Category Archives: History and Culture

Nothing succeeds like excess

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

The City of Montreal has announced plans to renovate the northernmost section of Dorchester Square at an estimated cost of $4.2 million. A $700,000 contract was awarded to noted local landscape architect Claude Cormier to prepare the design and tender … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Commentary, Cultural commentary, Economic commentary, History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Public consultation can’t replace vision

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

If it weren’t for the fact that it’s apparently a great excuse for a lot of infrastructure spending, would anyone really care about the 375th anniversary of the founding of Ville Marie, which will coincide with the 150th anniversary of … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Commentary, Cultural commentary, Economic commentary, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Photographs, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The odd saga of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art’s entrance

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

A few years ago I was at O’Hare with an hour and a half to kill between flights and after a quick bite and a coffee I was keen to go have a smoke. Unsure of where the exit was … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & the City, Cultural commentary, History and Culture, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Montréal public art, Montréal Stories, Perspectives on the City, Scenes from the City, Unrealized development projects, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged | Leave a comment

Iconic Montreal Architecture – Complexe Desjardins

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Taylor C. Noakes

A quick summation before my screed. Here’s why I think Complexe Desjardins is an exceptional example of Montreal architecture: 1. It’s balanced without being symmetrical. The four towers are of different heights, ascending clockwise like a giant staircase. The tallest … Continue reading →

Posted in History and Culture, Kondiaronk - My Montréal Experience, Montréal Architecture, Montréal Landmarks, Perspectives on the City, Photographs, Urban Redevelopment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The human cost of school segregation in Quebec

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

In my estimation and opinion, there’s no better demonstration of Bill 101’s flaws than the current local controversy concerning the project to settle Syrian refugees, and the Quebec government’s outright refusal to allow Anglophone school boards from participating. The situation … Continue reading →

Posted in A modest proposal, Canadian politics, Cultural commentary, History and Culture, Let's make this an election issue, Perspectives on the City, Political commentary, Social commentary | Leave a comment

Flushgate 1885 – or – Montreal’s first urban explorers

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Taylor C. Noakes

If you ever get the feeling news in Montreal goes in cycles and can be a bit repetitive, this one’s for you. Sudden and widespread public interest in wastewater treatment is not, apparently, a new phenomenon. It seems as though … Continue reading →

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