The Scots

This exhibition has ended.

William Dawson, William C. Macdonald, James McGill, Simon McTavish, A.W. Ogilvie, John Young… starting in the 18th century and throughout the 19th, Montrealers of Scottish heritage steered the city’s commerce, finance, industry and modes of transportation. They spearheaded advances in scientific research, higher education and political organization, and left significant legacies that would benefit their fellow citizens for generations to come.

How did this cultural group, the majority of whom came from modest origins, achieve such dramatic success- Was it just a question of good timing and unrelenting personal ambition- Or did a unique combination of cultural factors, including religious beliefs, educational practices and new economic theories, give the Scots a leading edge that allowed them to carve out their place in a new city-

Find the answers to these questions in The Scots – Dyed-in-the-Wool Montrealers. Discover the important role these immigrants and their descendants played in the development of the metropolis and the country as a whole, one that involved a lot more than just bagpipes, whisky and kilts!