Montreal, city of women
What if Montreal’s metro map were redrawn with the stations renamed after the trailblazing women who helped make the city what it is today? Montreal, City of Women celebrates the remarkable—and often overlooked—women who have shaped our history and society.
Recognizing women’s contributions
Montreal, City of Women is a research-creation project centred on a reimagined metro map that pays tribute to the women who have played a vital role in the making of Montreal and its social, cultural and economic prosperity. Spearheaded by author and scholar Chantal Ringuet and supported by Université de Montréal, in partnership with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the map reenvisions Montreal through an inclusive and feminist lens. The project follows in the footsteps of the first City of Women transit map, created by Rebecca Solnit and Joshua Jelly-Schapiro in New York in 2016, to open a conversation between past, present and future that uncovers some of the subterranean currents of women’s energies that have flowed through our city for two centuries and promotes dialogue, equity and social justice. In the process, it unearths fascinating, little-known pieces of Montreal history.
This map pays tribute to 73 women who have left their mark on Montreal since its establishment as a political entity in 1831, each embodying values of progress and innovation in her own way. At a time when women's rights are under threat around the world, it amplifies their message and worldview in Montreal and, more broadly, in Quebec and Canada.
The objectives of Montreal, City of Women align closely with the missions and values of Université de Montréal:
- Start a conversation about the place of women from all communities in Montreal and their public recognition (or lack thereof);
- Share knowledge with a mass audience by offering metro users a contextualized educational experience;
- Tell little-known stories in a way that renews our sense of community and belonging, and fosters a more inclusive understanding of the city and inter-community relations;
- Diversify our collective memory and our perspectives on Montreal's history.
Message from the Vice President
“Montreal becomes the first French-speaking city in the world to have a “City of Women” transit map. Montreal, City of Women redraws the map of the metro to reflect values of equality and recognition. At a time when women’s rights and human rights in general are under threat and democracies are in a fragile state, this project highlights Université de Montréal’s leadership as a French-language university that fosters unity.”
Jean-François Gaudreault-DesBiens,
vice president, strategic
planning and communications
Message from the ideator
“We wanted to highlight the contributions of women who helped, implicitly or explicitly, to strengthen inter-community ties, and the work of women who are sometimes little known to the general public but who made a decisive difference—for example, by breaking the glass ceiling or promoting humanism or social inclusion.”
Chantal Ringuet,
project ideator
Message from the STM
“After over 30 years of working in a traditionally male-dominated sector, I know that changing minds takes time and courage. That’s why I’m honoured that the STM is partnering with an inspiring initiative dedicated to women who have had the grit and determination to leave their mark and make Montréal the city it is today!”
Marie-Claude Léonard,
chief executive officer of the Société de
transport de Montréal
Advisory committee
An advisory committee composed of members of the Université de Montréal community helped Chantal Ringuet select the women, living and deceased, who are honoured in Montreal, City of Women.
- Philosophy professor Ryoa Chung.
- History professor Denyse Baillargeon.
- Dean of Music Nathalie Fernando.
- Associate Vice-Rector for First Peoples Annie Pullen Sansfaçon.
- Museologist and UdeM alumna Estelle Brunet.
- Television personality and alumna Sophie Fouron.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to author and scholar Rebecca Solnit and New York University professor Joshua Jelly-Schapiro for allowing us to create a Montreal version of New York, City of Women.
We would also like to thank Regina Galasso, Associate Professor in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and Director of the Translation Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, for our preliminary discussions on this subject.
We thank the friends and families, organizations and businesses who have helped us pay tribute to these extraordinary women. And our thanks go to everyone at Université de Montréal and the Société de transport de Montréal who helped make this project a reality.
During the development of this project, we tried to identify and contact the heirs of the women we are honouring, where applicable. Despite our best efforts, some could not be located.