Saint-Henri is historically French-Canadian, Irish and black Canadian – all working class. It’s history goes back to the mid 1600’s. This bustling neighbourhood is a great walk, and you will witness the working class atmosphere colliding with today’s gentrification. Saint-Henri is bordered to the north by the Ville Marie Expressway (autoroute 720), to the south by the Lachine canal, to the east by Atwater Avenue and to the west by autoroute 15. This walk will take us to former industrial area’s, see some fabulous church’s, some beautiful parks and walk some interesting streets. We will also reflect on the respected French-Canadian writer Gabrielle Roy about her time in Saint-Henri in the 1940’s. Her 1945 novel Bonheur d’occasion (translated to: The Tin Flute) portrayed the people of Saint-Henri and their struggles and dreams. As well, we will visit the statue of the great Québécois super-strongman, Louis Cyr, who was also a policeman in Saint-Henri.
C & D from WalkMontreal did this walk on Saturday August 20, 2022 from 11:30AM to 1:15PM. This walk is not difficult and the terrain is mostly flat. The length of the walk is approximately 5KM (3 miles).
Note of caution: this walk will take you across two railway crossings (one at corner of St. Ambroise and St Augustine and one at Courcelle and Acorn). Respect the flashing lights, barriers and look both ways when crossing. Please follow along the below map for the route we took.
We started this walk at Metro Lionel-Groulx (on Atwater Avenue, just at Saint-Jacques Street).
Walking south from Metro Lionel-Groulx is the Union United Church, dating back to 1907, it has the oldest black Canadian congregation in Canada.
Union United Church
Corner of Atwater Avenue and Delisle Street.
Corner of Atwater Avenue and Delisle Street. Union United church on right and Saint Irenaeus Church on the left.
Saint Irenaeus Church, built in 1912.
Continue down Atwater to Notre-Dame Street West (below).
Walking west on Notre-Dame Street West.
Walking west on Notre-Dame Street West.
Corner of Greene Avenue and Notre-Dame Street.
Walk south on Greene and you will come to the Atwater Market.
Atwater Market – a beautiful Art Deco design built in 1932-1933.
The Atwater Market.
The Atwater Market.
The Atwater Market.
The Atwater Market.
Atwater Market – a beautiful Art Deco design built in 1932-1933. Start walking west on Saint-Ambroise Street.
Walk west on Saint-Ambroise Street and you will come to Parc des Corroyeurs.
Parc des Corroyeurs reflects on its history as Saint-Henri’s first factory was built here in 1859 – The Moseley Tannery.
This park borders the Lachine Canal.
This park borders the Lachine Canal.
The railway goes right thru the back of the park , with industrial buildings giving witness to Saint-Henri’s history.
The railway goes right thru the back of the park , with industrial buildings giving witness to Saint-Henri’s history.
Corner of Saint-Ambroise and Turgeon. Continue west on Saint-Ambroise.
Corner of Saint-Ambroise and Saint-Augustine streets.
Looking north up Saint-Augustine Street. Westmount can be seen in distance.
Looking north up Saint-Augustine Street. Westmount can be seen in distance.
The railway tracks on west side of Saint-Augustine Street.
Corner of Saint-Ambroise and Saint-Augustine streets.
The railway tracks on west side of Saint-Augustine Street.
The railway tracks on west side of Saint-Augustine Street.
Gabrielle Roy is seen sitting on the right, highlighting the railway tracks, the locomotives and the smoke and soot that permeated this area. Roy highlighted the dreams and struggles of the people of Saint-Henri in her 1945 novel Bonheur d’occasion (translated to: The Tin Flute). This photo was also taken in 1945 by Conrad Poirier – credit to BANQ ref: P48S1P11912 (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Railway tracks looking south.
Continue walking west on Saint-Ambroise, over the railway crossing.
The same railway crossing in 1945 taken by Conrad Poirier. Credit BANQ ref: P48S1P11921 (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Walking west on Saint-Ambroise.
Walking west on Saint-Ambroise.
Turn right on Louis-Cyr Street.
Corner of Louis-Cyr and Saint-Ferdinand streets.
Walk north on Saint-Ferdinand Street and at corner of Sainte-Émilie Street is Parc Louis-Cyr.
Parc Louis-Cyr.
Walk west on Sainte-Émilie Street.
Walking west on Sainte-Émilie Street.
When you come to Beaudoin Street, walk north on Beaudoin Street (Westmount can be seen in the distance).
Looking south on Beaudoin Street.
Beaudoin Street taken in 1945 by Conrad Poirier – Credit BANQ ref: P48S1P11908 (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Sketch of Beaudoin Street by John Collins published in The Gazette – April 26, 1947.
Looking south on Beaudoin Street.
When you get to Notre-Dame Street, walk west and walk south down the first alley behind Beaudoin Street.
Walking south in alley behind Beaudoin Street.
Walking south in alley behind Beaudoin Street.
When you reach Sainte-Émilie Street, walk over to corner of Square-Sir George-Étienne Cartier Street.
There is a nice outdoor swimming pool in the square.
