History History

Several Aboriginal nations inhabit the territory: the Huron, Algonquin and Iroquois. According to archaeological data, the oldest evidence of occupation dates back 4,000 years, around what is now Old Montreal.

Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence as far as the island of present-day Montreal. He disembarked and went to the fortified Iroquoian village of Hochelaga, which had a population of about 1,500. He named the nearby hill "Mons realis" (Latin for royal mount). The current name of the city of Montreal would thus be a variant of this toponym.

Born in Saint-Malo, this navigator, nicknamed "the discoverer of Canada", set out in search of a new route to the Indies, reached Newfoundland and the Labrador coast in 1534 (already discovered by John Cabot in 1497), before landing at Gaspé to take possession of Canada in the name of the King of France,^{François Ier.} He undertook two more voyages to Canada.

Samuel de Champlain explores the river. The village of Hochelaga, discovered and described by Jacques Cartier 70 years earlier, has disappeared.

Champlain established a seasonal trading post on the island, in a place he named "Place Royale" (now the site of Pointe-à-Callière). He had to abandon it because he could not defend it against Mohawk warriors.

Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, established the first handful of Frenchmen on the banks of the St. Lawrence on May 17, 1642. This first colony, named Ville-Marie, was created with the avowed goal of converting the Indians, or "savages" as they were then called, to Catholicism. In its early days, the future Canadian metropolis had about forty settlers.

Maisonneuve was forced to return to France to recruit other settlers. Among the 200 or so people who arrived in Ville-Marie was Sister Marguerite Bourgeoys, the founder of the Congregation of Notre-Dame de Montréal in 1659. These new arrivals enabled the development of agriculture to ensure the survival and development of Ville-Marie. Marguerite Bourgeoys requested that a cross be raised that had been shot down by enemy Amerindians; it is in memory of this symbol, originally erected by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, that the present Mount Royal Cross was built.

Marguerite Bourgeoys arrived in Ville-Marie in 1653 with new settlers. In 1658, she was able to open the first school, in a barn that Maisonneuve entrusted to her and which she refurbished. In addition to the children of the colony's inhabitants and natives, Marguerite Bourgeoys also welcomed the " Filles from Roy ", who had come from France to marry the settlers. She founded the Congregation of Notre-Dame, one of the first non-cloistered religious communities of women in the Catholic Church. In 1982, Marguerite Bourgeoys was canonized by John Paul II and became the first Canadian saint.

Thanks to French military interventions, the fur trade became a major part of Montréal's economy.

In 1676, a mission for the Amerindians was created on the Mountain. The sisters settled there, teaching in bark huts. Marguerite Bourgeoys even received young Amerindian women in her congregation, including Marie-Thérèse Gannensagouas (Algonquin) who became a teacher at the mission and Marie Barbe-Attontinon (Iroquois). In 1685, a fort was built to house the nuns and their students; two towers still exist and are located in front of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal (2065 West, Sherbrooke Street).

The city is fortified. Today, the Fortifications Lane still bears witness to the location of the walls on the north side.

Despite some periods of tranquillity, Franco-Iroquois hostilities increasingly took their toll on the colony at the end of the 17th century, such as the Lachine massacre, which occurred on August 5, 1689.

After several years of negotiations and reversals, the Great Peace of Montreal Treaty was finally signed between the Governor of New France, Louis-Hector de Callières, and more than 1,300 representatives of 39 Aboriginal nations, in order to put an end to hostilities and improve Franco-Aboriginal relations.

British troops took the colony with the surrender of Quebec City, followed by the surrender of Montreal. New France came under British control with the Treaty of Paris (1763).

It was a Frenchman, friend of the Americans, Fleury Mesplet, who created the very first newspaper in Quebec, The Gazette du commerce et littéraire for the city and district of Montreal. Printed at the Château Ramezay, this bilingual weekly became The Gazette. As a result, Montreal's oldest newspaper is now the city's only English-language daily.

An administrative decision divides the city into two parts, east and west, starting from Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Crossing the island from south to north since the beginning of its history, this boulevard now forms the demarcation between the west and east of the city.

The old town is overflowing with its ramparts, which must be demolished.

The city's rapid growth was accelerated by the construction of the Lachine Canal, which facilitated communication between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. Construction begins on the Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica. It will be completed in 1829, the year of its official inauguration.

