Mark Twain once gazed out over Montreal’s rooftops in awe, struck by the array of sky-piercing church steeples that dwarfed all but the city’s eponymous mountain. Indeed, in 1881 the francophone and anglophone churches at the centre of the city’s communities were numerous enough for Twain to proclaim Montreal “the city of a hundred steeples.” But 140 years later, visitors’ eyes are drawn a little lower. Tucked away in shadowy spaces behind colourful rows of turreted sixplexes and spiralling staircases, you will find the new hearts of Montreal’s eclectic communities. Les Ruelles Vertes.
The Ruelles Vertes project is a community-led initiative that has been steadily growing since the 90s. There are now 455 green alleys in total, according to Eve Lortie-Fornier, director of Éco-Quartier, the group responsible for the Ruelles Vertes project. They are spread throughout the city in 15 boroughs, each providing a window into their neighbourhood’s unique spirit.
Lortie-Fornier sees the green alleys as a way to bring the residents of a block together, in good times and bad. The shared space brings neighbours closer, making them more resilient. Whether it’s friends close by or someone to check on their kids, the alleys provide a way to connect that was previously lacking. However, they aren’t just for the residents, says Lortie-Fornier.
“Of course, the alleys are for the people living there, but they are for the people visiting too,” she says. “I think it’s a great way to be in a place with a lot of movement while exploring the city.”
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