In 2008 & 2009, many companies put their incentive travel programmes on hold due to “optics” or a decline in corporate performance. Some companies are not ready to re-instate their foreign incentive travel programmes. Instead, they are on the lookout for memorable and unique experiences closer to home to reward their team and build customer loyalty.
Inspired by the day I spent with BMW Canada at their Toronto Advanced Driver Training Programme and my recent visit to Montreal during the Formula 1 (F1) Montreal Grand Prix in June, I decided to showcase luxury driving experiences around the world. Luxury driving incentives offer great possibilities as an alternative to foreign incentive travel.
Remember, if you do want to offer any of these incentives for your team, it’s important to make your plans early as all of these experiences sell out quickly.
This blog entry is light on text and heavy on incredible, fast action videos. Pick a location close to you:
This experience was great fun and a sure-fire strategy for improving the driving skills of your sales teams and the other members of your team who are on the road.
It’s a combination of classroom instruction and exercises in a BMW training vehicle on their closed track.
When? July
Full Day: 20 People
Half Day: Two Groups of 16
This is the video of the oversteering exercise that I shot during the day I spent with BMW Canada. I learned a lot . The instructors were very supportive but I must admit that I was too much of a “fraidy cat” to make may car spinout when it was my turn to try it. Oh well, next time.
Every October, adrenaline junkies get to experience the thrill of racing like stunt drivers down one of Malaysia’s tallest hills. Take a peek at what happens.
Sepang International Circuit
BMW Advanced Driver Training
Kuala Lumpur
Formula 1 (F1) – Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
When? April
Other Destinations
BMW Advanced Driver Training
Also Available in Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, South Carolina
When You’re Ready to Go
Whether you decide to stay home in 2010 and 2011 or you’re ready to venture further afield, we’ll take you there. Executive Oasis International would be pleased to arrange:
a day excursion to a local adventure with time for your business meeting
a full package bundling a luxury driving experience with transfers, hotel, transportation to and from the track, meeting facilities, business facilitation, tours, excursions, gala awards dinner
Contact Executive Oasis International for more information about any of these luxury driving exeriences for corporate events and incentives:
From time to time, we’ll invite a guest blogger to shift from our usual focus on destination profiles, strategic issues and industry trends to put the spotlight on the nuts and bolts of planning a sales incentive trip or corporate event. We are pleased to welcome our first guest blogger.
Shedding Light on the True Value of a Site Inspection
by Guest Blogger Jill Ireland
I occasionally meet with a client who wants to plan a meeting or event, but balks at the notion of having me perform a site inspection. The rationalization goes like this: “There’s no need for you to fly out to City X to do site inspections, is there? After all, we more or less know where the meeting should take place. A known chain or major hotel in the middle of the city – there are only four or five possibilities, so just pick the best one. No need to spend the time or money for you to go there in person.”Poor client – they don’t understand that there is probably no better way to spend time and money than to do a proper site inspection.
Of course, I have visited and stayed at most of the major hotels in downtown City X. Of course, I can go online and see all of the pretty pictures of the hotel exterior, the lobby, sleeping rooms, meeting space and perfect spa. I can even look at current room rates, catering options, meeting room capacities and driving distances from the airport. But experience has proven that there is no substitute for the real, live, in-person site inspection, since I will only be able to answer about 10% of the questions relative to the venue in relationship to the event without going onsite and “seeing” the property.
Naturally, I do my homework to develop a short list of potential properties, making sure they meet the initial criteria for meeting space, equipment, accommodations and the like. I can also find out, through phone calls and email, whether the desired dates are available, if the property can accommodate the number of rooms I need, cost estimates for initial budgets, whether the property is planning any renovations during the desired time period, and what other groups might be in-house at the time. But only a site inspection can answer the deeper questions that relate to the ultimate success of the event:
the staff
the sleeping rooms
the meeting rooms
and overall atmosphere and ambiance of the venue
Let’s face it – many properties look good on paper or online, but an in-person visit tells the real story. Even if you have stayed at a property in the past, things might have changed. Most importantly, the client often has specific requirements that must be factored in, such as a requirement for ocean-view rooms or minimal distance between sleeping rooms and meeting rooms.
