Red Light Walking Tour
Wed June 25 @ 18:30 - 20:30
Back for another season, join us for a tour of Montreal’s historic Red Light District with Karen Herland! Come learn about this storied district in a walk through its landmarks and alleyways.
Sex work, especially in its most visible forms, tends to be recognized as a problem, requiring intervention and eradication. As a major transportation hub and port city, many sectors of Montreal’s economy were intertwined with the sex trade, even as police and politicians manipulated social responses (positive and negative) to the presence of a thriving Red Light District. From Maimie Pinzer to Harry Ship and through to the present day, this tour explores the social, economic, labour, cultural, racial, and gender history of Montreal through its former Red Light, which for decades thrived in the heart of Montreal’s burgeoning Jewish community.
This tour covers 150 years and 10 city blocks over 1.5-2 hours. The tour begins on the southeast corner of Boulevard René Lévesque and Boulevard St. Laurent and ends near St. Laurent Metro station.
Please note that while the tour will be led in English, questions can be asked and answered in French.
This tour will be offered on June 25, July 23, and August 28. When purchasing your ticket, please be sure to select it for the date you wish to attend. Tickets are valid only for the chosen date of purchase.
Click here to reserve your spot.
Point of Departure: We will meet on the southeast corner of Boulevard René Lévesque and Boulevard St. Laurent. Please ignore the specific address of 1111 Boulevard St. Laurent, as this is only an approximation.
Karen Herland is an author, independent researcher and educator, currently teaching at Concordia University in the Interdisciplinary Program on Sexuality Studies and Fine Arts. She published People, Potholes and City Politics: A Guide to Municipal Politics in Montreal in 1994 with Black Rose Books. Karen began researching the history of Montreal’s Red Light District after working as coordinator for Stella, a community development organization for sex workers in Montreal. Her research interests include cultural studies, urban space, sexuality studies, media and community mobilization.
Weather Policy: In the event of light rain, the tour will go on as scheduled. If there is a strong warning of heavy rain and/or thunderstorms, the tour will be postponed. All registrants will have the option to attend the rescheduled tour.
Mesures météo : En cas de pluie légère, la visite se déroulera comme prévu. En cas d’avertissement de fortes pluies et/ou d’orages, la visite sera reportée. Toutes les personnes inscrites auront la possibilité d’assister à la visite reportée.
Image: Carte des bordels montréalais où les soldats ont contracté des maladies vénériennes : rapport de l’Armée sur la situation croissante des maladies vénériennes à Montréal. 1944. Archives de la Ville de Montréal. P43-3-2_V41_E521-E610_ext5op. Domaine public.