Official date of the coming into force of the Charter of Montreal, which recognizes the city as a political entity. Montréal opens the first election in its history. Only men aged 21 and over, who own real estate and have lived in the city for at least 12 months, can elect new representatives. On June 5, 1833, Jacques Viger was elected the first mayor of Montréal.

British policy, social crisis and the exasperation of nationalist French Canadians led to the Patriot Rebellion in the Montreal area.

In 1844, Montreal became, for a few years, the capital of United Canada, before the fire of Parliament by English rioters. The fire spread to the National Library, destroying countless archives of New France. After these incidents, the members of Parliament of United Canada decided to transfer the capital alternately to Toronto and Quebec City.

Development of Mount Royal Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. In the same year, the Indian Act, which only concerns First Nations, is implemented by the federal government to eradicate the culture of the Amerindians and promote their assimilation into Euro-Canadian society. It is this same law, unfortunately still in force, that governs the reserves, particularly near Montreal.

Montreal's development was marked by the annexation of several neighbouring towns and villages. The inauguration of the first transcontinental railway line in 1887 marked the beginning of a golden age for Montreal, which became the country's railway hub with the installation of the Canadian Pacific Railway's head office on its territory. The luxurious residences that appeared at the time testify to the wealth of a city that concentrated more than 70% of the country's fortunes. In addition, the Port of Montreal, another major source of the city's development, was the only one to surrender the title of largest port in America to New York.

Foundation of the Montreal Canadiens, the oldest team in the National Hockey League.

Montréal becomes the Canadian financial centre: more modern, the city acquires the reputation of being an "open city". The city lost some of this status at the end of the Second World War as the manufacturing industries for durable goods moved to the Midwest and southern Ontario. Technological changes, such as the growth of trucking and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, also reduced Montréal's importance as a transhipment centre.

Work, prosperity, parties, alcohol, blues, jazz and a relaxed lifestyle sum up the spirit of the metropolis. Montreal's redlight district is much visited, not only by tourists but also by the many workers and businessmen. Since Quebec did not maintain its alcohol prohibition law for very long, it became the only territory on the continent where it was legal to consume alcohol.

Inauguration of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge linking the island to the south shore.

Women are entering the local political scene as candidates. A total of six women served as municipal councillors between 1940 and 1960. It would be nearly 15 years before other Montreal women made their mark on the local scene. Municipal finances were in a critical state. The provincial government returned to the fray by putting Montréal under its supervision. For the second time in just over 20 years, the municipality lost its autonomy. This decade also marks the emergence of Montréal's Francophone community in the arts, sciences and commerce.

In a series of reports published in the daily newspaper Le Devoir and then assembled in a brochure entitled Montréal sous le pègre, lawyer Pacifique "Pax" Plante attacked the integrity of the police service. He accuses police officers of corruption and complicity in a number of illegal activities.

Official opening of Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, elevated to the rank of minor basilica after numerous expansions and works since the beginning of the 20th century.

After five years of work, the St. Lawrence Seaway is commissioned. It is inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Eisenhower on June 26.

Beginning of the Quiet Revolution: the Québec government takes important economic and social measures. Jean Drapeau is elected mayor of Montréal for the second time. The man clearly distinguished himself from his predecessors by his leadership style, which aimed at efficiency and a more thoughtful approach to politics.

A lawyer by profession, Jean Drapeau was first elected mayor of Montreal in 1954, after participating in the Montreal police investigation in 1950. Defeated in the following elections, he founded the Montreal Civic Party in 1960, won the mayoral election in the process... and served eight terms until 1986. Among his administration's major achievements were the expansion of Montreal's territory, the installation of Place des Arts and the metro, as well as the 1967 World's Fair, the 1976 Summer Olympics and the 1980 Floralies. To this day, no mayor has remained in office in Montréal for as long as he has, nor has he enjoyed such renown on the national and international scene.

Jean Drapeau wants to give Montreal a new dimension. He first encouraged the growth of the downtown area, then the creation of the metro, inaugurated in 1966, one year before the Montreal World's Fair (Expo 67) "Terre des Hommes".

General de Gaulle, then on an official visit to Quebec, pronounced the famous "Vive le Québec libre! "at the end of his speech in Montreal, triggering a political crisis between Canada and France. This episode also served to raise awareness of Quebec and its political situation around the world, especially since the World's Fair was being held in Montréal that same year.

The Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), an underground movement working for Quebec independence, is becoming increasingly active. The "October Crisis" was marked by several events of historical and political significance in Montreal, including two kidnappings. At the request of the Government of Quebec and the municipal administration of Montreal, the War Measures Act was declared on October 16. The crisis came to an end in the early summer of 1971.

