a theme that pervades through her political work even today. The lessons learned during this time played a pivotal role in her development as a leader sensitive to multicultural issues.
Lastly, the move away from her native place to a foreign land taught her adaptability and resilience. Kamala’s brilliant adaptability skills can also be traced back to these five tumultuous years in Montreal.
In conclusion, Kamala Harris’s five years in Montreal played an indispensable role in shaping her character, molding her political
