All societies are plural but no two societies experience plurality in exactly the same way, especially when it comes to pluralist practice and policy. In the context of a research project on intercultural relations in the urban context of Montreal, we have identified three different orientations or approaches to pluralist thought and practice : the recognition of diversity, the fight against discrimination and rapprochement through dialogue. Using these categories, I propose an analytical model that makes it possible to understand tensions between various social actors involved in the promotion of intercultural policies and programs in Montreal. I begin by using this model to analyze the funding of intercultural projects at the municipal level. Then I explore how these tensions play out in the context of collaborative efforts between researchers, community-based organizers and city planners. Finally, I discuss the notions complementarity and explicitation in order to show how a pluralist analysis can facilitate communication and reinforce pluralist approaches more generally.