Square-Sir George-Étienne Cartier was built in 1912. In the middle is a beautiful fountain, however, it is currently undergoing some repairs.
Square-Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
Square-Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
Saint-Zotique Church on Notre-Dame Street West, built 1926-1927.
Saint-Zotique Church on Notre-Dame Street West, built 1926-1927.
Saint-Zotique Church on Notre-Dame Street West, built 1926-1927.
Walking west on Notre-Dame Street.
Corner of Notre-Dame Street West and Delinelle Street.
Continue on Notre-Dame until you get to the corner of De Courcelle Street.
Corner of Notre-Dame and De Courcelle streets.
Walk north on De Courcelle Street.
Railway crossing at De Courcelle and Acorn streets.
Looking back at Saint-Zotique Church.
Railway tracks looking west.
Railway tracks looking east.
Walking north on De Courcelle Street.
As you approach Saint-Jacques Street, you will come to Square Sainte-Elisabeth.
Across the street, where Saint-Jacques, Saint-Antoine and De Courcelle streets meet, there is Parc des Hommes-Forts.
The “Monument à Louis Cyr” created in 1970 by the artist Robert Pelletier, assisted by Petrucci and Carli. Made of bronze and granite, it was inaugurated on June 13th, 1973. It is located in Parc des Hommes-Forts.
The bronze statue of Louis Cyr in the studio of its creator, Robert Pelletier (left,in white coat) taken in 1969 by Armand Landry. Credit BANQ ref: P97,S1,D858-871 (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Louis Cyr (circa 1885-1899) courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.
Walk east on Saint-Antoine West. On the left is the old RCA Victor plant, built in 1908. Originally, it was the Emile Berliner Gramophone company.
RCA Victor plant, built in 1908. Originally, it was the Emile Berliner Gramophone company.
Walking east on Saint-Antoine Street.
Corner of Saint-Antoine and Sainte-Marguerite streets.
Looking down Sainte-Marguerite Street.
Corner of Saint-Antoine and Saint-Philippe streets.
Parc des Couturières at south-west corner of Saint-Antoine and Saint-Ferdinand streets (tiny, but, nice place to sit and relax).
Parc Polyvalente Saint-Henri at south-east corner of Saint-Antoine and Saint-Ferdinand streets (another micro park, but, needs some fixing up).
Corner of Saint-Antoine and Du Collège streets.
Corner of Sainte-Antoine and Agnes streets.
Parc Saint-Henri (also known as Square Saint-Henri) was created in 1893. A beautiful monument to Jacques Cartier, also serves as a fountain, is in the park.
Parc Saint-Henri.
Parc Saint-Henri.
Parc Saint-Henri.
Monument to Jacques Cartier, also serves as a fountain, is in the park.
Monument to Jacques Cartier, also serves as a fountain, is in the park.
Laporte Street, along east side of Parc Saint-Henri.
Place Guay, on south side of Parc Saint-Henri.
Laporte Street, along east side of Parc Saint-Henri.
Laporte Street, along east side of Parc Saint-Henri.
Corner of Place Guay and Agnes Street.
We now will head back to Saint-Antoine Street, walk one block west to Du Couvent Street.
Walking south on Du Couvent Street.
Walking south on Du Couvent Street.
Walking south on Du Couvent Street.
Walking south on Du Couvent Street.
Walking south on Du Couvent Street.
When you come to Saint-Jacques Street, walk one block west to Place Saint-Henri. It is undergoing some construction, so we can’t see too much at the moment.
Aerial view of Place Saint-Henri taken in June 1975. Credit to Archives de Montréal ref: VM94-B176-174.
The beautiful Art Deco fire station at Place Saint-Henri, built in 1930.
The beautiful Art Deco fire station at Place Saint-Henri, built in 1930.
Walk back east on Saint-Jacques Street.
Walking east on Saint-Jacques Street.
Saint-Jacques Street, with the fire station in the distance.
Saint-Jacques Street, with the fire station in the distance.
Saint-Jacques Street, with the fire station in the distance.
Walking east on Saint-Jacques Street.
Walking east on Saint-Jacques Street.
Corner of Saint-Jacques and Rose-de-Lima streets.
Walk south on Rose-de-Lima Street.
Walking south on Rose-de-Lima Street.
As you approach Notre-Dame Street, you will arrive at Place Bonheur-d’Occasion, a tribute to the celebrated writer Gabrielle Roy.
Place Bonheur-d’Occasion, a tribute to the celebrated writer Gabrielle Roy.
Photo of a younger Gabrielle Roy (taken in 1929) before she left Manitoba for Montreal. Credit BANQ ref: P833S1D1484 Fonds La Presse(Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Corner of Rose-de-Lima and Notre-Dame streets.
Corner of Rose-de-Lima and Notre-Dame streets.
This concludes our Saint-Henri walk and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. We will leave you with this video of the fountain in Parc Saint-Henri.
I am looking for information about rue Magdalen. It could have been in Little Burgundy or St-Henri. Does anyone have any links or memories about that street? I suspect it housed a lot of people who worked at the Grand Trunk Railway.
Barbara; would it be Rue Ste Madeleine? This is in Point-St-Charles, not far from St. Henri.