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PODCASTS: THE GOLDEN SQUARE MILEA new real estate project is going up on Sherbrooke St. in the Golden Square Mile. Two podcasts featuring yours truly are available to prospective buyers, so they can get better acquainted with the neighbourhood.
The first deals with some of the Historic Homes, and the second, with a few Illustrious Neighbours. Just click and scroll. Enjoy!
https://lesherbrooke.com/en/neighborhood/
The first deals with some of the Historic Homes, and the second, with a few Illustrious Neighbours. Just click and scroll. Enjoy!
https://lesherbrooke.com/en/neighborhood/
C L A S S I C A N D S P E C I A L I Z E D W A L K I N G T O U R S
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Tantalizing Tasting Tour for Two in the Mile End Neighbourhood 
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Classic Highlights Tours
(se ofrecen en español) |
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My Signature Tours
A blend of history and public art |
Discover Old Montreal Through Storytelling What was life like in the early decades of Montreal? Family-friendly (8 years +) |
St. Paul Street: A Surprise on Every Corner |
Pioneering Women of Montreal (1642-1771) |
N E I G H B O U R H O O D S
Get a feel for how Montrealers live
Get a feel for how Montrealers live
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Little Burgundy
Birthplace of jazz in Canada 
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Little Italy: Coffee, Bocce and Amore
A most fragrant part of the city with its vegetable gardens, farmers' market and great coffee |
Great Scots!
It's the Golden Square Mile 
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Jewish Heritage Tour
The "Third Solitude" in the early 20th c. 
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Portuguese Neighbourhood
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O F F T H E B E A T E N P A T H
Maisonneuve Neighbourhood: From Riches to Rags and Back Again |
350 Years Along the Lachine Rapids For the more adventurous In your vehicle or a rental car |
O N - L I N E A N D I N - P E R S O N A C T I V I T I E S
LECTURE PIONEERING WOMEN OF MONTREAL (1642 - 1771) Come meet truly exceptional women who participated in the founding, survival and influence of Ville Marie, the former French colony now known as Montreal. Among others, you will meet: Jeanne Mance, nurse and co-founder of the city, and Marguerite Bourgeoys, the colony’s first teacher, matchmaker and founder of the first truly Canadian religious order. Without these strong, avant-garde trail-blazing visionaries, the metropolis of Montreal might not have become what it is today. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation Approx. 1 hour + 30-min. question period |
LECTURE LITTLE BURGUNDY: RAILROADS, JAZZ AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT EXPERIMENT DOCUMENTARY VIDEO WITH LIVE COMMENTARY Discover a little-known but vibrant neighbourhood in the Southwest borough of Montreal. For over 100 years, industrialization along the nearby canal shaped the area, where the Black community's contributions are still felt today. A massive development project in the 1960s forever transformed The Berg, which is now making a comeback with top-rated restaurants, a vintage theatre, shops, an art-deco market, and so much more. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. Video: approx. 60 minutes - Question period: approx. 30 minutes Click on photo for a preview. |
LECTURE GREAT SCOTS! IT'S THE GOLDEN SQUARE MILE! Drummond, McGill, Redpath, McTavish, Stephen: well-known names found in a sector of downtown Montreal. This neighbourhood, today called the Golden Square Mile, became one of the most influential in North America. But who exactly were these Scots, living in the shadow of Mount Royal, that held two thirds of the country’s wealth in the 19th century? And how is it that such phenomenal success was achieved by such a small community originating from such a small country in such a short period of time? During this on-line lecture, you will discover the story of these Scots who literally built Canada. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 75 min + 30-min. question period. |
LECTURE THE MARRIAGEABLE GIRLS: SPUNK, HEROISM AND SCANDAL, 1634-1662 Before the King's Wards (Filles du Roy) other young women crossed the ocean leaving everything behind in search of a better life. The contrast is striking: the Marriageable Girls had to fend for themselves and, for the most part, travelled alone. The King's Wards on the other hand were taken in charge by the state and benefitted from an all-inclusive trip sponsored by Louis XIV and, over the years, a much better marketing campaign. This is the fascinating but little-known story of courageous early pioneers of the 17th century Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 70 min or 90 min + 30-min discussion period. |
LECTURE
THE HARP AND THE SHAMROCK The two faces of Montreal's Irish Community Regardless of whether they left the Emerald Isle to seek their fortune or because of the Great Famine, Irish immigrants clearly left their mark here. Some became bishops, entrepreneurs, senators or industrialists, while others, living in abject poverty, simply tried to survive as labourers. Although only a few streets separated their respective neighbourhoods, they were worlds apart. Come make the acquaintance of these resourceful, endearing and resilient Irish as well as their invaluable contribution to our society. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 70 min + 30-min discussion period |
LECTURE
MAISONNEUVE NEIGHBOURHOOD: FROM RICHES TO RAGS AND BACK AGAIN Located in the East end of Montreal, Maisonneuve was dubbed, at the turn of the 20th century, the "Pittsburgh of Canada". Unlike other neighbourhoods, here the working class and the French-speaking upper class lived side by side. Contrasts have always been the trademark of this neighbourhood, which today combines futuristic architecture, community gardens, a château, murals, mosaics and poetry. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 60 min + 30-min discussion period |
LECTURE
THE JEWS OF THE "MAIN" It took centuries of anti-semitism and exclusion before Montreal Jews became aware that they truly belonged to a society like no other. Not only did they form the “third solitude”, but they were sandwiched in between the other two along St. Laurent Blvd, the metropolis’s main street. It is there that they took up residence, worked relentlessly in the “schmata” industry and founded their own institutions, shops and places of worship. Judaism in Quebec is distinct from that found in other parts of North America. Come discover, in the historic Jewish neighbourhood, all of its tenacity, warmth and originality. In addition, you’ll get acquainted with some real characters who played essential roles in the community. Shalom! Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 75 min + 30-min discussion period |
LECTURE
THE AVANT-GARDE MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS Her name is well known here at home: first educator of Montreal, instigator of the construction of Notre Dame de Bonsecours Chapel, matchmaking facilitator for the King's Wards, founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame, and the first saint in Canadian history. But what motivated this young woman to leave her native Champagne to embark on a perilous voyage to a distant land to serve God? Her ideas about education and a woman's place in society were revolutionary for the 17th century. Where did she draw them from? Come discover the fascinating story of this feminist ahead of her time who overcame numerous obstacles in her educational mission. Zoom videoconferencing platform required. PowerPoint presentation approx. 60 min + 30-min discussion period |
A good match?
For Inquisitive Minds
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T E S T I M O N I A L S
Happy People
We were very fortunate to have a truly qualified guide. She was not only knowledgeable about the area but Quebec and all of Canada as well.
Absolutely terrific!
Pat Garcia
Northridge, California
2019
I was very happy to visit Little Burgundy virtually, especially when we need a change of scenery during this pandemic.
I learned so much about Black history and the jazz scene, which I previously did not know despite being born in Montreal and living there for most of my life.
Sharon Hudson
Calgary, Alberta
Little Burgundy movie-lecture, Feb. 2021
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