When I conduct site inspections I follow a detailed methodology that includes several aspects of the property, to give me a strong feeling for the best location.
First Impressions
I observe the outside of the venue and even its surrounding neighborhood to see what type of first impression it will make. I then check the registration area and proximity to the front door, the lobby and its décor, restaurants and coffee stations as well as cleanliness and condition.
I keep an eye out for security and even look at the other guests to see “who” the property attracts.
I try to observe the staff in all areas of the venue to see how they interact with guests. I expect to see employees interacting with guests warmly, letting the guests know they are welcome.
Staff
I’ve talked with the Sales Manager many times prior to my arrival for a site inspection. But once on site, it’s important to see how your relationship with that person develops (or under-develops in some cases). How they handle your project is incredibly important – the amount of time they spend with you, the spaces they show you, how they answer your questions (one of my favorites is “show me your worst sleeping room”). And, who else they introduce you to throughout.
Will you meet the chef (especially if they know your client has specific requirements about the meals, such as sustainability, organic, or other preferences); or the Director of Catering or your Conference Services Manager if they get the business?
Will the Director of Sales or even the General Manager make an appearance?
Believe it or not, all of this is very important and is a good indicator of how important your piece of business is to a property, and how you and your guests will be treated once that contract is signed and you’re on property.
Sleeping Rooms
First I look at the layout and size of the room – is there an adequate desk/work area (and enough easy access plugs for all of our electronics); can you move around with ease, is there an additional sitting area, closet space and access to the bath area?
At the same time I’m looking at the overall condition of the room, especially all of the soft goods including bedspread/duvet, carpet, window coverings and even the bath towels to see if they are old, stained or frayed.
A look at the bathroom lets me know if there are any loose tiles or water damage, or enough counter space to lay out your personal toiletries. Even the color palette of the room is important – is it tasteful, light and an enjoyable space to be in? I inspect the lighting to make sure it is functioning and adequate. And how about those air conditioning and heating vents – are they clean?
Attendees of business meetings always need high speed internet. I make sure to ask when it was last updated.
how fast it is, what the daily or multi-day cost is, and of course, can that cost be negotiated for a group?
What are the hours for room service and restaurants?
Is there a fitness center and is there a use fee?
What are the hours?
How close are the sleeping rooms to the meeting space?
Meeting & Function Space
My visual inspection of the meeting space includes much of what I’ve been looking at on the property as a whole – the general condition of the space including hard and soft goods; does it meet all of the requirements of my client such as natural light, size (both for increasing and even decreasing if necessary); ceiling height; can it accommodate AV requirements (front or rear screen projection, multiple screens or will a simple 8’ screen and LCD projector get “lost” in the room?); what’s around it (other meeting rooms, the catering kitchen, the pool area, a garden or a parking lot?); where are other meeting rooms located if I need more space or a separate room for meals; is there enough room in the pre-function space or foyer outside of the room for registration and will that space be shared with other groups or private?
I make sure to check the lighting, heating and air conditioning, soundproofing, proximity to restrooms and outdoor space. I check to see if there are any pillars or other obstructions that would limit visibility, and even check the room shape since they aren’t all square or rectangular.
I ask to see a layout of the room with a seating arrangement for the same number of people I am expecting; how the AV equipment will be set up and other in-room requirements such as table top displays or food stations. Is the AV company in-house, a vendor to the property or are they staff?
Other questions we discuss as we’re walking the space:
What is the room rental charge?
What is the setup charge?
Is there a Food & Beverage minimum to get certain charges waived?
What are cost estimates for meals and breaks?
Are there any non-standard issues that I need to be aware of (did you know that in certain cities union contracts dictate how something simple like a coffee break can be charged?)
