John Little Bus Tour of Montréal
May 24, 2025
For over six decades, John Little painted Montreal's historic neighborhoods, documenting them with remarkable integrity and skill, always painting them as they appeared before they were reshaped by urban renewal. His work provides a poignant window into the working-class life and unique architectural character that were often lost to demolition.
GM New Look 1973 (14-008) outside Montréal’s City Hall, across from Château Ramezay.
This unique tour, which took place on May 24, 2025 followed in Little's footsteps aboard an original STCUM GM New Look 1973 bus, visiting the locations that inspired his paintings. The tour was designed to complement the first-ever museum exhibition devoted to Little and bring his art to life.
The tour explored neighbourhoods like Ville Marie, including Old Montreal and Les Faubourgs, the Golden Square Mile, and Griffintown in Centre-Sud. It focused on what has changed and reflect on the value of preserving our visual history.
At each stop, guests were offered a glimpse into the Montreal of the 1950s and 60s, as seen through Little's eyes, and connect these historical locations to the works presented at the Château Ramezay and archival material from Little’s studio.
John Little: Montreal’s Heritage in Paint
On View from June 20 - September 28 at Château Ramezay - Historic Site and Museum of Montréal
This tour was organized in collaboration with the Fondation de l'héritage du transport en commun du Québec (FHTCQ).
The foundation's main mission is to preserve the transit history of the province of Quebec, mostly by restoring buses that are significant to the province transit history.
Château Ramezay - Historic Site and Museum of Montréal
280 Notre-Dame Street East
Montréal QC H2Y 1C5
Phone: (514) 861-3708
