Places of Worship in Transition
tour led by Susan Bronson, Aldo Marchini, Joshua Wolfe, and Janis Zubalik
Sunday 5 May 2013, 2 pm–4 pm
during Jane’s Walks 2013
Join us for a walk aimed at discovering Mile End’s rich religious heritage in the context of urban activist Jane Jacobs’s ideas about livable neighbourhoods.
Over the last century, Mile End’s diverse collection of churches, synagogues and prayer halls has been used by local residents not only for religious practice and education but also for a host of other celebrations, social gatherings and meetings. The architectural expression of these buildings, some purpose-built and others converted residential or commercial structures, varies from simple to elaborate, and most of them are still used today for religious, cultural or community purposes. Over time, the majority have welcomed two, three or four congregations representing different religious communities, testifying to the settlement, over the course of the 20th century, of a succession of ethnic communities in the neighbourhood, which is rich in cultural history.
This Jane’s Walk, adapted from a walking tour offered for the first time in 2002, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the foundation of Mile End Memories, an organization dedicated to the promotion of the history, culture and heritage of the Mile End neighbourhood. It complements the walk offered by the Interactive Museum of Jewish Montreal on Sunday morning.
Language : Bilingual
Starting point : Lahaie Park, in front of Saint-Enfant-Jésus Church (5039 Saint Dominique Street, between Saint Joseph Boulevard West and Laurier Avenue West)
By public transportation : Laurier metro or buses 51–Édouard-Montpetit or 55–Saint-Laurent
End point : Corner of Saint-Urbain Street and Laurier Avenue West
Accessibility : Accessible
Registration : on urbanecology.net