What are the service charges and taxes?
What is the cutoff date for guarantees?
Next I check the menus, scoring them for selection, price, presentation, creativity and willingness to be flexible to meet specific client requirements.I make sure that I have seen ALL of the meeting space that could accommodate my event/meeting (even if it “might” not be available on my preferred dates).
And, most importantly, has the space I’m looking at, seen and like been put “on-hold” for my group or are other sales managers still trying to “sell” it even while I’m standing there? Don’t assume that it’s all being held for you unless you specifically ask for it!
Transportation
If guests are local, I check to see if there is adequate parking available, and the cost. In some of the larger cities, valet parking can cost as much as $50 per night at the property, but there might be a public lot next door or self-parking for less than half of that. If there are other events planned for the same time, is there enough parking for everyone?
It’s very frustrating when your guests arrive at a meeting only to be greeted with a sign at the parking lot that says “Parking Full-Overnight Guests Only”.
If guests will travel from afar, does the hotel offer shuttle service to/from the airport?
If not, can private shuttle service, taxis or a car service be pre-arranged?
What are the costs likely to be?
And what is the transfer time from the airport to the venue?
Wrap-up and Scoring
Expenses are important, and it is crucial to ensure that the client’s budget will not be exceeded. But that’s only part of the equation. In order to ensure an optimal event and a very satisfied client, I need to balance the total estimated expenses against the suitability of location, accessibility, comfort, cleanliness, ambiance and overall feel of the venue.
By seeing the property, meeting the staff, asking the right questions, requesting documented proof of past performance, and most of all carefully observing during a site inspection, I can make the best recommendation for my client, their event and their guests. This is why an in-person site inspection, by someone who knows what to look for and what questions to ask, is one of the most crucial, and financially responsible, elements of the entire planning process.
In April 2009, when the AIG effect was in full force ( http://bit.ly/aigeffect2 ), Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart stood up to a CNBC reporter’s scathing criticism and ridicule of his decision to proceed with the company’s annual retreat in the midst of a recession:
Please note, all videos have short commercials before the interviews:
Here, G.J. Hart discussed his decision, defended the bottom line value of incentives & retreats and stressed the importance of building opportunities for giving back to the community into the itinerary:
G.J Hart’s stand earned him a lot of press coverage and, eventually, media respect and positive coverage. An ad campaign giving the same extent of exposure and coverage would have cost a small fortune.
A year later, the company is enjoying even stronger corporate performance:
“Amid the frenzy that enveloped the meetings industry early last year…..Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart unwittingly became one of the lone voices to articulate the business value of meetings, events and incentives.”
At the time of writing, Texas Roadhouse is holding the company’s annual Managing Partner Conference for 1,100 managers and their guests in New York City. Giving back to the community is always an important part of the company’s retreats and incentive trips:
His efforts seem to be paying off. Here is a video interview with G.J. Hart this week about the explosive growth of the company and its strong stock market performance.
Tough economic times are not slowing down the expansion of restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse
CNBC seems to have warmed up to G.J. Hart. The company’s business strategies are clearly paying off and they are exploring the possibility of international expansion.
The Texas Roadhouse experience highlights the fact that the right business strategy supported by strategic team building and incentives to reward top performance can pay-off with a stronger bottom line.
Special thanks to Greg Horn, Editor of Kahnawake News for his assistance and support in preparing information about the First Nations People who originally lived in this area.
Montreal has numerous historical sites for groups to explore during incentive trips. Written by someone who grew up in Montreal, this article describes these sites and the historical events and the people that gave them significance. We’ll visit Mont-Royal, St. Helen’s Island, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Old Montreal, Chinatown, St. Lawrence Blvd. (the main), and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Your team will enjoy exploring these areas and discovering the role that each played in Montreal’s history.
