Lecture – Governing the Night: Power and Protest in Montréal

What if the night was the real theatre of power in Montréal?

Between 1950 and 1980, as Montréal transformed into a major modern metropolis and sought to raise its presence on the international stage, the nighttime became a fertile area of action for municipal authorities. This lecture, based on the book Montreal After Dark, examines how urban elites—led by Mayor Jean Drapeau—mobilized police, municipal ordinances, and the organization of major events to control the night and impose a new moral, economic, and urban order.

Through a discussion of nighttime strikes, regulations on opening hours, and surveillance systems, this lecture shows how the night has been controlled in the name of security, as well as how it has been used to transform the city. It also highlights areas of resistance that have emerged: union struggles, feminist mobilizations, alternative cultures, and fights for the right to the city.

An enlightening exploration of a little-known part of Montréal’s history.

Matthieu Caron

Matthieu Caron holds a PhD in history from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on nighttime politics, urban regulation, and the evolution of public spaces—notably how cities manage the night. His book, Montreal After Dark: Nighttime Regulation and the Pursuit of a Global City, highlights the impact of municipal policies on nightlife during the second half of the 20th century.

Recently, as part of a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec at Simon Fraser University, he turned his attention to the colonial development of Vancouver from the late 19th century to Expo 86, with a particular focus on the dynamics between municipal authorities, Indigenous peoples, the environment, and the law.

This lecture is presented by the Société historique de Montréal.