Events
- Location: 1400 René-Lévesque Boulevard East
In the 1960s, the massive construction project for the Maison de la Société Radio-Canada (the CBC/ Radio-Canada offices) was part of the plan to modernize the city and its downtown neighbourhoods. The initiative, however, ultimately resulted in the demolition of many residential buildings and the loss of thousands of residents who made up part of the area known as the Faubourg à m’lasse (Molasses Suburbs). Despite the resulting damage, the tower is now an important visual landmark in the neighbourhood.
- Location: Various locations across the Centre-Sud area
In the fall of 1974, Montreal firefighters went on an illegal strike during which many fires were started intentionally. The Centre-Sud was hit particularly hard and nearly 180 families were left homeless. The largest blaze ravaged the block bordered by Amherst (now Atateken), Sherbrooke, Wolfe and Square Amherst Streets. While the inferno was a major event in the history of the neighbourhood, it was also a catalyst for citizen mutual aid and solidarity.
On the night of July 14-15th 1990, an event celebrating members of the local LGBTQ+ community was in full swing in a private loft in the Village, nicknamed the Sex Garage. The event was abruptly ended by a police raid wherein partygoers became victims of physical violence and homophobic slurs at the hands of the police.
In response, a protest of around 200 participants was organized the following evening at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine and Atateken (formerly Amherst) Streets. The Sex Garage protest kicked off a series of militant actions in the following days, including a kiss-in in front of the local District 25 police station on July 16th, 1990.
Ecomuseum Collection
