At first glance, Montreal appears to be a quaint, European-esque city in the heart of North America. Vieux-Montreal, with its narrow cobblestone streets, charming outdoor cafes and 18th-century wooden houses, invites comparisons with France. In fact, French is the lingua franca of the city--most Quebecers greet visitors and natives alike with a bonjour, and then quickly switch to English for tourists ordering a heaping platter of poutine (a popular snack of French fries with fresh cheese curds, covered in hot gravy).

Underneath its old world charm, Montreal simmers with contrasts. The aforementioned cobblestone streets lead to the edge of rue St. Catherine, where a red-light district filled with debauchery and temptation awaits. The tranquility of Montreal's Botanical Garden is disrupted by the surrounding ghetto and the 1976 Olympic Stadium in the shadows. The city's dual language complex is at the very heart of Quebec sovereignty. Should Quebec stay or should it go from Canada? In 1995, the province nearly said au revoir, as 49.42 percent voted for Quebec to become its own nation.

A decade later, Montreal is still wrestling with an identity crisis. The only ones to officially depart Quebec are the Montreal Expos, seeking a World Series ring south of the border in Washington, DC. While most Montrealers are blasé about the Expos' migration, there is a small contingency paying homage to the franchise with vintage jerseys and baseball caps.

This photojournal attempts to depict Montreal's charming contradictions, but I feel the pictures only tell one side of this ever-evolving metropolis.