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McGill School of Architecture MSoA  — ARCH673 

Stories

The Architecture of Community Space
by  Étienne Genest, Anastasia Jaffray,  Tiffany Lau, Alexandre Néron & Steven Starkell 

The first portion of the research focuses on the stories of the former NCC and of Montreal’s Black Community in the area now known as Little Burgundy. The exploration of stories were considerated at multiple scales to become more immersed in the site. Jumping from larger historical events to intimate perspectives helps understand the neighborhood’s underlying themes and their spatial expression.

In the last 200 years, the Black population of Montreal have migrated West from Windsor station to Little Burgundy. Spatial borders such as the Lachine Canal, the Canada Pacific Railway, and more recently the Ville-Marie Expressway have defined the neighborhood and the area as landscape constants. The map was reoriented, with North pointing down (south), to foreground the site of Little Burgundy and the NCC as well as express the community’s westward migration in time.


The representational method used to express the stories combine historical maps and photographs, archived newspaper, original illustrations, social media posts, and most importantly personal accounts. These are combined in a spatially situated timeline subdivided into four key periods. Each era conveys different interconnected themes and evolves in time. The 1820s – 1920s era explores the roots of the community with the history of the railways. The 1920s – 1950s explore the blooming culture and arts. The 1950s – 1990s explore the golden years of the NCC and its downfall connected to the urban renewal project. The 1990s – 2023 explores the community engagement that continues to strongly shape Little Burgundy. Finally, the last part of the stories research focuses on the NCC’s history in the form of The Memory Palace which explores the ties of collective memory to space. 

1820s – 1920s

The early history of Montreal’s Black community is closely tied to the rhythms of the city’s railroads. While Black men found employment there, women took the lead in establishing organizations that uplifted the community. Together, they were at the forefront of social change throughout the early twentieth century, pushing for solidarity, self-supporting social organizing, unionization, and global pro-black movements.

In the 1850s, railroads beginning with the Grand Trunk and later the CPR established their stations in Montreal. The Pullman sleeper car was introduced in the following decade; the company employs exclusively Black men as porters. As Canadian railways adopted the carriage they also began mass-hiring Black men to fill these roles. Hundreds of families immigrated from the southern States, Nova Scotia, and the Caribbean in the 1870s. Though the men were often highly educated, widespread discrimination limited their employment to the railroads. The families settled in the strip of land between the two main railway lines, extending from the stations downtown to west of Atwater; and as Montreal’s first distinctly Black community grew, a network of organizations also blossomed.

A zoomed-in to the collage map examines life and work on the railroads. While the profession was guaranteed work and steady income, it was a brutally demanding job, with as little as three hours of sleep a night and frequent abuse from White passengers. Nevertheless, Black porters travelled the width of the continent, taking on the role as social leaders and establishing links with Black communities across Canada and the States. Throughout the 1910s they formed North America’s first large Black union, first Black congregation (Union United Church), and Canada’s branch of the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association). Dorothy Williams, the foremost historian of Montreal’s Black community, writes of the railroad porters’ “status, prestige, and an image of professionalism.”

The rhythms of the railroads dictated much of life; empty yards provided open space to play in Little Burgundy’s dense urban fabric, rich with small stores and factories. Often, kids would hitch a ride back from school on the trains. In fathers’ long absences, women took the lead in establishing community organizations. The first of these was the Coloured Women’s Club (1902), which supported mothers, provided food security, and sanitation aid. In 1907 the CWC helped found the Union United Church, Canada’s first Black congregation, and one of the community’s beating hearts. More organizations followed, including a branch of the UNIA in 1919. When its founder Marcus Garvey was deported from the States, the organization’s Montreal and Toronto branches provided key locations for the UNIA to promote its global, pan-African movement.

1920s – 1950s

From the beginning of the 1920s to the end of the 1950s, a unique arts and music culture begins to develop in Little Burgundy.

During this time, the community begins to form its identity through music and arts. The establishment of the local branch of the UNIA in 1919, marked the beginning for a greater push towards inclusivity and the desire for a safe space in a predominantly Whiteurban fabric.

In 1927, in the living room of Reverend Charles Este, eleven members of the Union United Church met to discuss the need and formation of the NCC.

As the community grew, the NCC grew with it. It wasn’t until 1930 that the NCC had a permanent “place” to house its services: the basement of the Union United Church. It would proceed to remain located here for another 25 years, until it took its final residence in the West End Methodist Church, merged with the Iverley Community Centre. The NCC offered ‘cradle-to-grave services’, there was something for everyone; it didn’t just provide necessary services, it also aimed to educate the children and allow them a space to foster creativity.

At the same time, the West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955) was enacted in Canada. Prior to this, entry of non-White immigrants was heavily restricted. Approximately 3,000 women from the Caribbean immigrated to Canada as domestic servants. Black women would eventually become the leading organizers within their communities and this also contributed to the growth of Caribbean culture in Montreal.

There exists an inherent connection between the establishment of the NCC and the thriving jazz scene in Little Burgundy. Jazz originated in Black communities, having roots in both blues and ragtime. As the Black community continued to grow in Little Burgundy, it’s of no surprise that this is where jazz thrived in the 20th century. With prohibition enacted and then repealed only a few months later in 1919, Montreal became known as ‘Sin City’ – particularly during the Great Depression where a desire for escapism from the harsh consequences of the economic crash swept the public.

