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in Places & People

What Montreal looked in the 1960s Through these Fascinating Vintage Photos

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The 1960s saw an emergence of a new political movement in Quebec. Jean Lesage’s Liberal government made reforms that helped francophone Quebecers gain more influence in politics and the economy. During Montreal’s rise to prominence as a center of French culture in North America, more francophones began to own businesses. Anglophones dominated the Montreal-dominated economy of Quebec. A police strike in 1969 led to 16 hours of unrest, known as the Murray Hill riot. The police were struck because of difficult working conditions caused by disarming separatist-planted bombs, patrolling frequent protests, and wanting higher pay. Quebec’s National Assembly passed an emergency law forcing the police to return to work. When order was restored, 108 people were arrested

The Montreal Metro was built during the 1960s, and the provincial government built most of today’s highway system. This period of rapid urbanization created a situation where Montreal’s infrastructure fell behind its demands, as it did with many other North American cities during this time.

Montreal also became an international hub during this decade. Expo 67, the construction of the metro system, and the rise of the city’s first skyscrapers shaped Montreal’s modern cityscape.

Here are some stunning vintage photos that will take you back to 1960s Montreal. We’ve lost some parts of our city, from the vintage Orange Julep to the electric rue St-Hubert. Montreal has changed and evolved over the years, but one thing has never changed: it is a city filled with life, laughter, and some of the most incredible people you will ever meet.

#1 And one more of the beautiful Saint Catherine Street, 1969

And one more of the beautiful Saint Catherine Street, 1969

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#2 Saint Hubert Street, 1963

Saint Hubert Street, 1963

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#3 View of Montreal downtown – Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde, Place Ville-Marie, Canadian National (CN), 1967

View of Montreal downtown – Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde, Place Ville-Marie, Canadian National (CN), 1967

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#4 Sir George Williams University, 1969

Sir George Williams University, 1969

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#5 Exhibition Grounds, Epxo 1967

Exhibition Grounds, Epxo 1967

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#6 Montreal during Expo 1967

Montreal during Expo 1967

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#7 Designing ceramics at Peel metro station, 1966

Designing ceramics at Peel metro station, 1966

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#8 Sainte Catherine Street at night, 1964

Sainte Catherine Street at night, 1964

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#9 Boulevard Dorchester and Place Ville-Marie, 1962

Boulevard Dorchester and Place Ville-Marie, 1962

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#10 Orange Julep, Decarie, 1964

Orange Julep, Decarie, 1964

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#11 De La Montagne Street, 1965

De La Montagne Street, 1965

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#12 Saint Catherine Street, 1964

Saint Catherine Street, 1964

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#13 Lac aux Castors, 1965

Lac aux Castors, 1965

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#14 Saint Hubert Restraurant near Dominion Square, 1965

Saint Hubert Restraurant near Dominion Square, 1965

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#15 Aerial view of the Place des Arts site, 1962

Aerial view of the Place des Arts site, 1962

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#16 Courthouse (construction), 1966

Courthouse (construction), 1966

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#17 Residential complex, Expo 1967

Residential complex, Expo 1967

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#18 Cheese stand in the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 1967

Cheese stand in the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 1967

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#19 Residential complex Habitat 1967

Residential complex Habitat 1967

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#20 Metro under construction, 1963

Metro under construction, 1963

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#21 Sainte Catherine, 1963

Sainte Catherine, 1963

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#22 Sainte Catherine Street at Saint Christophe, 1961

Sainte Catherine Street at Saint Christophe, 1961

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#23 Stanley Cup Parade, 1968

Stanley Cup Parade, 1968

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#24 Mount Royal views, 1963

Mount Royal views, 1963

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#25 James Brown concert at Place des Nations, 1969

James Brown concert at Place des Nations, 1969

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#26 The Montréal Expos, 1969

The Montréal Expos, 1969

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#27 Dominion Square Terrace, 1962

Dominion Square Terrace, 1962

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#28 Nativity scene at the Botanical Garden, 1963

Nativity scene at the Botanical Garden, 1963

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#29 Building the metro at Parc Viger, 1964

Building the metro at Parc Viger, 1964

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#30 Winter on Mount Royal, 1963

Winter on Mount Royal, 1963

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#31 Municipal golfing in Montréal, 1964

Municipal golfing in Montréal, 1964

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#32 La Ronde, 1967

La Ronde, 1967

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#33 Construction of Place Bonaventure, 1966

Construction of Place Bonaventure, 1966

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#34 Town hall seen from the old quarters, 1965

Town hall seen from the old quarters, 1965

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#35 Square Dominion, 1965

Square Dominion, 1965

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#36 Montreal university, 1965

Montreal university, 1965

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#37 Sun Life Building, Place Ville Marie, IBM Building and Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 1966

Sun Life Building, Place Ville Marie, IBM Building and Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 1966

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#38 Place d’Armes, 1966

Place d’Armes, 1966

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#39 Church of Our Lady (place d’Armes), 1968

Church of Our Lady (place d'Armes), 1968

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#40 Queen Elizabeth Hotel, with Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in the foreground, Montreal, 1960s

Queen Elizabeth Hotel, with Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in the foreground, Montreal, 1960s

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#41 Main shopping street, Montreal, 1960s

Main shopping street, Montreal, 1960s

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#42 Shopping street, Montreal, 1960s

Shopping street, Montreal, 1960s

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#43 High-rise buildings in the evening, Montreal, 1960s

High-rise buildings in the evening, Montreal, 1960s

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#44 The pavilion of the USSR at the exhibition in Montreal, in 1967.

