While Toronto is sometimes praised as “the city that works,” Montreal, by contrast, arguably shouldn’t work at all — at least not on paper.
And yet, this talk explores the idea that it is precisely Montreal’s complexity that makes it compelling, and that its richly layered architectural identity — shaped by a history of urban “accidents” — has ultimately forged the dynamism that defines the city today.
Guillaume Ethier is a professor of urban theory and space–society relations in the Department of Urban and Tourism Studies at École des sciences de la gestion de l'UQAM. The impact of digital technologies on cities has been the central focus of his work since the publication of his essay La ville analogique (2022, 2024 editions). He also hosts the urban-focused podcast Cadre bâti. In his rare free time, he practices street photography or performs as a professional drummer.
