Biographical Books Books about Montreal

To read some old books on-line see:
Early Canadiana On-Line
An amazing site for access to viewing many of those old, long out-of-print books and manuscripts from the 1800s.

To order photocopies or microfiche of old books see:
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions (CIHM)
"CIHM was established in 1978 to locate early printed Canadian materials (books, annuals, and periodicals), to preserve their content on microfilm, and to make the resulting collections available to libraries and archives in Canada and abroad."

For Historical Videos / films I recommend:

"The Rise and Fall of English Montreal"
Produced in 1993 by the National Film Board of Canada
The Rise and Fall of English Montreal - "In the past 20 years, some 300,000 English-speaking people have left Montréal, convinced they had no future in a Québec that had become increasingly French, increasingly nationalistic. In this video we meet some of the people who are moving away and recall the days, in the last century,when there were more English-speaking people than French in Montréal" 
Video available for purchase through the NFB site (50 minutes & 30 seconds long)

"Canada, A People's History"
A 16 part series produced 2000/2001 by the Canadian Broadcasting Company. 
To date 9 episodes have aired with the remaining episodes to air Fall 2001/Winter 2002
Episodes 1 to 5 are available for purchase on Video or DVD through the CBC merchandise site. 

"Montreal"
Produced in 1944 by the National Film Board of Canada
Montreal - "A look at the history, geography and social life of Montréal on the occasion of its
tercentenary celebrations."
Video available for purchase through the NFB site (19 minutes long)

"Victoria Bridge : The 8th Wonder"
Produced in 1987 by the National Film Board of Canada
Victoria Bridge:The 8th Wonder - "A succession of period graphics create a colorful collage depicting an almost forgotten moment in Canadian history: the construction and opening of Montréal's Victoria Bridge. Hailed worldwide as an engineering marvel in the 19th century, the unique one-mile iron tube was the first bridge to span the St. Lawrence River, connecting Montréal to the south shore by rail. The first British royal visit to America and dances composed for the lavish inauguration ball helped mark this historical event."
Video available for purchase through the NFB site (6 min 56 sec  long)

"The Force Of Hope: The Legacy Of Father McGauran"
Produced by White Pine Pictures for the 39 part "Scattering of Seeds" Canadian documentary series
The Force Of Hope: "Lindalee Tracey traces the heroic efforts of an Irish priest to comfort thousands of dying immigrants who poured into Québec during the Irish Potato Famine of 1847."
Video available for purchase through White Pine Pictures (22minutes & 24 seconds long)

"Century Man: The Father Salamis Story"
Produced by White Pine Pictures for the 39 part "Scattering of Seeds" Canadian documentary series
Century Man is the story of Nicholas Salamis who left Greece for Canada in 1914 and settled in the Greek community of Montréal in 1919. "Today, Father Salamis is 103 years old. He has long since retired from the priesthood, but he still watches with interest over his Greek community in Montréal, as they add so richly to the tapestry we call Canada."
Video available for purchase through White Pine Pictures (22minutes & 24 seconds long)

"Opening Night"
Produced by White Pine Pictures for the 39 part "Scattering of Seeds" Canadian documentary series
Opening Night is the story of "George Farhood, a Lebanese immigrant who arrived in Montréal in 1889. After years of peddling he and his son established one of the first Francophone theatres in Québec."
Video available for purchase through White Pine Pictures (22minutes & 24 seconds long)

"A Sephardic Journey: Solly Lévy… From Morocco to Montréal"
Produced by White Pine Pictures for the 39 part "Scattering of Seeds" Canadian documentary series
A Sephardic Journey: - For 30 years, Solly Lévy has been a mainstay of the Sephardic Jewish community in Montreal. He came here from Morocco with is wife and young family in the late 1960s, and since then, as teacher, dramatist, singer and song-collector, stand-up comic, and radio host, he has been a passionate advocate for the Sephardic community and its traditions, while casting an affectionately ironic eye on its foibles and idiosyncracies."
Video available for purchase through White Pine Pictures (22minutes & 24 seconds long)

"The Haitian Heart of Love"
Produced by White Pine Pictures for the 39 part "Scattering of Seeds" Canadian documentary series
The Haitian Heart of Love - Haitian Jesuit, Karl Lévêque, arrived in Montréal in the 1970s. He used sport, religion and community radio to rally his community and build bridges into Québec society.
Video available for purchase through White Pine Pictures (22minutes & 24 seconds long)