Hi , Yes - Bila translates to the White.
It is possible that your grandfather is of Norwegian ancestry - even if he was born in Montreal
If he was born of Norwegian parents - that would have been the language that he first heard -When learning another language eg. French - his French would be different from others - he would be influenced by his original language with their accent.
I was born into a Ukranian,Polish French household -when - lived in a neighbourhood - where people spoke Italian, Chinese, Japanese -I played with children of many nationalities. I started school - with an odd accent -
Later - offended family - by somehow managing a British Accent picked up from people where I worked.
One can't judge - by accents.
Stella