Press room of CHM
Johnny... and the Parks
Press Release
Montréal Parks in Photographs
1953-1963
May 4 to August 20, 2006
Opening: May 3, 2006 at 5:30 P.M.
When we believe in flowers, we often bring them into being.
Claude Robillard
Montréal, April XX, 2006 – The Centre d’histoire de Montréal and the Section des archives de la Direction du Greffe de la Ville de Montréal are presenting a show of never-before-exhibited photographs of the city’s parks and playgrounds in the decade between 1953 and 1963. The photographs on display offer a wealth of information about Montréal’s parks and playgrounds in the 1950s and 1960s.
Baby Boom
In the post-war period, Montrealers experienced demographic growth and prosperity, the baby boom. Montréal, which reached one million inhabitants in 1951, teemed with life thanks to these children. All their youthful energy had to be channeled towards venues other than the city’s back alleys.
From Alleys to Parks
The Parks Service, an ambitious and innovative project, was created in 1953 at the instigation of Claude Robillard. The watchword was to be: "recreation in beautiful surroundings". Henceforward the children would have other prospects than the alleys and abandoned lots to play and have fun in. On the programme were free play and organized activities as well as cultural and sporting events, from performances by the Roulotte de Paul Buissonneau, to the Jardin des Merveilles children’s zoo, play modules, the "parade des parcs" and many more activities. The number of playgrounds soared from nine in 1942 to over one hundred in 1950. The Parks Service left a collection of hundreds of photographs documenting life in the parks and playgrounds.
Follow the Guide
Jeannot, a little Montréal boy, was originally created to enliven the Parks Service annual report. He was meant to represent the 200 000 children of park and playground-going age. The famous comic-strip artist Michel Rabagliati has brought him back to life for this exhibition. He will keep you company on your tour of Montréal parks by means of original sets, photographs and films that will plunge you into the heart of this era, when optimism flourished!
An exhibition of the Centre d’histoire de Montréal in collaboration with the Section des archives de la Direction du Greffe de la Ville de Montréal.
Hi-resolution pictures here.
André Gauvreau
Centre d'histoire de Montréal
Service du développement culturel, de la qualité du milieu de vie et de la diversité ethnoculturelle
Ville de Montréal
andregauvreau@ville.montreal.qc.ca