Montréal hosts the Games of the XXI Olympiad of the Modern Era from July 17 to August¹. Canada will perform poorly, ranking 27th (out of 37) with 5 silver and 6 bronze medals...

First Pride Parade in Montreal with about 50 marchers. The event is now a festival, the largest of its kind in the francophone world.

Jean Doré becomes the 39th mayor of Montreal, succeeding Jean Drapeau. He will endow Montréal with the first urban plan in its history.

Montréal is celebrating the 350th anniversary of its founding with, among other things, the inauguration of the Pointe-à-Callière Museum (Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History), the Biodome and the new Champ-de-Mars.

An ice storm (80 hours of freezing rain recorded in Montreal) partially paralyzed the city for a few weeks at the beginning of the year. Some homes have no electricity for ten days.

The city is hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships, which is why new facilities are being built at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

The city of Montréal is now made up of 19 boroughs and headed by 105 elected officials (the mayor, 19 borough mayors, 45 city councillors and 40 borough councillors). Montréal hosts the 1st World Outgames (a major international sporting and cultural event organized by the International Gay and Lesbian Sports Association).

Mayor Gérald Tremblay was re-elected for a^third term after an election campaign focused mainly on ethics and governance, in the wake of the "water meter scandal" that revealed a conflict of interest in the project to install water meters in Montreal businesses.

During the Charbonneau Commission (commission of inquiry into the award and management of public contracts in the construction industry), the mayor and his party were splashed by numerous scandals. On November 5, Gérald Tremblay announced his resignation and retirement from political life. Michael Applebaum was then appointed interim mayor until the next elections in November 2013. Like the rest of the province, Montreal is experiencing a real social crisis that begins with the student strike against the increase in tuition fees. This period is nicknamed the "Maple Spring".

The acting mayor was arrested by the Permanent Anticorruption Unit (UPAC) on 17 June. He faces, among other charges, 14 counts of fraud against the government, conspiracy and corruption. Laurent Blanchard replaces him until the next municipal elections.

The province is voting to elect new mayors for the cities and towns of Quebec. With all the setbacks of the past year in the metropolis, Montrealers are hoping for a change. It is Denis Coderre, former federal Liberal MP, who wins the election with 32% of the votes.

As Canada celebrates from coast to coast to coast the 150th anniversary of Confederation, Montréal also celebrates the 375th anniversary of its founding. On September 13, the city's new coat of arms is unveiled. They are now adorned with a white pine in the centre, symbolizing the Tree of Peace, following the choice of a committee made up of members of the Mohawk, Anichinabe and Innu nations, and a representative of the Centre d'histoire de Montréal. On November 5, Valérie Plante was elected Mayor of Montreal, the first woman in history to hold this position.

On October 17, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize and regulate the recreational use of cannabis.

On September 17, the Great Climate March brings some 500,000 people to the streets of Montreal. On October 21, Ahmerst Street, which connects the St. Lawrence River to La Fontaine Park, is officially renamed Atateken Street (pronounced: a-de-dé-gan), a French toponym that means "brothers and sisters" in the Kanien'kéha (Mohawk) language.

Covid-19 strikes worldwide. In March, Montreal went into a state of emergency and on the 23rd of the same month, the first containment was announced throughout Quebec. From May 4, a progressive decontamination followed but in October a new partial containment was put in place. By the end of 2020, Quebec will register more than 200,000 cases of people with Covid.

The local field hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens, reach the Stanley Cup final against Las Vegas. A ranking not achieved since 1993.

Covid continues to slow the city down. In December, restaurants are once again closed and a curfew restored. These restrictions end the following January.

The remains of hundreds of children are found on the sites of former residential schools. The country was shocked, and searches were launched from coast to coast for the bodies of Aboriginal schoolchildren. The following year, the Pope visited the site for a "penitential pilgrimage", apologizing for the Church's role in the tragedy.

We are witnessing a general rise in prices, coupled with growing difficulty for the country's inhabitants, particularly those living in large cities, to find housing. In the first quarter of 2022, house purchase prices rose by 25.1% compared to the same period last year.

A sad record: more than 18 million hectares of forest burned over the summer. Fires triggered by lightning or human activity reached proportions never seen before. More than 220,000 people were evacuated. The consequences extended as far as the United States, where the smoke caused severe air pollution.