Organizations
- Location: 1601 De Lorimier Avenue
Following the industrial revolution, the rise of the working class heralded the birth of trade unions, where workers could join together to defend their rights. The Centre-Sud witnessed this phenomenon first hand. Created in 1921, the Canadian Catholic Confederation of Labour (CCCL) moved into the neighbourhood. Changing its name to the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CNTU) during the Quiet Revolution, the organization is still active in the Centre-Sud, where its head office is located.
- Location: 1710 Beaudry Street
The Centre-Sud Social Committee (CSSC) was founded as a direct result of the neighbourhood’s civil strife in the 1970s. Faced with health, safety and housing issues, residents rallied to create citizens’ committees, and after community centres. Located in the former De Salaberry School, it is one of the main Centres d’Éducation Populaire (public education centers) in the area. Its continued existence attests to its deep-rooted connection to and relevance within the community.
- Location: 2422 boulevard de Maisonneuve East
Service aux Familles, a self-help group for neighbourhood families, was founded in 1972 thanks to the efforts of women in the Centre-Sud neighbourhood. In 1982, in order to meet the needs of the women who benefited from its services and to better support them, it was transformed into the Centre d’éducation et d’action des femmes de Montréal (CÉAF, Women’s Center for Education and Action of Montreal), an independent, resolutely feminist community action organization. Women from all walks of life gather here to escape isolation, to socialize and to fight for better living conditions and a fair and equal society. Deeply rooted in its neighbourhood, CÉAF is a warm, inclusive and safe space, offering its members a strong sense of belonging.
- Location: 1710 Beaudry Street
The Atelier des Lettres was founded in an apartment on Bordeaux Street in 1984 when a group of determined illiterate women and men, wishing to communicate better and have more autonomy over their lives, chose to gather there to learn to read and write.
Needing more space for its activities, the Atelier eventually moved to 1710 Beaudry Street. Over the years, this grassroots literacy organization has helped improve the quality of life of illiterate and undereducated people and defend their rights, while raising awareness among the neighborhood population about the issues faced by its members. A true community hub, the Atelier des Lettres promotes learning in a supportive, collaborative environment. Its longevity, combined with the pride and commitment of its participants, is a testament to its importance in the Centre-Sud.
- Location: 2361 Ontario Street East / 2375 St. Catherine Street East
Founded in 2003 on Ontario Street, Café Touski emerged in response to local residents’ desire to open a healthy, family-friendly restaurant that could also serve as an arts and performance venue. Le Touski functioned for many years as a self-managed worker cooperative, and was eventually forced to move in 2018. Backed by the local community, Le Touski acquired its own space on Sainte-Catherine Street East, just a few blocks from its original site. Operating in a difficult financial climate, the organization was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and was finally forced to close its doors in May 2020, after 17 years in business. For many, Café Touski was a greatly inspiring community experience and a reflection of the alternative and activist cultures of the Centre-Sud.
Ecomuseum Collection
