Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise

In 1916, a quiet plot of land in Montreal’s east end became the final resting place for many. This is Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise, originally known as Cimetière de l’Est. It holds the memories of over 250,000 souls, a testament to the passage of time and the stories of Montreal’s past. Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise is more than just a cemetery. It’s a repository of Montreal’s history, a place where the past whispers to the present. The cemetery expanded significantly in the 1950s, growing to an impressive 7.5 million square feet. This expansion makes it one of the largest cemeteries in Quebec. This expansion also incorporated remains from the old Longue-Pointe cemetery, which existed from 1723 to 1917. These remains were moved during the construction of the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine Bridge-Tunnel, finding a new home at Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise. The cemetery’s name changed in 1987. The parish of Saint-François d’Assise and the Archdiocese of Montreal chose the new name, Repos Saint-François d’Assise. Within the grounds of Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise lie prominent figures from Montreal’s history. Among them are writer, filmmaker, and producer Hubert Aquin. Comedian Claude Blanchard and hockey legend Émile “Butch” Bouchard are also buried here. Actor Jean Duceppe and Marie-Anne Houde, the stepmother of Aurore, the tragically martyred child, also rest here. You can also find the graves of prominent labor leader Louis Laberge and the author of “Rue des Pignons,” Mia Riddez. Cimetière Saint-François d’Assise remains a significant landmark in Montreal. It stands as a quiet testament to the lives lived and the stories told within the city.