The past and the present are united in our neighborhood

NDG Stories

The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood, often referred to by the acronym NDG, is rich in personal stories that are deeply rooted in the collective history.

The “NDG Stories” project celebrates the history of one of Montreal’s most multicultural neighborhoods, past and present. It aims to create a sense of belonging and to fight against stereotypes and discrimination. But also to make history better known in order to allow it to take root in society and to promote culture as an engine for encounters and dialogue.

Closely linked to the values of the PAAL organization, the “NDG Stories” project is based on a series of interviews, conducted in 2021, with 8 residents of the neighborhood who have chosen to build their lives there. The stories of these people who grew up in the neighborhood combined with those of newcomers tell, in their own way, different parts of the history of NDG. Their memories and personal experiences are key to understanding the past, present and future of NDG.

2022 Edition

PAAL is pleased to present from August 17 to 21 the exhibition “NDG Stories”, an ephemeral exhibition that links the history of the neighborhood with the personal stories of its residents in three different spaces in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood. This exhibition is part of the NDG Arts Week festival.

The exhibition will present a series of photographs and testimonies of residents from the past and present. Exchange activities have also been developed to allow families to intervene and share their experiences and their vision of the neighborhood. Participants will also be invited to consult the project’s microsite to build together a visual, auditory and textual database on the collective history of NDG.

The programming of the exhibition “NDG Stories” will take place :

• At Parc Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (August 17-22, 2022) at the pop-up Biergarten
• https://www.facebook.com/artsndg/photos/pcb.5765552610131246/5765552493464591/ 
• At Place Guy Viau (August 20, 2022) at BoulevArt >>> Presence of cultural mediators or activities on site
• https://www.facebook.com/events/1232708244217040?ref=newsfeed
• At the St-Raymond Block Party, corner of Upper Lachine and Ave. Melrose (August 21, 2022) >>> Presence of cultural mediators or activities on site
• https://www.facebook.com/events/1525645354549649/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D

These events are FREE for everyone.

In collaboration with Nathalie Sénécal and Atelier d’histoire NDG.

“Project funded under the Agreement on the cultural development of Montreal between the City of Montreal and the Government of Quebec”.

PAAL would like to thank Mounir Shami, Aissatou Diaby, Diegal Léger, Maru Lara Keane, Peter McQueen, Consuelo Buitrago, Analté Rodriguez, Tamar Cohen, Sam Boskey et François Fournier for their participation in the interviews.

PAAL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal.

PAAL would also like to thank its partners: Atelier d’histoire NDG, Artenso (Centre de Recherche Art et Recherche Social), Notre-Dame-des-Arts, and all the local partners who make all our activities possible.