Montreal’s Gay Village emerged in the 1980s when a concentration of gay bars, clubs and saunas began to develop along Ste. Catherine, northeast of the Berri Metro stop.

The Village, as it's often simply known, has grown steadily in importance since then and really hit its stride after 2008 when this stretch of Ste. Catherine was first closed to traffic for the summer.

Now an annual (May–Sept) event, known as Aires Libres, it includes decorations, several events and open-air installations, all of which make the neighbourhood worth a visit - day and night.

All this helps give The Village a distinct street-life and flavour at any time of year, which, though tangibly gay, is definitely welcoming to all. This includes tolerating a small but very visible number of down-and-outs that totter the streets and the adjacent parks. A sad but not dangerous presence; though you might be asked for spare change.

Venues