Preparing this blog entry has been a bit of a struggle for me. That’s probably hard to understand as Montréal is the place of my earliest memories. So why has it taken me so long to write about Montreal? I guess many people can relate to the fact that, in the place where we grew up, we have some of our most joyful experiences but also the inevitable disappointments. It’s challenging to be objective and detached when writing about ANY place that we’ve called home. When writing about places we’ve only visited, one is less aware of political sensitivities, cultural nuances and social injustice. When writing about a familiar environment, it’s hard to strike a balance between not offending people and being honest enough not to gloss over certain realities.
I’ve finally decided to take a stab at sharing the rich history and cornucopia of experiences this incredible city offers for incentive travel and team entertainment. I hope that what I share will be of value. If you have any questions or reactions, please post them in comments.
Where do I begin? Well you probably already know that Montreal is an island city. It’s similar to Singapore in that respect. It’s one of the largest cities in Canada and its population is a mix of French, British and a myriad of other cultural influences. Since we’re focusing on historical sites, let’s begin with a bit of history.
The oral traditions of First Nations people, archealogical evidence, and the writings of Jacques Cartier, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, and Father Bartholemew Vimont confirm the fact that Montreal is the site of what was once a First Nations Viallage. I am sure you have heard the First Nations Village was called Hochelaga That is what Canadian history books still teach. Is this accurate? Please take time to review:
It is part and parcel of this blog. However, I uncovered so much information that I devoted a full blog entry to it. It will also tell you how Montreal, Mont Royal and Canada got their names.
Giving Your Team a Sense of Montreal’s Historical Areas
Let’s take a look at some of the areas that will give your team a real flavour of Montreal. In each area, I will:
provide a synopsis of the historical events that make the area significant
highlight corporate event venues with a flair that is truly Montréal
identify hotels that have managed to preserve the character of the areas in which they are situated
Almost all of them have restaurants, function rooms and banquet facilitities that are ideal for meetings and corporate events
Mont-Royal
When I was growing up and up until 3 years ago when my father passed away, my family lived near the Plateau within walking distance of Mont-Royal. My earliest memories of Mont-Royal are of my father taking my sister and me to Parc Jeanne Mance on Park Avenue, to swing, slide and enjoy ice cream treats after dinner during the summer. That’s where I took my first tennis lessons. It’s still a place where Montreal families relax and play.
On the other side of Park Avenue, at the bottom of Mont-Royal, you’ll find Fletcher’s Field with some of Montreal’s most recognizable landmarks including the bandstand and the Jacques Cartier Monument with the statues of the lions in front and the angel at the top.
Notice Mont-Royal with it’s familiar cross in the background of the photo. The cross was erected in commemoration of the wooden cross that was placed there in 1643 by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the founder of Ville Marie. For years, our family had a perfect view of Mont-Royal and the cross from our living room window and balcony. Monteal’s Maisonneuve Street as well as the city of Chomedy (North of Montreal) were both named in honour of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve.
Things to do on Mont-Royal
Mont-Royal is a perfect location to enjoy cross country skiing, ice skating, and toboganning in the winter, and hiking in the summer. In the summer, it’s great to walk up there. Groups looking to fit some exercise into their itinerary can do so at no cost.
Places for Corporate Events on Mont-Royal
At the top of Mont Royal you’ll find 2 locations that are ideal for corporate events:
Lac-aux-Castors with its pavillion is suitable for picnics and informal outdoor events in the summer and ice skating events in the winter.
The building in the upper right section of the photo is the 2 story pavilion with washroom facilities, a cafeteria and Le Pavilion, a Mediterranean-style bistro that can be rented for more formal special and corporate events.
The dome that you see in the distance is the highest point in Montréal and the top of L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal. Let’s take a detour and talk about this famous Montreal landmark.
L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal
L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal, is a bascilica built through the inspiration of Brother André in honour of Saint-Joseph, the patron saint of Canada. You can see it from Mont Royal but you access it from Queen Mary Road.
In the summer, you can see, some Catholic pilgrims from around the world ascending the long staircase by pausing and kneeling to pray on each step.
