Queer Frontier: Montreal's Number One Trendy Neighbourhood

Montreal's Le Village is located on Ste-Catherine Street East roughly between the Berri-UQAM and Papineau metro stations. Le Village's area is two kilometres square and is considered one of the largest North American gay-themed neighbourhoods.

Le Village was not always considered the hip place to be. It is part of Montreal's ever-changing urban tapestry and comes from a past used to accepting not only gay people but also those marginalized from society.

Under the iron-fist rule of the Duplessis government, many gay-friendly businesses were expulsed from Montreal's West End and settled here. Initially, the area was a poor working-class city borough.

Image source: Flickr, Le Village, 2008

A change in attitudes occurred in the community, one from intolerance to acceptance towards gay people, which helped this neighborhood's budding success. It was originally known as Le Village de l'Est in part due to its geographical location. Le Village's prosperity, however, meant the eradication of gay-friendly businesses in Montreal's West end. 

Today, Le Village receives major investments from various levels of government and is promoted as a viable Montreal tourist attraction. Official city maps, both printed and digital, name this area as Le Village. It is sandwiched between the Latin Quarter and Montreal's East end. Almost every gay business in the city is located within Le Village's limits.

Le Village's motto is Vivre la divercité and they certainly walk the talk. They offer a diversified choice for consumers whether it be in shops, eateries, cafes, or clubs.The prices range from the very cheap to overly expensive. It is, in my opinion, a microcosm of the Montreal city itself. It is an ideal location for student populations, tourists, and resident Montrealers.

However, Le Village is not for everyone and the neighbourhood's saunas, leather bars, and drag shows may deter some from visiting the area but the overall attitude in Montreal's village is "to each their own".  And make no mistake, with its many pharmacies, banks and retail stores, Le Village is not just about buying kinky outfits even though they cater to that particular clientele. This type of scene does not dissuade big name franchises (Chez Cora, McDonald's, Rôtisserie St-Hubert, and Starbucks's) from setting up business. Moreover, there are non-franchised businesses located in Le Village as well: Le Club Sandwich, Café Européen, and Food bar and lounge.

It is a step forward in our society to see how the growing acceptance of gay people in our community. Future plans include: a new western neighbor, Montreal's burgeoning Quartier des Spectacles (once construction ends), and the construction of a community complex at Le Village's centre (http://www.fondation-mario-racine.qc.ca/). 

Le Village is one of Montreal's best and well-known cachets of the city's ever-changing attraction-tapestry and a treat for anyone willing to visit!