The pavilion of the USSR at the exhibition in Montreal, in 1967.

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#45 The pavilion of the USSR at the exhibition in Montreal, 1967

The pavilion of the USSR at the exhibition in Montreal, 1967

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#46 Port of Montréal, 1966

Port of Montréal, 1966

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#47 Debut game at Jarry Park Stadium, 1969

Debut game at Jarry Park Stadium, 1969

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#48 Arrival in front of the town hall, 1960

Arrival in front of the town hall, 1960

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#49 Lac du Parc Lafontaine (sic) and luminous fountain, 1960

Lac du Parc Lafontaine (sic) and luminous fountain, 1960

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#50 Parc Lafontaine Theater (sic). 1960

Parc Lafontaine Theater (sic). 1960

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#51 Hotel Dieu Hospital, 1961

Hotel Dieu Hospital, 1961

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#52 Corner Saint-Paul and Place Jacques-Cartier, 1963

Corner Saint-Paul and Place Jacques-Cartier, 1963

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#53 Construction of the Crémazie metro station, 1963

Construction of the Crémazie metro station, 1963

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#54 Square Dominion, 1965

Square Dominion, 1965

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#55 View of Montreal, 1965

View of Montreal, 1965

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#56 View of Montreal, 1965

View of Montreal, 1965

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#57 Charron Hospital (Marguerite d’Youville), 1966

Charron Hospital (Marguerite d'Youville), 1966

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#58 Haute couture house Marie-Paule Nolin, at 420 rue Bonsecours, 1966

Haute couture house Marie-Paule Nolin, at 420 rue Bonsecours, 1966

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#59 Perspective rue Saint-Paul, looking east, 1966

Perspective rue Saint-Paul, looking east, 1966

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#60 Place du Canada and Chateau Champlain Hotel, 1966

Place du Canada and Chateau Champlain Hotel, 1966

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#61 Rue de la Montagne, from the corner of rue Sherbrooke, 1966

Rue de la Montagne, from the corner of rue Sherbrooke, 1966

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#62 Old courthouse, located on rue Notre-Dame east, 1966

Old courthouse, located on rue Notre-Dame east, 1966

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#63 View of Montreal from Mount Royal, 1966

View of Montreal from Mount Royal, 1966

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#64 View of Montreal, from the Jacques-Cartier bridge looking west, 1966

View of Montreal, from the Jacques-Cartier bridge looking west, 1966

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#65 Laurier metro station, 1967

Laurier metro station, 1967

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#66 Domaine shopping center, Sherbrooke Street East, 1968

Domaine shopping center, Sherbrooke Street East, 1968

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#67 Mont Saint-Antoine School, 1968

Mont Saint-Antoine School, 1968

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#68 Restaurant Sambo, 1968

Restaurant Sambo, 1968

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#69 Sun Life Building, 1969

Sun Life Building, 1969

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#70 Hotel Mount Royal, 1969

Hotel Mount Royal, 1969

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#71 University Street Restaurant, 1969

University Street Restaurant, 1969

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#72 Rue Drummond, 1969

Rue Drummond, 1969

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#73 Street Scene – Ste-Catherine Street West, 1969

Street Scene – Ste-Catherine Street West, 1969

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#74 University of Montreal seen from Saint Joseph’s Oratory, 1969

University of Montreal seen from Saint Joseph's Oratory, 1969

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#75 St. Louis Blues vs Montreal Canadiens, 1968 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

St. Louis Blues vs Montreal Canadiens, 1968 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

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#76 St. Louis Blues vs Montreal Canadiens, 1968 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

St. Louis Blues vs Montreal Canadiens, 1968 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

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#77 Cityscape and Saint Lawrence River, Montreal, 1960s

Cityscape and Saint Lawrence River, Montreal, 1960s

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#78 Cityscape, Montreal, 1960s

Cityscape, Montreal, 1960s

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#79 City theatre, Montreal, 1960s

City theatre, Montreal, 1960s

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#80 View from suburb to city center, Montreal, 1960s

View from suburb to city center, Montreal, 1960s

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#81 Saint Lawrence River, Montreal, 1960s

Saint Lawrence River, Montreal, 1960s

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#82 Residential road, Montreal, 1960s

Residential road, Montreal, 1960s

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#83 Peel-Street, Montreal, 1960s

Peel-Street, Montreal, 1960s

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#84 Jacques Cartier Bridge, Montreal, 1960s

Jacques Cartier Bridge, Montreal, 1960s

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#85 High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

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#86 High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

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#87 High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