The Observation Centre at the top of L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal is a location from which you can enjoy a 360º panoramic view of Mont-Royal, Montreal and, on a clear day, the Laurentians and the US border. It’s a great place to start or end your trip to Montreal.
Chalet du Mont-Royal
Chalet du Mont-Royal has reproductions of maps depicting the evolution of the city and Mont-Royal from 1535 to 1760. Its walls have photos and drawings with significant events in Montreal’s history.
Built in 1932 in the heart of Parc Mont-Royal (that opened in 1876), it’s available for rental for all types of events including corporate events. Outside Le Chalet is the Belvédère Kondiaronk observation deck. It was named after, the First Nations Chief Kondiaronk. It’s the perfect vantage point from which to get a spectacular view of Montreal’s downtown core, the Olympic Stadium, Le Biodome de Montréal, and Île Sainte-Hélène. (The photo at the top of this blog was taken from the observation deck.)
Let’s take another detour and look at the role Île Sainte-Hélène plays in Canadian history.
Île Sainte-Hélène
Île Sainte-Hélène is a small island in the St. Lawrence River just south of Montreal. One can access it by travelling along across the Jacques Cartier Bridge which was named in honour of Jacques Cartier. On this island, which is a parkland enjoyed by Montrealers and visitors alike, one can visit the Biosphere and the La Ronde Amusement Park or just relax and enjoy the green space. As a child, I remember many picnics at St. Helen’s Island and enjoying time at its beach. The water quality at the beach is still fine for swimming.
Samuel de Champlain did extensive exploration of what was to become Montreal. What is not as well known is that, in 1605, during his 2nd exploration of what was to become Canada, French explorer Samuel de Champlain was accompanied by Mathieu Da Costa, a free man Black man from the Azores. He was hired as his translator to help Champlain communicate with the Native People. Mathieu Da Costa is the first known Black man to set foot in Canada. Clearly, he had been to Canada before or he would not have known the language of some of the First Nations people.
In terms of historical significance, Île Sainte-Hélène was named by Samuel de Champlain in honour of his wife in 1611. In May 1613, Champlain left St. Helen’s Island and explored the great lakes.
Champlain is known as the “Father of New France” as he was given the duties of governing New France without the title in 1620. Lake Champlain and the Champlain bridge that connects Montreal with Brossard were named after him. More recently, St. Helen’s Island was enlarged and used as the site of the Montreal world’s fair Terre des Hommes also known as Expo 67. It is now the site of Parc Jean Drapeau, named after Mayor Drapeau who was Montreal’s mayor for a long time including during Terre des Hommes. You’ll find information about a number of reception halls and venues that are available for events at the Parc Jean Drapeau website.
Restaurants on St. Helen’s Island
Restaurant Hélène de Champlain
Ideal for corporate events.
Île Notre-Dame
The Montreal Casino is on adjacent Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island created for Expo 67. It is another location that is ideal for corporate events.
Vieux- Montréal …..Old Montreal (formerly Ville Marie)
It’s outside Le Chalet that one can get a ride to Old Montreal in a caleche during the summer. Until I was in my late teens and I ran into some American tourists who asked me to take them there, I had only been to Old Montreal a handful of times. Of course, after spending an evening there dining and showing them around, I fell in love with it.
History surrounds you in old Montreal. Many events of historical significance took place in this area. Some but not all of these are reflected in the historical sites in this area. In fact, we could devote an entire blog to Old Montréal and still not have enough space to discuss everything. Many of the buildings have their original exteriors and some streets have been stripped down to the original cobblestones and reserved for pedestrian traffic.
In the basement of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours you can still see traces of settlements of First Nations people in the area. These date back to before Ville Marie was founded by the French. Old Montréal was the site of France’s Ville Marie settlement.
