Event

L’histoire publique et les enjeux de cohabitation à Montréal : mémoires, récits et identités

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 11:30to13:00
680 Sherbrooke West, 8th floor, Montréal, QC, H3A 2M7, CA

For this last conference of the season, CIRM has programmed a joint lecture by Mary Anne Poutanen and Paul-Étienne Rainville, the two heads of the “Immigration, everyday life and religion” axis.

This presentation explores the many facets of cohabitation in Montréal, drawing on approaches from public history. Mary Anne Poutanen and Paul-Étienne Rainville, two CIRM researchers who helped develop the content and inaugural and upcoming book of the MEM - Centre des mémoires montréalaises, will share their projects and experiences in this field. Their objective: to explore how the construction of historical narratives raises fundamental issues related to inclusion, justice, belonging, collective identities and living together.

How can we develop a historical narrative that reflects a shared identity - sometimes called “montréalité” - while highlighting the diversity of voices, trajectories and experiences of Montrealers of all origins? How can we tell a story that captures both the tensions, inequalities and power relations, and the moments of encounter, convergence and solidarity that have shaped the history of this metropolis?

This discussion will explore the role of research and public history in building more inclusive narratives that give a voice to individuals and groups too often relegated to the margins of collective narratives. It will highlight how the public history approach offers relevant insights into many of the issues surrounding cohabitation in a complex, cosmopolitan city like Montréal.

The conference will be moderated by Frédéric Dejean (UdeM).

Please note that this conference will be given in French and English.

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