Podcasts

Time-travel through three of Montreal vanished neighbourhoods and trace the paths of citizens who shaped the city’s history.

The Red Light district
(in French only)

From the 1930s to the 1950s, the low-income neighbourhood popularly called “the Red Light” was notorious for its after-hours activities dominated by prostitution and organized crime. In 1957, much of the Red Light district was demolished and replaced by a housing project, Les Habitations Jeanne-Mance (HJM). Travel through the raucous history of this erstwhile hub of vice.

Start: In front of the Saint-Laurent metro station entrance

End: In the central alley of Habitations Jeanne-Mance

Total duration of the podcast:
1 h 00 min 58 s

1
Introduction
3:11
2
Le nightlife du Red Light
6:45
3
Sainte-Catherine et St-Laurent
4:49
4
Prostitution et activités illicites
7:42
5
Activités commerciales
3:58
6
Vie résidentielle
2:01
7
Souvenirs d'enfance
2:18
8
Un quartier à nettoyer
3:47
9
Quartier Latin et vie paroissiale
3:55
10
Le projet des HJM
4:31
11
Les HJM d'hier à aujourd'hui
7:19
12
Projets et œuvres récentes aux HJM
4:40
13
Conclusion
5:55
Red light podcast archives
Photo: VM94-40_2-209b, Archives de la Ville de Montréal

Download all audio files
[57.6 MB - zip archive]

Download the map
[239 KB - 1 page]

Goose Village
(in French only)

Goose Village was one of the oldest working-class neighbourhoods in Montreal. In the 19th century, the labourers who built the Victoria Bridge lived here with their families. In 1964, it was torn down to make way for the Expo 67 site.

Discover the history of Goose Village when it was a lively, close-knit community.

Start: In front of the Old Port lock keeper (facing rue McGill)

End: At the corner of rue Bridge and rue Wellington

Total duration of the podcast:
1 h 14 min 08 s

1
Introduction
2:31
2
Le canal de Lachine
6:05
3
Industrialisation du secteur
5:57
4
La rue Mill et ses industries
8:07
5
Le potentiel hydraulique du canal
3:00
6
La caserne 21
2:31
7
Panorama industriel
5:36
8
Les origines de Goose Village
7:26
9
Bienvenue à Goose Village!
11:45
10
La démolition du quartier
9:55
11
Réflexions sur les rénovations urbaines
4:11
12
Conclusion
7:00
Goose village
Photo: VM94-C290-005, Archives de la Ville de Montréal

Download all audio files
[80.9 MB - zip archive]

Download the map
[206 KB - 1 page]

Le Faubourg à m'lasse
(in French only)

For generations, this neighbourhood was home to French Canadians who supported their families by working in nearby factories.

Between 1960 and 1963, hundreds of these families were forced to move out. It was here that the CBC/Radio-Canada tower was erected.

Get a glimpse of daily life in the vanished Faubourg à m’lasse in this podcast.

Start: In front of the Beaudry metro entrance

End: At the corner of boulevard René-Lévesque and rue Panet

Total duration of the podcast:
1 h 04 min 42 s

1
Introduction
2:14
2
Bienvenue dans le Faubourg à m'lasse!
4:33
3
Église et paroisse Saint-Pierre-Apôtre
6:00
4
La place de l'automobile dans la ville
4:14
5
La vie commerciale du quartier
3:09
6
Autoroute Ville-Marie et parc Viger
5:04
7
Incendie de 1852 et proximité du port
4:45
8
La Brasserie Molson
7:45
9
Les industries et le pont Jacques-Cartier
4:35
10
La vie quotidienne du quartier
9:12
11
Expropriation des résidents du Faubourg
4:50
12
Arrivée de Radio-Canada
7:57
13
Projet de Modernisation de R-C et quartier actuel
4:51
Faubourg archives
Photo: VM94-C290-005, Archives de la Ville de Montréal

Download all audio files
[72 Mo - archive zip]

Download the map
[262 KB - 1 page]

Montreal Portraits
(in French only)

Delve into the portraits of 25 Montrealers who played important roles in shaping the evolution of our society: artists, sports heroes, politicians, and everyday citizens.

This podcast highlights the positive contributions of these 25 individuals -- some household names and others rescued from oblivion.

1
Honoré Beaugrand (1848-1906)
2:15
2
Norman Bethune (1890-1939)
2:40
3
Herbert Brown Ames (1863-1954)
2:15
4
Émile Brunet (1893-1977)
2:29
5
Ludmilla Chiriaeff (1924-1996)
2:11
6
Myrtle Cook (1902-1985)
2:24
7
Emily Coonan (1885-1971)
2:20
8
Anne Courtemanche (1666-1737)
2:21
9
Francesco Di Feo (Né en 1933)
2:21
10
Ousseynou Diop (1941-2011)
2:31
11
John Easton Mills (1796-1847)
2:24
12
Georges Farah-lajoie (1876-1941)
2:18
13
Augustin Frigon (1888-1952)
2:26
14
Elsa Gidlow (1898-1986)
2:28
15
Mary Griffin
2:16
16
Jorge Guerra (Né en 1936)
2:31
17
Jules Helbronner (1844-1921)
2:16
18
Anne Lamarque « Folleville » (1649-1686)
2:23
19
Armand Monroe Larrivée (Né en 1935)
2:20
20
Claire Morissette (1950-2007)
2:16
21
Al Palmer (1913-1971)
2:24
22
Rufus Rockhead (1896-1981)
2:28
23
Wanda Stachiewicz (1895-1995)
2:26
24
Hilda Strike (1910-1989)
2:31
25
Joe Trouillot (1922-2015)
2:24
Man with a drink in his hand
Photo: Concordia University Libraries Special Collections, Fonds Al Palmer

Production teams

Quartiers disparus

Project Manager
Catherine Charlebois

Research
Stéphanie Lacroix
Geneviève Larouche

Screenplay
Geneviève Larouche

Production, soundtrack and narration
Antoine Bédard (Portrait Sonore)

Graphic design (map)
Philippe Legris

Thanks
David Ledoyen, of Parcs Canada
Éric Giroux, of the l'Écomusée du fier monde

Montreal Portraits

Directed by
Antonio Pierre de Almeida

Production
MEM - Centre des mémoires montréalaises