Although he lived in another part of New France, Quebec City, Father Paul Le Jeune was very active in supporting the French settlement in Ville Marie. It is worth pausing to mention that, in 1628, Canada’s first Black resident was brought to New France. He was an 8 year old African boy from Madagascar who was enslaved and brought to New France. He was sold several times, eventually to Father Paul Le Jeune who baptized him as a Catholic and gave him the name Olivier Le Jeune. Olivier Le Jeune was freed from slavery in 1638.
Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance, who founded the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, and about 50 settlers landed there in 1642 to found Ville Marie (This hospital is of significance to my family as my mother worked there for years.) In 1893, a 41-foot granite obelisk was erected to mark Pointe-à-Callière, the spot where the St. Lawrence River and the Little St. Pierre River used to meet. This land was reclaimed from the river and is now part of the city.
In 1685, King Louis XIV of France’s Le Code Noir established the conditions for slavery in France’s colonies around the world. In May 1689, King Louis XIV of France gave approval for limited enslavement of African and the Pawnee (First Nations people) in Ville Marie and other parts of New France in response to complaints by the colonists about the shortage of labour for servants and other workers. In 1709, he formally authorized slavery throughout New France. In 1734, Marie-Joseph Angélique, a slave of African heritage was tortured and hung for allegedly setting a fire to her master’s house that spread and destroyed nearly 50 homes in Ville Marie.
In 1732, the first known Jewish settler in Canada, Ferdinande Jacobs, settled in Manitoba and worked as a fur trader with Hudson’s Bay Company. The Virtual Jewish History Tour – Montreal identifies Aaron Hart, a commissary officer serving under General Amherst, as Montreal’s first Jewish settler in 1760. In 1777, the Shearith Israel Congregation built the city’s first synagogue at the corner of Rue Notre Dame and St. James Street in Old Montreal.
Places to See in Old Montreal
Built in 1685,the Old Sulpician Seminary is the oldest surviving building in Montréal. Practically next door you’ll find Notre Dame Basilica. It was built between 1824 – 1829. This is where Celine Dion was married. Vieux-Port de Montréal is a happening area that is bustling with actvity throughout the year. Native canoes and French and British boats used to land there.
Built in 1705 for Ville Marie’s Governor de Ramezay, you can still tour Château RamezayChâteau Ramezay today. At Chateau Ramezay you’ll find photos and exhibits about Ville Marie and some of the artifcats from what is known as Dawson’s “Hochelaga” archealogical digs (as we discussed in a previous blog entry).
These not to be missed exhibits are of great historical significance and they will give you a sense of Montreal’s early history.
Ville Marie went through a transition after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City. Rather than put up resistance, Ville Marie surrended to England. Rue St. Paul, Montreal’s oldest street, dates back to 1850. The transfer of power from France to England was marked by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In spite of this, many of the original buildings are still standing and Old Montreal retains its original French character and charm.
As you stroll through the streets of Old Montreal, some of the facades are hundreds of years old but the interiors of the buildings have been renovated. They now house art galleries, boutiques, clubs, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.
Where to Dine in Old Montreal
Old Montreal has no shortage of places to dine. Walk down just about any street and you’ll find cafes, bistros and restaurants with superb cuisine. I’ll just highlight three.
Les Filles du Roi located at the Pierre du Calvert hotel (the restaurant’s venue was once a residence for young ladies of marriagable age who were brought to New France as a way of dealing the shortage of eligible marriage partners for the settlers)
Crêperie Chez SuzetteEnjoy a scrumptious variety of crepes and fondues. Crêperie Chez Suzette is located at Aux Délices du Vieux Montréal that has 4 restaurants on 2 1/2 floors.
Gibbys RestaurantAt Gibbys you’ll be able to enjoy steak, seafood and fish in a historical setting. Located in a 200 year old setting, Gibbys is located in what was once the in the Youville Stables on a site founded by Marguerite d’Youville that once belong to the Sisters of Charity (or Grey Nuns).
According to their website:
Part of the original structure was built in 1694, and served as The Grey Nuns’ General Hospital, which cared for the sick and destitute. However, most of the building dates from 1765 to 1850. Youville Stables received its name from the horses’ stalls which were once located in the central courtyard.
