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Nikki Bedi is on stage at La Tulipe Theatre, in Montreal, Canada, in the middle of the city’s summer festival season, with star music and comedy performers and top creative talents, to discuss the city’s hottest local trends and issues.

Montreal, in the Canadian province of Quebec, is the largest Francophone metropolis outside Paris and Africa. It is known as the cultural capital of Canada for its world renowned festivals of jazz, comedy, film and fireworks and distinctive multiculturalism.

But how has Francophone culture managed to thrive in the middle of English speaking North America? How do the French and English artistic scenes in Montreal relate to each other, and to First Nations artists, from communities that have been there for thousands of years? And what is the unique attraction of the city that that draws so many artists into what they call a `Bubble’.

Nikki is joined by the award winning film director Mathieu Denis and the novelist Heather O’Neill, author of the international bestselling Lullabies for Little Criminals.

The filmmaker and creator of TV dramedy Mohawk Girls, Tracey Deer, talks about the changing cultural landscape for indigenous artists in and around Montreal.

Radio Canada host Catherine Pogonat takes Nikki on a culture cab ride through Montreal.

And there is live stand up from comedian Eddy King, and live music from the singer songwriter Martha Wainwright and the Dead Obies.

Photo credit: ´óÏó´«Ã½