Previous exhibition
November 25th, 2003 — April 25th, 2004
Dreams and Realities Along the Lachine Canal
An emotion-filled look at the daily lives of the men and women who lived and worked along the Lachine Canal between 1850 and 1950.
Visitors will learn about the central role played by the canal, eloquent evidence of Montréal's position as a major industrial hub at the turn of the 20th century. They'll get a glimpse into the lives of those who earned their living from and gave their lives to the factories, foundries, tanneries, mills and plants. The exhibition covers the wealth of social history along the canal and in the adjacent neighbourhoods.
Different periods and contrasts
It focuses on different periods and contrasts: from the infernal racket of industrial fans to calm, restful Sundays along the banks of the Canal; from the smoke and soot in the factories to friendlonversations on front porches.
From tragic epidemics to the comfort of faith; from the roar of machinery to the laughter of children playing in the alleys; from poverty to pride; and above all, from dreams... to reality.
The Saint-Henri of Yvon Deschamps, the working-class neighbourhoods in Gabrielle Roy's The Tin Flute and David Fennario's Balconville, the encouraging songs of La Bolduc and other quotations and artists’ pieces bring to life a difficult time, but one with much to tell.
Five zones
The exhibition is divided into five zones, looking at the history of the Lachine Canal, industries, hard labour, working-class neighbourhoods and the renewal of the Canal.
Visitors will be able to enjoy images projected on a series of basins recalling the canal, a soundtrack, plenty of photos, first-hand accounts by workers and local residents, excerpts from films and evocative objects from this crucial period in Montréal's industrial history.
A present-day panorama will show how the Canal and the nearby neighbourhoods have gained a new lease on life in recent years, in a striking contrast with the past.
The exhibition showcases about one hundred objects, some of them from the archaeological collection of the City of Montréal, from digs in the southwest part of the city.
Others have been provided by Parks Canada, the Société historique de Saint-Henri and other private collectors or institutions.
