Introduction

Between the end of the 19th century and the start of the First World War, Montreal enjoyed one of the strongest periods of growth in its history. Thanks to a strong, steady flow of immigrants, the population shot up past the half-million mark. The city became a gigantic worksite. A brand-new port was developed, office towers sprouted, factories were expanded and thousands of new homes were built. Urbanized areas extended farther and farther out. Montreal reached the apex of its power as Canada's metropolis. The veil of prosperity hid many inequalities, however. Social reform advocates sought to push their cures for society's ills, but with limited success.

N.B. The commentary for this tour is a slightly modified version of Chapter 8 of Paul-André Linteau's book Brève histoire de Montréal (Montreal: Boréal, 1992), pp. 89-103.