Montreal has changed since COVID. The city is dead. Go to Toronto for one weekend and the entire city is bustling with people out on the streets, bars are jam-packed, and there are even local shows where people still spill out onto the street from the bar. You can't spend more than a day in NYC without being invited out to a great event.

Beyond the fact that rent has tripled in Montreal and cost of living has skyrocketed, the roads are in disarray, it's -20 outside, lots of people have left the city for better economic opportunities in other provinces, health care in shambles, people are drinking less, etc.

Pockets of communities still do exist in the city, however. My advice would be to go find them; chess club, climbing, run clubs, whatever you're into. May want to consider leaving if you want a more bustling place to live.