The other Montreal

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Tour buses full of gawking tourists are a regular part of Montreal in the summer, as out-of-towners get driven around to see urban landmarks like Notre-Dame Basilica or Place Jacques-Cartier.

But how about a tour of the male hookers along St-André, or the famous squeegee junction at St-Denis and de Maisonneuve?

Seeing such sketchy sights is the theme of the "The other Montreal, a guided visit to marginal Montreal," which will take the curious by bus to trouble-spots in neighbourhoods like Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the Centre-Sud and even the Plateau.

"The Plateau Mont-Royal is now becoming a centre for itinerants, because the attitude of the people there is more open to homeless people. And there is less police repression there than in the Centre-Sud," says Julien Elie.

Elie is organizing a day of activities called "La Marge s'expose!" aimed at showing people what life on the streets for young people is like. The free bus tour is just of one part of the events taking place on June 16 at Place Gérald-Godin (right by Mont-Royal metro), which will include photo exhibits and various spectacles. For more info, call 524-3661. :

--John Edmonds

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