Welcome to the Montréal Signs Project, a research initiative of Dr. Matt Soar in the Department of Communication Studies at Concordia University.
Since 2010 we’ve been helping to save dozens of historic commercial and civic signs that matter to Montréalers. From personal memories of specific neighbourhoods, to larger questions about migration and entrepreneurship, to the hidden stories of signmakers, the MSP aims to promote awareness, conversation, and grounded nostalgia. Most of the MSP’s ever-expanding collection is on permanent display on Concordia University’s Loyola campus. Please consider supporting our work with a modest donation. Want to tell us about a sign that matters to you, or book a guided tour of the collection? Let us know!
The collection
Florateria flower shop
Corridart manicule
Compagnie Legaré
Depanneur Lalonde
St James United Church
Sharx Pool Bar
Udisco Ltd
Bijouterie J. Omer Roy
Mars Comics
Steinberg supermarket chain
MacDoherty’s Ice Cream
Exxxotica Bar
Labow Pharmacy
Andes Travel
Librarie Guérin (4560 Rue St Denis)
Rapido Diner
La Boîte Noire
Wong Wing Foods
Lesage Fries
Mirabel Airport Panel
La Maison du Chien Chaud Restaurant
La Maison de L’Aspirateur: Vacuum Service Company
Fairmount Bagel Bakery
Moe’s Diner
STM Wayfinding Signs
Le Club Sandwich Restaurant
Anjou Restaurant
Monkland Taverne
New Navarino Café
Monsieur Hot Dog Restaurant
Sheinart’s Clothing Store
La Belle Province Restaurant
Silver Dragon Café
Montréal-Mirabel International Airport Passenger Information Displays
Radio-Canada CBC
Dumoulin Bicycles
Paramount Cinema
Buywell Grocery Store
Guérin Bookstore
Imperial Boots
Bens Restaurant
Warshaw Supermarket
About
We would like to begin by acknowledging that the MSP at Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community. The Montréal Signs Project aims to save the commercial and civic signs that resonate for Montréalers. The MSP was founded by Matt Soar (Emeritus Professor, Dept of Communication Studies, Concordia University) in collaboration with Nancy Marrelli (Archivist Emerita, Concordia University Archives). The Project has been supported over the years by small donations and by a FRQSC Rearch-Creation grant.
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