375 years of Montreal history comes alive with "Cite Memoire"

On May 18, as the city of Montreal officially marked one year before its 375^th birthday, an ambitious project was officially launched at the Montreal Science Centre that will bring a new meaning to the expression “living history”.

“Cite Memoire”, which was developed by Michel Lemieux, Victor Pilon and Michel Marc Bouchard (pictured above), makes 375 years of Montreal history come to life through 19 separate larger-than-life tableaus that are projected alongside the walls, floors and alleys of different buildings and structures throughout the Old Montreal district. An additional four tableaux will be unveiled next year during the 375^th anniversary celebrations.

Through archival images, music, dialogue and historical recreations by a cast of local actors, the Cite Memoire tableaus briefly tell the story of Montreal’s 375 years that represent 30 different historical eras, from the industrialization of the city during the 1890s, to Jackie Robinson, to Expo 67, to Leonard Cohen, to the funeral of flamboyant tavern owner Joe Beef, to Botanical Gardens founder Fr. Marie-Victorin, to Rocket Richard. And as you wander along the designated Cite Memoire sites, which run every night from now through March 2017, you can follow the stories behind each tableau (along with the accompanying audio commentary that’s available in French, English, Spanish and Mandarin) on a free mobile app called Montreal en Histoires.

During a special guided tour/preview of four selected Cite Memoire tableaus last week, I was amazed at the grand scale of how these mini history lessons were done, with a terrific blend of actual photos and recreations, as well as the high quality production values (my favorites during this brief tour included the story of pioneering 1910s Montreal feminist Eva Circe-Cote and the unusual circumstances that brought about the appointment of Montreal’s first executioner in 1648). Cite Memoire will certainly add a new lustre to our city’s rich history not only for tourists this summer and during next year’s 375^th anniversary festivities, but also for Montrealers of all ages who want to have a new twist in learning about their hometown’s colourful past.

For more information about the Cite Memoire project, go to www.montrealenhistoires.com/citememoire.