Another interesting historical note is that the Little St. Pierre River once flowed in front of the ste. In 1833, it was covered when St. Anne’s Market, now Place Youville, was built.
Corporate Event Venues in Old Montreal
You’ll also want to see the Bonsecours Market opened in 1847. The market stalls are gone but you’ll see boutiques and cafes and enjoy a variety of events throughout the year. Bonsecours Market has 4 spaces that are suitable for corporate events. La Campagnarde on at Aux Délices du Vieux Montréal is perfect for small corporate events. Modern locations include Le Westin Montréal in the heart of Old Montreal.
If one heads west along Rue de la Gauchetiere or North along Boulevard Saint-Laurent, you’ll come to Chinatown where the Chinese first settled in Montreal and where there is still a thriving Chinese community.
Even many Montrealers don’t realize that this area was originally a large Jewish community during the 19th century. Unfortunately, a lot of the original buildings were destroyed in including the 2nd location of the synagogue for the the Shearith Israel Congregation on Chenneville Street were demolished to make way for the Guy Favreau complex.
Montreal’s Chinatown began to develop around 1850 with the first immigration to what was to be come Canada. In 1867, Canada officially became nation rather than just a British colony. Most Chinese immigrants settled in Western Canada and were employed by CNR to build the railway. When the railway was completed, many Chinese families moved to Montreal, the largest Canadian city at the time, in search of employment. They faced a lot of discrimination and, for this reason. many Chinese immigrants worked primarily in the tailoring and hand laundry business. Both involved long hours and a lot of drudgery.
It has been reported that Montreal’s first Chinese laundry opened in 1887 at Jeanne Mance and St. Antoine. But Lovells indicates that the first Chinese laundry in Montreal opened in 1879 when Wah Lee Chinese California Laundry (pdf) took over a space previously occupied by Telesphore Filion’s barbershop on St. Antoine, north side, about four doors east of St. Lawrence, then described as 501 Craig. It’s currently a parking lot.
The community went through significant challenges starting in 1885 when a head tax of $50 was imposed on every Chinese person migrating to Canada. In 1900, the Head Tax tax was increased to to $100. By 1903, it was boosted to $500, representing about 2 years wages. Between 1923 and 1947 due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. During this period, fewer than than 50 people of Chinese origin were permitted to come to Canada. From this challenging start, the Chinese community in Montreal has grown. Some of my classmates who had families working for long hours and low pay in Chinatown went on to become doctors, engineers and other professionals. This is a testamant to the resilence of the human spirit.
In 2006, on behalf of the Canadian Government, Prime Minister Harper formally apologized to the Chinese Canadian community for the head tax and Chinese Exclusion Act. All living members of the Chinese community who had paid the head tax were compensated for this injustice.
As a teenager, I used to spend a lot of time in Chinatown as some of my friends attended the Chinese Presbyterian Church and I would go to the young people’s group on Saturdays. Chinatown used to be a lot larger but a number of developments such as Montreal’s subway system (The Metro), the construction of the Guy-Favereau complex and other developments has meant that some beautiful historical buildings have fallen under the wrecker’s ball. Now that I have had a chance to travel to southeast Asia 16 times, I can safely say that Montreal’s Chinatown does give you a fairly realistic sense of strolling in historical areas of Asian cities.
You’ll find Chinese groceries, souvenirs, antiques, clothing, and all kinds of treats. In another blog entry I wrote about finding the Hello Kitty Dolls that I had first seen in Singapore in Montreal’s Chinatown.
Hotels
Holiday Inn Select – an Asian themed hotel
Where to Dine in Chinatown
Years ago, when my was planning to have lunch at a well known restaurant in Chinatown, one of her Chinese friends asked her “How many Chinese poeple do you see eating there?” That was a great tip in selecting a restaurant with authentic cuisine and I use it to this day. So, when you go to Chinatown remember that tip.
