20th Century
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1902
Colored Women’s Club of Montreal
The first noticeable sign of community identity was the founding, in 1902, of the Colored Women’s Club of Montreal (CWCM) in the Saint-Antoine district. The CWCM was also the first women's club founded in Canada. The CWCM concretely responded to urgent material needs such as housing, food, and clothing
1902
The term "Chinatown" appears for the first time in a newspaper
The Chinese community has been established in Montreal since the end of the 18th century. However, the term "Chinatown" appeared in La Presse as early as 1902, to designate the concentration of Cantonese establishments in the Ville-Marie borough of Montreal. It is possible to refer to a Chinese community near the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Back then, the Chinese who came to work on the railroads in British Columbia began to migrate east to escape persistent racism. However, they also faced racism in Montreal, from white Canadians, and were not seen as welcome. Negative stereotypes were amplified by the Canadian media. Many gathered in an enclave which would later become Chinatown, to facilitate mutual aid and protection against discrimination and persecution.
1907
Union United Church
The Union United Church of Montreal is the oldest black congregation in Canada. It was founded in 1907 by several members of Montreal's black community who had experienced racism and were denied access to white churches. The Union United Church was founded by a group of Caribbean bearers employed by the CP "because of the hostility of the faithful when they went to pray in white churches”.
1912
Chinese Benevolent Association
The Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) is a historic Chinese association established in different regions of North America with large Chinese communities. The association's clientele consisted of Chinese immigrants from the end of the 19th century and their descendants. The objective of the CBA was to serve and protect the interests of the Chinese in the greater Montreal area. Historically, it has played a quasi-governmental role in the Chinese community.
1919
Universal Negro Improvement Association
On June 9th, 1919, a division of the Universal Negro Improvement Association of Canada (UNIA) was founded in Saint-Antoine by Marcus Garvey, by members of the West Indian community and thanks to the initiative of the leaders of another black organization already established in Montreal. Their goal was to provide a positive place to express pride in the racial heritage, history, and culture of Blacks and to improve the living conditions of Afro-descendant people. They promoted autonomy and independence. Although the railway companies were the main employer, West Indian entrepreneurs attempted to create a strong black economic base in Saint-Antoine. A commemorative plaque now is located at 2741, rue Notre-Dame Ouest.
1919
Chinese hospital
In 1918, a serious influenza epidemic raged on, and the Chinese community was very vulnerable. The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception opened a place to take care of the community, but closed it in 1919, after the end of the epidemic. In 1919, the Chinese Benevolent Association bought an old synagogue at 112, rue De La Gauchetière. The CBA wanted to convert the building into a permanent Chinese hospital, with more space and resources. The administration of the institution was entrusted to the nuns of the Immaculate Conception.
1923
Chinese Immigration Act (Exclusion Act)
On July 1st, 1923, the Chinese Immigration Act was passed prohibiting the entry into Canada to all Chinese immigrants or British citizens of Chinese origin, except business people, diplomats, and students. This day is also known as the "Humiliation Day" for Chinese-Canadians. Between 1923 and 1947, only 12 Chinese were admitted to Canada. This law had a significant impact on the demographics of Chinese-Canadian communities since it prevented the entry of women to the country, and therefore the renewal of the community. In 1931, among the 46,519 Chinese, there were only 3,648 women. This amounted to forced family separation, and thousands of Chinese men toiled companionless and childless, not knowing when they would see their wives and children again.
1927
Negro Community Center
The Negro Community Center (NCC) was created to alleviate social and economic conditions and to promote the social advancement of blacks in Greater Montreal. The NCC began its work by renting premises in Saint-Antoine, in the borough known as Little Burgundy.
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1931
Rockheads Paradise
Rockhead's Paradise was a jazz club located in the Little Burgundy district of Montreal, at 1258 rue St-Antoine Ouest. It was founded in 1928 by entrepreneur Rufus Rockhead and was the first black nightclub in Montreal. The club has hosted big names in American jazz such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lead Belly, Nina Simone, Fats Waller, and many more.
