‘Chinatown • Quartier chinois’, Montreal, Qc.
A historic neighbourhood of Chinese migration located in the area of De la Gauchetière St. W. in Montreal.
The area is fond in a strategic location, between ‘Quartier des Spectacles’:, (‘Place des Arts’ and ‘Complexe des Jardins’ are located) and the ‘Old Port of Montreal’. Thus, resulting in a vibrant community of culture & commerce.
It is the home of East Asian community centres, such as the Montreal Chinese Hospital and the Montreal Chinese Community and Cultural Centre. It is located in the Borough of Ville Marie, in Montreal central district.
Location of Chinatown: Montreal
Coordinates: 45.50759°N 73.5608° W
Established Early 1890s
The area was once home to Montreal’s Jewish community, with thousands of Yiddish speaking immigrants settling in the area from 1890 to 1920, as part of a Jewish quarter centred on Saint Laurent Boulevard
The first Chinese immigrants to Montreal arrived in March 1877. Montreal’s Chinatown emerged in the 1890s and belonged to the Chan, Hom (Tam), Lee, and Wong clan groups. Many ‘Taishan Chinese’ settled in the area because they worked for the railways.
Among the first Chinese residents was Jos Song Long who opened a laundromat on Craig Street (today Saint Antoine Street). Most Chinese residents primarily spoke Toisanese, a sister language of Cantonese, and had moved from British Columbia and southern China to what had been a primarily residential area. Initially, many Chinese Montrealer’s ran laundromats, as owning their own businesses allowed them to avoid the pay discrimination that they had faced in British Columbia. Businesses such as laundromats required geographic proximity to its customers, and as a result, this type of business became quite common in Montreal, with Chinatown being largely commercially oriented.
In 1902, the area officially became known as “Chinatown”, referring to several blocks centered on De La Gauchetière Street between Chenneville and Clark Streets, Where many Chinese-owned businesses opened, notably restaurants and specialty grocers.
Over the years, Hong Kongers and ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam also set up shops and restaurants in the area.
Development
From the 1970s onwards Montreal’s Chinatown was subject to many of the cities’ redevelopment plans, reducing the size of Chinatown and its expansion.
This saw to the expropriation and demolition of over 6 acres of private properties in the construction of the Complexe Guy-Favreau and a city block of Chinatown for the construction of Palais des congrès de Montréal. Re-zoning of areas east of Saint Laurent from Chinatown in the 1980s further prevented the growth expansion of Chinatown businesses.
Heritage Designation :
In 2022, it was announced that Chinatown would be granted heritage status by the province to shield the neighbourhood from further negative effects brought on by development.
Montreal Chinatown, occupies roughly a city ‘square block’, located on La Gauchetière Street, between René Lévesque Boulevard and Viger Avenue (Place-d’Armes Montreal metro station). In the Spring, the entrance to the Congess Centre, is animated with blooming Chinese Blossom Trees.
La Gauchetière St., crossing through Chinatown is a pedestrian walkway, making it one of the most vibrant tourist locations in Montreal. Prior to 1970, a significant part of Chinatown extended west to Jeannes-Mance Street.
Planning :
Following Traditional planning methods, such as Fen+Shei, Montreal has the most Gates ( paifang ) of any Chinatown in Canada.
The four (4 ) gates are located :
North: 45.508695°N 73.561272°W
South: 45.507597°N 73.558842°W
East: 45.508441°N 73.559692°W
West: 45.505324°N 73.561908°W
Aside from its economic importance in the sector, Montreal’s Chinatown actively participate in numerous community activities. The offices of many Chinese newspapers, organizations and associations are located in the surrounding buildings.
Chinatown houses the largest Chinese school of Montreal, as well as the Montreal Chinese Catholic Mission. Over the years, the Canadian government invested in the area by funding the construction of the Montreal Chinese Hospital and the Montreal Chinese Cultural and Community Centre. The new CHUM hospital is partly located in Chinatown and the Quartier Latin.
Place Sun-Yat-Sen, Park, Chinatown Montreal / Landmark.
Located in Ville-Marie district in Montreal, is a Historic Square in Montreal Chinatown, offering Cultural animation during the Tourist Season. It offers a traditional market place, which promote traditional items, including calligraphy.
Place Sun-Yat-Sen, Park |1055, rue Clark, Montreal, Qc.
45° 30′ 28.37″ N, 73° 33′ 37.4″ W
45.50788, -73.56039
Calendar of Activities:
•Tuesday / Mardi | 22 juillet 2025 à 14 h 00
•Wednesday / Mercredi 23 juillet 2025 à 14 h 00
• Danse en ligne /Line Dancing
Mercredi 23 juillet 2025 à 18 h 00
• Animations ludiques – jeux libres
Thursday / Jeudi 24 juillet 2025 à 14 h 00
• Animations ludiques et atelier de peinture
traditionnelle chinoise
Friday / Vendredi 25 juillet 2025 à 12 h 30
Historic Classification :
In January 2022, it was announced that the Chinese Historic Center would receive ‘Historic Status’, from the Minister of Culture and Communications, Quebec, and has been added in the ‘ Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec’, within the context to classify the two most significant places
• ‘CHURCH St. Esprit’ ‘Mission Catholique Chinoise du Saint-Esprit, ( Mfg. cigares S. Davis and Sons)
• L’édifice l’École Britannique Canadienne de Montréal’.
• An ‘Stone Arch’, located in the western entrance of Chinatown, received classification.
• The classification received official recognition in July 2023, the only preserved Chinatown in Quebec and Eastern Canada.
References :
•Site patrimonial du Noyau-du-Quartier-Chinois – Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec
https://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/rpcq/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=234055&type=bien
•Ministère de la Culture et des Communications Quebec.
https://www.quebec.ca/gouvernement/ministeres-organismes/culture-communications
• Ville de Montréal : Place Sun Yat Sen
https://montreal.ca/lieux/place-sun-yat-sen
• GeoHack.Tool
https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Sun_Yat-sen_Park_(Montreal)¶ms=45.50788_N_73.56039_W_type:landmark
• Montreal.org / Tourist Information
https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/discover-neighbourhood-montreal-chinatown
• Wikipedia :: / Chinatown, Montreal.