Majority of the jazz clubs were located in Little Burgundy, and most were established between 1930-40, just a few years after the NCC was establishmented. All within walking distance of one another, they formed a tight web which if followed, traces the story of the jazz culture in Montreal beginning at the heart of Little Burgundy. These jazz clubs served for many years, most notably, Rockhead’s Paradise having shut down in 1977 (more than 40 years after it opened). It is evident that there is a multigenerational embrace of music and dance as a result. Kids learn from their parents who in turn, learn from their parents before them.

The NCC would continue this wave of creativity by providing music and dance lessons. Daisy Sweeney, the infamous piano teacher to many jazz pianists (Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones, etc.), taught piano and music theory at the NCC for as little as $0.25 a lesson. 

The 1940s and 50s marked a steady uphill climb for both the NCC and the jazz scene in Little Burgundy and eventually reaching a height of influence in the 1960s.

1960s – 1980s

The urban renewal project and the NCC’s golden era.

The 1960s through the 1980s represent a rich period of change for the NCC and for Little Burgundy neighborhood. The NCC arrived in 1955 at its location on Rue Coursol and this period of 20 years represents the golden era of the institution. The jazz scene was still prominent in Little Burgundy at the beginning of these years, even though the most flourishing years were before the end of the Second World War. During the 1960s, the neighborhood was in a generally poor state and basic needs were not met, leading to a letter from the priests of Montreal’s Sud-Ouest protesting the inhuman condition, prevailing as “cold flats” were still common use.

Under the mayor, Jean Drapeau, and through the construction of new highways, the metro, and urban renewal project, Montreal entered in an era of “modernization”. The work was intended to improve the city through the “renovation” of poor neighborhoods. Unfortunately, Little Burgundy became one of the targeted areas.

Against fierce citizen contestation that discredited the planning project that was developed without the input of the residents, the urban renewal project started in December 1966 by the expropriation of families living on the Ilôt Saint Martin.

In the aftermath of the urban-renewal project, the ‘crack crisis’ that peaked around 1990 ravaged the neighbourhood. Security and safety became an issue for the residents, as drug use and trafficking brought violent crimes onto the streets of Little Burgundy.

Since 1955, the NCC had been located at 2035 Coursol. At this time, the 90% Black membership of the NCC merged with the 100% White membership of the Iverley League. Between 1955 and 1958, the NCC received donations and funding that allowed them to improve the building for their needs as well as expanding the program to include citizenship education, adult programming, and local affairs issues. The programming became quite extensive and went beyond the wall of the NCC. Any demographic could find a fitting activity.

Many members of the Black community were greatly involved in the activities at the NCC. Sweeney Peterson was one of them: “[Sweeney] would get someone to loan them a piano, or she’d persuade a service club to donate a piano to the center and then she’d have it installed in their home. When times were tough, she’d even see that they had clothing to wear. She was a tremendous influence on people in the community, but it was always behind the scenes.”

Originating from the US, where it was codified in the Housing Act of 1954, urban-renewal projects had dramatic effects on the resident of Little Burgundy. The superposition of the map from 1949 with parts of the one from 1973 shed light on the changes that affected the urban fabric of the neighbourhood. 

People had to be moved during the demolition and construction, fracturing the community at its core. Relocating the displaced residents was often a difficult task in the context of housing shortages and the project took more than a decade to come to completion, depriving Black residents of a place to live in Little Burgundy and beyond.

1990s – 2023

The Connections that Bind the Community Together

The period from the 1990s to today is characterized by the closure of the NCC in 1989 and the stop of all its operations in 1993. Even with the NCC gone, community participation is still at the heart of Little Burgundy’s history. The neighbourhood’s resilience takes its roots in its collective fight against racism, discrimination, poverty, and the struggles over urban renewal.

At the beginning of the 1990s, community organisations banded together to tackle the crack crisis through social actions. The targeted actions by the community groups made a big impact and started changing the face of the neighbourhood towards a safer environment. Subsequent waves of gentrification with the revitalization of the Lachine Canal and surrounding metros also impacted the area. With its inherently strong community presence, the ‘tightly knit community’ remained.

“There is a mural on (Rue) Saint Martin that says: ‘a tight-knit community.’ That is exactly what the community was and still is. Everywhere was always packed, everyone was close, it was full of life. So much vitality in one single area.”

Over the years, there were attempts at reopening the NCC. When the west wall collapsed in 2014, followed by the demolition of the building, dreams of rehabilitating the NCC were shattered. Throughout the years, rallies to revive the NCC kept its memory alive. Hopes of reviving the NCC are back once again since the City of Montreal bought back the lot from developers.

The community spirit that was once celebrated at the NCC remains alive among Little Burgundy’s residents today. Most importantly, the community is celebrated in people’s connections to each other and is passed on throughout daily rituals of uplifting others. Testimonies of ‘giving back’ to the community show the intergenerational will of passing forward the soul of Little Burgundy to new residents and new generations. The area surrounding Oscar Peterson Park is an important place where we see people interacting with one another.

“We all know that the face of the neighbourhood has changed drastically but in general where I am, on Coursol Street, it has stayed the same. It has always been a community place, everyone interacts with each other.”

The connections between people are deep and strong. Testimonies highlight the importance of those relationships that are described as family bonds. The sense of belonging to the community contributes to its resilience. The family ties described by the community is multicultural and encompasses lifelong residents of the neighbourhood and new residents. Once you become part of the community, you remain a part of Little Burgundy, even if you move.

“At almost 40, I still have the same friends I had at five years old. We are a community from the beginning to end, we stick together.”