This is Montreal

Water restrictions this summer have brought the importance of clean running water into focus. But how did Montrealers get clean before they had indoor plumbing? For much of Montreal’s history, it was a dangerous proposition: People risked drowning in the Saint-Lawrence river or catching diseases from a backyard privy. The solution? Public baths. Reporter Gloria Henriquez dives into the history of Montreal’s public baths — and why not everyone was allowed to use them at first.

As parts of Montreal were once again hit with flooding during heavy rains, we’re bringing you excerpts from our Oct 2024 episode looking at why parts of Montreal are prone to this type of flooding. Plus: an update on what solutions Montreal and surrounding cities are considering to better protect homes against storms like these.

Sixteen police officers from Station 39 in Montréal-Nord are facing an internal investigation following allegations of racist, violent and hateful acts against Black and Arab people. Community organizations and some Quebec politicians are calling for an independent inquiry, while others say the solutions to racism and police brutality are already known and should be implemented more quickly. In this episode we’ll hear from three Montrealers who are calling for a broader political reckoning with systemic racism and the role of police in Quebec.
You can also hear an interview with SPVM chief Fady Dagher on CBC Daybreak here and find more CBC coverage on this issue here.

This is Montreal introduces…This is Quebec! In this first episode of our sister show, host Alison Brunette looks at the end of the legislative session in Quebec City. As the National Assembly shut down for the summer, the CAQ government had a few key bills and reforms it wanted to push through. But the party had to say goodbye to some of its flagship ideas. For more episodes, follow This is Quebec.

From a DIY skatepark to an old rail lot turned urban forest, Montrealers have reclaimed public spaces to create something new in their neighbourhoods. But what happens when a city and its citizens don’t agree on what a public space should be? CBC’s Boshko Maric explores Montreal’s informal spaces: who do they belong to and who should decide their futures?