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Prior to Bill 101, which introduced strict language laws to the Province of Quebec and resulted in the well-documented exodus of English speaking Montrealers to Toronto in the late 1970s, many of Montreal's streets were named after famous Brits. Following the passing of Bill 101, Montreal's streets, including some of the city's largest arteries and thoroughfares, were reclaimed for famous Quebecois figures both past and present.
This archival shot of downtown Montreal was captured in 1966, just a year before Expo '67, and taken from what was once Craig Street, looking west towards downtown Montreal.
Seen in the archival image, the streetscape is dominated by a series of turn-of-the-century architecture, punctuated by the more modern Banque de Montreal, and the 1964-built Tour de la Bourse, home to the Montreal Stock Exchange and the tallest structure in Canada until the completion of the Toronto-Dominion Centre later that same decade. Beyond the neon signs and period fashion in view here, the presence of 1960s cars, such as the classic Volvo P1800 seen in the foreground, give away the era of the archival shot.
Seen above, the modern-day view of what has since been renamed Rue St. Antoine, reveals a largely altered streetscape, albeit one that is still recognizable. While some buildings to the left have been demolished, there remains a good deal of architecture from the archival shot that can be made out today. Notably the Banque de Montreal still looms over the streetscape, and the Tour de la Bourse (hidden from view) remains a fixture of the downtown skyline. By far the largest difference lays in the addition of the modern glass building that can be seen on the right, which has replaced a large Beaux-Arts edifice as seen in the 1960s photo.
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