City of Montreal inadvertently promotes intolerance towards Soccer

In a media campaign that started a month ago, the City of Montréal released a few videos to promote its newest Charter of Rights and Responbilities that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of residents, including civic-mindedness. Using a social media campaign to boost your message and reach a different kind of audience is a great thing.

It's just that short video clip is kind of awkward and could make you feel uneasy.

Vivre ensemble, on y gagne tous! #vivreensemble https://t.co/8UhrjizizW pic.twitter.com/a35p2ELOTt

— Ville de Montréal (@MTL_Ville) December 17, 2015

The young boy playing soccer is happily doing his thing, minding his own business. He is abruptly stopped by a gang of taller, bigger boys playing street hockey. His soccer ball is taken away from him and kicked out into the street. The good news is that there is a happy ending, the young boy scores a hockey goal and everyone is happy.

A few awkward notes and self-questions :

• Is the young soccer player portraying an immigrant? a newly-landed immigrant? Very confusing
• The group of boys , who are playing hockey, force him to play ...well hockey.

Are we associating  hockey with assimilation? or Soccer with lack of integration or is it the other way?

• Why not make the hockey players more diverse?
• Did the ball really needed to be kicked into the street?