I’ll give an example of one place that meets this criteria. It’s a buffet called:
Jardin De Jade Poon Kai Restaurant
It’s always busy and it’s very popular with Asian families and business people. Other than that, just stroll along Rue de la Gauchetiere and select any restaurant that looks interesting and where you see a lot of Asian families dining.
Boulevard Saint-Laurent is like a median, the dividing line between the “two solitudes” about which Hugh MacLennan wrote in his book with the same name. At one time, people growing up in Montreal would be more familiar with the West side of the island if they were anglophone and more familiar with the East Montreal if they were francophone. This was due to the patterns of settlement that started early in Montreal’s history. Boulevard Saint-Laurent, cuts right through the city. Head North from Chinatown and, after you cross Sherbrooke Street, you’ll come to an area that is known as “The Main”.
The Main
In the communities around Boulevard Saint-Laurent, many poor Jewish and European immigrants settled and got their start in Canada. The area around St. Lawrence Blvd, north of Sherbrooke became the nexus of Montreal’s Jewish Community. It’s in this area where you’ll find the original Schwartz’s Deli and Warshaws. This is where Steinberg’s, now Quebec’s largest supermarket chain, got its start. Few Jewish families live in this area today.
Today, Boulevard Saint-Laurent has residents, fashionable shoppes, restaurants, and cafes from every corner of the globe. It provides a truly multi-cultural experience.
If one walks East along Prince Arthur Street, once one crosses Boulevard Saint-Laurent the city changes and one enters Monteal’s East end that, traditionally, has been more francophone. Right after Carre St.-Louis, you’ll come to Rue St. Denis with many fashionable boutiques and restaurants. (In fact, if you look closely, you’ll spot my favourite creperie but I’m not about to divulge all of my secrets). Restaurants
If you continue to head east in Montreal, you will come to Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It is a merger of Ville de Hochelaga (not to be confused with the First Nations village we discussed earlier) and Maisonneuve.
There are many historical sites in Montreal’s East End communities like Hochelaga-Maisoneuve. Sadly, I don’t know this area well. For the longest time, other than Rosemont, areas East of Rue St. Denis were a blur to me. I have made a point of exploring this area with my son when I have returned to Montreal. One thing is certain, East End or West End, with the unique architecture and layout of the streets, it’s ALL recognizable as distinctly Montreal. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is an area that more visitors to Montreal and ex-Montrealers who grew up in the city’s West End should make an effort to explore. Its history dates back to 1664 and there are numerous historical sites.
Ville de Hochelaga was annexed to the City of Montreal in 1883. At that time, Maisonneuve (known as Côte Saint-Martin at the time) decided to establish a model industrial city instead of joining Montreal. The city flourished for decades. By 1918, due to its heavy debt load, it also became a part of Montreal.
This excellent website has documents, maps, photos, and an extensive history of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Where to Learn More About Montreal’s Historical Sites
This ends our tour of some of Montreal’s historical sites and the events that made them significant. The next time I feel inspired to write about Montreal, I’ll focus on exploring the downtown core, the Golden Square Mile, Little Burgundy (St. Henri), and Westmount.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of Montreal and its historical sites, a good place to start is the:
Memorable Montreal – EXCELLENT! Explores 13 communities in Montreal with an historical overview, maps, photos, and documents.
Anne is a co-author of the book West Indians in Toronto: Implications for Helping Professionals.
Special thanks to Greg Horn at Kahnawake News for reviewing, fact & cultural sensitivity checking the section of this blog related to the history of First Nations people in the Montreal area. Greg Horn is ioriwase on Twitter.
Let Executive Oasis International Bring Your Team to Montreal & Other Parts of Canada
Executive Oasis International would be pleased to build a customized itinerary for you based on your interests. We can also offer you one of our own itineraries that give your group some down time and also a chance to experience some of the historical sites we’ve described.
To arrange an incentive trip to or corporate event in Montreal, please feel free to contact Executive Oasis International for assistance:
