Montreal at Work

The 14th open-air exhibition on McGill College Avenue will have passers-by stepping into the workplaces of Montrealers from 1900 to the 1940s.

The photographs from the McCord Museum collection invite viewers to take a trip back in time to discover the places and atmosphere in which men and women plied their trades. This incursion into the working world takes viewers into the daily lives of Montrealers in the first half of the 20th century, as they toiled in factories, workshops, hospitals, and offices.
In addition to bringing the workforce of yesteryear to life, the photos recall the old-fashioned charm of the architecture, furniture, tools and clothing of the time.