1939
Fred Christie Case
Fred Christie and two friends went to the York Tavern, which was attached to the Montreal Forum, for a beer, in July of 1936. Since Christie was black, the staff declined to service them. Christie sued them, and this case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that the York Tavern was within its rights to deny service to people based on race.
1940
Café St-Michel
In the 1940s and 1950s, Le Café St-Michel was an important cabaret located on rue de la Montagne. This had a major impact on the history of jazz in Montreal.
1945
Victory over Japan Day
On September 2nd, 1945, the grand V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) parade took place on De La Gauchetière Street, in Chinatown in Montreal. Japan's official surrender had just ended an eight-year grueling war that began in 1937 with a brutal invasion of China. The end of the conflict was the herald of a new era for all Chinese.
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1960
Mary Two-Axe Earley
Mary Two-Axe Earley was a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) elder. She was a human rights activist and an advocate for women and children. She was a driving force behind the Canadian women's movement. Her political advocacy aided in the formation of a coalition of allies to challenge discriminatory legislation against Indigenous women in Canada.
1969
Voting rights for all indigenous people
Indigenous people and First Nations were given the right to vote at the Confederation (1867), but only if they gave up their treaty rights and Indian status. It was not until 1960, under the leadership of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, that the right to vote was extended unconditionally to all Indigenous people.However, in Quebec, the adoption of the Quebec Election Act of 1915 limited the right to vote of Aboriginal people. It was only on May 2nd, 1969, that Quebec finally granted the right to vote to Aboriginal people. It was the last province to do so.
Pictures on this page
From top to bottom
- Coloured Women’s Club, via Some Missing Pages: The Black Community in the History of Quebec and Canada, unit 6.
- For 75 years the Coloured Women’s Club has served the Community, 1977. Archives de la Ville de Montréal.
- Feature. Chinatown in Montreal, 29 février 1940, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, Fonds Conrad Poirier, (06M,P48,S1,P5157), Poirier, Conrad.
- Union United Church is a congregation with open hearts and hands in the heart of downtown Montreal, 3007 Delisle Street, Montréal, Quebec, Canada Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Année 1920. Deux religieuses posent devant la façade du nouveau local de l’hôpital chinois, au 112, rue de la Gauchetière.Archives des Sœurs Missionnaires de l’Immaculée-Conception. Via Mémoire des Montréalais
- Canadian Illustrated News. (1879, April 26). The Heathen Chinee in British Columbia [C].
- Feature. Negro Community Centre, Mars 1949, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, Fonds Conrad Poirier, (06M,P48,S1,P17799), Poirier, Conrad.
- Rockhead's Paradise Cafe Corner St. Antoine and Mountain, BAnQ Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie. CP 6538 CON.
- News. Chinese Dragon Dance, 9 juillet 1939, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, Fonds Conrad Poirier, (06M,P48,S1,P4107), Poirier, Conrad.
- A Montreal quintet at Club St. Michel,1940, Photographed by Jack Marlow,Concordia University Records Management and Archives, P0004-02-73
- Parade. Chinatown Celebrates, 2 septembre 1945, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, Fonds Conrad Poirier, (06M,P48,S1,P12333), Poirier, Conrad.
- Parade. Chinatown Celebrates, 2 septembre 1945, BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, Fonds Conrad Poirier, (06M,P48,S1,P12330), Poirier, Conrad.
- Mary Two-Axe Earley receiving the Governor General's Persons Case Award for contributing to equality for women and girls in Canada. Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, MIKAN 3606776
- The House decides in favor of the right to vote for Indians. Image from the article, Indigenous People: A History of Discriminatory Laws Against They, Government of Canada, Law and Government Division. 1987, Wendy Moss et Elaine Gardner-O'Toole.