High-rise buildings, Montreal, 1960s

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#88 Downtown, Montreal, 1960s

Downtown, Montreal, 1960s

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#89 City Theater, Montreal, 1960s

City Theater, Montreal, 1960s

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#90 View over Montreal during Expo 1967

View over Montreal during Expo 1967

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#91 Exibition site of the Expo 1967

Exibition site of the Expo 1967

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#92 Swiss pavilion and monorail at the Expo 1967

Swiss pavilion and monorail at the Expo 1967

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#93 View over Montreal during the Expo 1967

View over Montreal during the Expo 1967

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#94 View over Montreal during the Expo 1967

View over Montreal during the Expo 1967

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#95 British pavilion; Exibition site of the Expo 1967

British pavilion; Exibition site of the Expo 1967

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#96 The American pavilion at the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, Canada, in 1967.

The American pavilion at the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal, Canada, in 1967.

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#97 View from the Mount Royal lookout of the city of Montreal on the St Lawrence River in the province of Quebec in Canada 1965.

View from the Mount Royal lookout of the city of Montreal on the St Lawrence River in the province of Quebec in Canada 1965.

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#98 Pedestrians cross a snow covered Dominion Square (now Dorchester Square) in front of the Sun Life Building on the corner of Rene Levesque Boulevard West in the downtown centre of the city of Montreal, 1965

Pedestrians cross a snow covered Dominion Square (now Dorchester Square) in front of the Sun Life Building on the corner of Rene Levesque Boulevard West in the downtown centre of the city of Montreal, 1965

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#99 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#100 Montreal Skyline, 1962.

Montreal Skyline, 1962.

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#101 Montreal Skyline, 1962.

Montreal Skyline, 1962.

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#102 Passengers stand on the deck of a boat on the St Lawrence River beside the port district of the city of Montreal in the province of Quebec in Canada, 1960.

Passengers stand on the deck of a boat on the St Lawrence River beside the port district of the city of Montreal in the province of Quebec in Canada, 1960.

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#103 The old Boulevard Dorchester (before it was René-Lévesque) in 1964

The old Boulevard Dorchester (before it was René-Lévesque) in 1964

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#104 Saint Laurent metro station, 1966

Saint Laurent metro station, 1966

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#105 Centre sportif Maisonneuve, 1966

Centre sportif Maisonneuve, 1966

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#106 Residential houses at suburb, Montreal, 1960s

Residential houses at suburb, Montreal, 1960s

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#107 View of suburb to city center, Montreal, 1960s

View of suburb to city center, Montreal, 1960s

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#108 Montreal during the Expo 1967

Montreal during the Expo 1967

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#109 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#110 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#111 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#112 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#113 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#114 Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal, 1962.

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#115 Montreal Skyline, 1962.

Montreal Skyline, 1962.

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#116 Montreal Skyline, 1962.

Montreal Skyline, 1962.

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#117 Montreal Skyline, 1962.

Montreal Skyline, 1962.

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#118 A Canadair CL-44 swing-tail turboprop freight liner ready for loading, Montreal, Canada, May 1, 1961.

A Canadair CL-44 swing-tail turboprop freight liner ready for loading, Montreal, Canada, May 1, 1961.

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#119 The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

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#120 The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

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#121 The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

The first victim of the Quebec Separatist Movement was a Canadian Army bomb expert, who was critically injured while trying to dismantle a bomb in a Montreal mail box, 1960s

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#122 View on Montreal and the Saint Lawrence River, 1960

View on Montreal and the Saint Lawrence River, 1960

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#123 Montréal, 1966

Montréal, 1966

-1 Points

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#124 Place des Arts, 1963

Place des Arts, 1963

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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Rusty Nail says:

October 14, 2023 at 14:31 Copy Link of a Comment

Je préfère très largement ce que la ville est aujourd’hui, nostalgie à part.

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- Hula Hooper says:
  
  October 14, 2023 at 14:32 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  Moi aussi. La seule chose que je ramènerais à notre époque c’est la photo #6
  
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- Sir Baconator says:
  
  October 14, 2023 at 14:32 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  mets en, meme dans juste les 20 dernieres annees, la ville s’est embellie pis les quartiers centraux de la ville sont devenus plus vivable
  
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Queen Belches says:

August 3, 2023 at 18:30 Copy Link of a Comment

Clean and no cone.

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- Count Gassy says:
  
  August 3, 2023 at 18:31 Copy Link of a Comment
  
  We don’t miss the big posters of shops, on the other hand.
  
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Baron VonBooger says:

August 3, 2023 at 18:31 Copy Link of a Comment

Damn, what a time capsule that is. Thank you.

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Sir Baconator says:

August 3, 2023 at 18:31 Copy Link of a Comment

Domaine corner Langelier and Sherbrooke first time I see this one!

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Doctor Pickle says:

August 3, 2023 at 18:32 Copy Link of a Comment

This is cool stuff.

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Professor Noodle says:

August 3, 2023 at 18:32 Copy Link of a Comment

Back then, the Old Port was just the Port.

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