Saint Laurent Boulevard facts for kids
| French: boulevard Saint-Laurent | |
Saint Laurent Boulevard at sunset on summer solstice.
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| Former name(s) | Chemin Saint-Lambert |
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| Length | 11 km (7 mi) |
| Location | Montreal |
| South end | De la Commune Street |
| North end | Sommerville street |
| Construction | |
| Inauguration | 1720 |
Saint Laurent Boulevard, also known as Saint Lawrence Boulevard, is a very important street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. People often call it The Main (or French: La Main). It's a busy street with many shops and cultural spots. The street runs from south to north through the middle of the city.
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The Main: Montreal's Big Street
The Main starts at De la Commune Street near the Saint Lawrence River. It goes all the way across the Island of Montreal to Rue Somerville, near the Rivière des Prairies. That's about 11.25 kilometers (7 miles) long! It passes through many parts of Montreal, like Ville-Marie and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Long ago, in the late 1600s, a group called the Sulpicians planned this street. They wanted to create a clear way to divide the land. They first built a small street called Saint-Lambert. Later, in the early 1700s, this small street was made longer to become a "King's Way" and was named Chemin Saint-Laurent.
In 1905, Chemin Saint-Laurent officially became a boulevard. It's known as "The Main" because it divides Montreal into east and west. When you look at street numbers in Montreal, they start at Saint Laurent Boulevard and go outwards. Streets to the west have "Ouest" (West) after their name, and streets to the east have "Est" (East).
For a long time, this boulevard has been a dividing line for different groups of people in Montreal. English-speaking people often lived to the west, and French-speaking people lived to the east. Many immigrant communities settled along The Main and nearby Park Avenue. For over 100 years, it was often the first stop for new immigrants. First, there were Jewish, Chinese, and Italian communities. Later, people from Portugal, Greece, Arab countries, and Haiti also made their homes there.
A Special Historic Place
In 2002, the Canadian government recognized Saint Laurent Boulevard as a very important place. It was named The Main National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a place with special historical importance to the country.
The Historic Jewish Quarter
Many Jewish immigrants came to Montreal in the early to mid-1900s. They created a lively community on The Main. At first, they settled in the lower part of The Main, which is now part of Montreal's Chinatown. By 1871, over 400 Jewish people lived near Saint Lawrence and Dorchester Street. The first Jewish school, the Talmud Torah, was also in this area.
As the community grew, some families moved further north on The Main, towards Sherbrooke Street and Prince Arthur Streets. The main areas of the Jewish quarter included Saint Laurent Boulevard, Clark Street, Saint Urbain Street, Esplanade Street, and Park Avenue. By the 1930s, there were many synagogues in the area. Famous food places like Schwartz's and Moishes Steakhouse are still there today, showing the history of this community.
Yiddish was a common language in the Jewish district on Saint Laurent Boulevard. Many Jewish immigrants worked in clothing factories, which was a big industry on the street. Montreal became a major center for Yiddish language and culture, even having theatre shows in Yiddish. After World War II, Montreal became home to many Holocaust survivors, most of whom spoke Yiddish.
Culture on The Main
By 1930, about 60,000 Yiddish speakers lived on or near The Main. The area was home to the second-largest Yiddish theatre in North America from 1896 to the 1940s. Shows were held at different venues along The Main, including the Monument-National, which is now a National Historic Site.
The Main was also important for Jewish newspapers. In 1907, a young Polish Jewish immigrant named Hirsch Wolofsky started a Yiddish newspaper called Keneder Adler (meaning Canadian Eagle). The newspaper was very successful and published for over 80 years. Today, there's a small park named after Wolofsky on Rue Coloniale.
Politics and Community
The Jewish quarter on The Main was known for its left-wing ideas. Fred Rose was a Member of Parliament for this area until 1947. He faced serious accusations and was removed from Parliament. The Main is the only part of Canada that has ever been represented in Parliament by an openly Communist Member of Parliament.
Another important person was Joseph Schubert, a city councillor. He was a socialist and worked hard for workers' rights for 15 years. In 1931, he built a public bathhouse at the corner of Bagg and St. Lawrence, which is still there today and is called the Schubert Bath.
Changes Over Time
By the 1950s, many Jewish families moved to other parts of the city. Most synagogues were either taken down or used for other purposes. The Bagg Street Shul is the only synagogue still remaining. Famous Jewish-owned businesses on the street included Ida Steinberg's grocery store, which grew into Steinberg's, a large supermarket chain. Another supermarket, Warshaw's, had a famous sign that is now on display at Concordia University. By 2003, only a few Jewish-owned businesses remained on The Main between Sherbrooke Street and Mount Royal Avenue.
Neighbourhoods Along The Main
Today, Saint Laurent Boulevard goes through many different neighbourhoods:
- Old Montreal: This is the oldest part of the city, near the Saint Lawrence River.
- Montreal's Chinatown: This area is known for its Chinese culture and food.
- The Main bar district: This part is famous for its many bars and nightlife.
- Montreal's Little Portugal: This area has a strong Portuguese community.
- Mile End: A trendy neighbourhood known for its artists and cafes.
- Little Italy: This area celebrates Italian culture and food.
- Quartier de la Mode: This used to be the main area for clothing manufacturing in Canada.
Famous People from The Main
Many famous Canadian artists and writers were influenced by The Main. Novelists like Mordecai Richler and Michel Tremblay, and poets like Irving Layton and Leonard Cohen, all have connections to this area. The Scotiabank Giller Prize, a top award for Canadian fiction, is named after journalist Doris Giller, who grew up here.
Businesses and Fun Things to Do
The Main is home to many art galleries and cultural groups. These include La Centrale gallerie Powerhouse and the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. You can also find many popular music venues here, like Casa del Popolo and Club Soda.
If you're hungry, you can visit Schwartz's deli or the Main Deli Steak House for delicious Montreal-style smoked meat. The Montreal Pool Room has been serving Montreal hot dogs since 1912!
The very first movies in North America were shown at the Robillard Block on June 27, 1896. This made it the first cinema in both Canada and the United States. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire in 2016.
Every June, Saint-Laurent Boulevard hosts the MURAL Festival. This is an international event where artists create amazing public art. The street is closed to cars, and thousands of visitors come to see the murals.
Since 2003, Montreal bike couriers have an unofficial race called Beat the Main. Cyclists race the entire 11.5 km (7 mile) length of the boulevard, often ignoring traffic rules.
The Société de développement du boulevard Saint-Laurent (SDBSL) is a group that helps promote businesses and culture on The Main.
Changes and Building Work
The corner of Saint Lawrence and Saint Catherine streets is now part of Montreal's new Quartier des Spectacles, a special area for shows and events. In 2007 and 2008, a section of the street had a lot of construction work. This caused some businesses to close for a while.
