Our upcoming publications


mile-end-logoAfter several months of work, Mile End Memories launched a redesigned web site at the end of 2013. We are happy with the result and hope you have had a chance to expore it. Our main ambition with this site is to create a reference on the history, heritage and culture of this exceptional Montreal neighbourhood. Mile End has often been written about, but until now, nothing has brought together a complete portrait of the area. Here is a summary of what we are planning to publish over the next few months.

Mile End History: an essay by Yves Desjardins presenting the highlights of Mile End history since the 18th century. The following sections have just been published (January 2014):

Afterwards, publication will continue – in French and English – at the rate of about one chapter per month. The essay will cover themes such as the villages at the time of the quarries, the role of the major landowning families (the Beaubiens, Baggs, Clarks and Nowlans), and the process of urbanization in the new Plateau suburbs as Montreal grows into a metropolis, among other topics. Little-known episodes will be described such as a late 19th-century real-estate scandal resulting from the delays in obtaining electric tram service, or the period when real estate developers dreamed of creating Park Avenue as a prestigious address for luxury homes.

Neighbourhood portraits: We will be republishing articles from Sarah Gilbert’s “Mile Endings” blog, accompanied by a new French translation by Valérie Palacio-Quintin. Sarah Gilbert, 20-year resident of Mile End, has beautifully captured the memory of unique people and places just before they were swept away by the neverending transformation of the area. This category will eventually be augmented by other portraits of Mile End today.

Historical capsules: this column will present a series of short articles and vignettes on different aspects of Mile End history. We have already posted the notes written by Justin Bur for the program En plein dans le Mile, broadcast on Radio Centre-Ville during Spring 2013. Themes such as the origin of the name Mile End, the development of the railway, and citizen movements of the late 20th century have been covered. Other articles, such as the one on the “C.P.R. Hotel” already on line, will be added from time to time.

We also remind you that we have three events planned at the Mile End library this spring and that our guided walking tours will return in the spring. Here are the dates and topics of the library events which are of course always free of charge and start at 2 p.m.

  • Le Mile End, 200 ans d’histoire. Sunday 16 February, with Justin Bur.
  • ICI un souvenir, ou quand les résidents du Plateau participent à une oeuvre collective. Sunday 9 March, with Patsy Van Roost.
  • Artistes indépendants et producteurs culturels du Mile End, quelle cohabitation?  Sunday 13 April, a round-table discussion.

We look forward to seeing you there!