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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores
    • Leaderboard
    • Editor's Picks
    • New Places

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Thursday, April 30, 2026|
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      --°C|Thursday, April 30, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      • History Lessons
      • The Bulletin
      Explore
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
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      • Mile-Ex
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      • Bar
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      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
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      History Lesson

      Why André the Giant Was One of Montreal's Greatest Entertainers in and Out of the Ring

      The city's role in André the Giant's path from French farm boy to the Eighth Wonder of the World, with a downtown brasserie pitstop.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      March 7, 2025 · 6 min read

      Why André the Giant was one of Montreal's greatest entertainers in and out of the ring

      Before he became a global icon, before WrestleMania III and The Princess Bride, André the Giant was Jean Ferré—a towering enigma dominating Quebec’s wrestling scene. There was a strong Montreal connection in his larger-than life, and the city wasn’t just a stop on his path to stardom; it was a place that helped birth the legend he would be remembered by.

      It was here that promoters first saw his potential, where he headlined sold-out arenas, and where he learned the power of mystique that would define his career. From his debut in the local Grand Prix Wrestling circuit to the moment he caught Vince McMahon Sr.’s attention, Montreal was the proving ground that transformed a French farm boy into The Eighth Wonder of the World.

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      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google
      The Historic Mount Royal Hotel Is Now Home to Montreal's Best Office Space
      History Lesson
      Sponsored
      The Main

      The Historic Mount Royal Hotel Is Now Home to Montreal's Best Office Space

      Once known as the historic Mount Royal Hotel, the Les Cours Mont-Royal is seeing renewed demand as its overlooked office spaces fill up and tenants move in.

      The Day a Downtown Campus Burned and What Came After
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Day a Downtown Campus Burned and What Came After

      What began as a complaint about grading bias escalated into a two-week occupation, a fire, and one of the most consequential reckonings with institutional racism in Canadian higher education.

      The Flying Cathedral That Made a City Lose Its Mind
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Flying Cathedral That Made a City Lose Its Mind

      In the summer of 1930, a British airship the length of two and a half Boeing 747s locked onto a mooring mast on the South Shore. Nearly a million people came to watch.

      The Montreal Punch That May Have Killed Houdini
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Montreal Punch That May Have Killed Houdini

      A backstage encounter at a Montreal theatre, a few punches, a death six weeks later. The cause remains disputed.

      The Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the Dep
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the Dep

      How a 1970 law, a Rosemont grocer, and generations of immigrant families created Montreal's most essential institution.

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture

      The shamrock has been on Montreal's coat of arms since 1832, and the pub culture that followed has been here just as long.

      History Lesson

      Why André the Giant Was One of Montreal's Greatest Entertainers in and Out of the Ring

      The city's role in André the Giant's path from French farm boy to the Eighth Wonder of the World, with a downtown brasserie pitstop.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      March 7, 2025 · 6 min read

      Why André the Giant was one of Montreal's greatest entertainers in and out of the ring

      Before he became a global icon, before WrestleMania III and The Princess Bride, André the Giant was Jean Ferré—a towering enigma dominating Quebec’s wrestling scene. There was a strong Montreal connection in his larger-than life, and the city wasn’t just a stop on his path to stardom; it was a place that helped birth the legend he would be remembered by.

      It was here that promoters first saw his potential, where he headlined sold-out arenas, and where he learned the power of mystique that would define his career. From his debut in the local Grand Prix Wrestling circuit to the moment he caught Vince McMahon Sr.’s attention, Montreal was the proving ground that transformed a French farm boy into The Eighth Wonder of the World.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      The Main

      Comments

      Welcome to The Main's comments section!

      Share your thoughts and join the conversation. Please be respectful and constructive.

      No comments yet. Be the first!

      Follow on Google
      The Historic Mount Royal Hotel Is Now Home to Montreal's Best Office Space
      History Lesson
      Sponsored
      The Main

      The Historic Mount Royal Hotel Is Now Home to Montreal's Best Office Space

      Once known as the historic Mount Royal Hotel, the Les Cours Mont-Royal is seeing renewed demand as its overlooked office spaces fill up and tenants move in.

      The Day a Downtown Campus Burned and What Came After
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Day a Downtown Campus Burned and What Came After

      What began as a complaint about grading bias escalated into a two-week occupation, a fire, and one of the most consequential reckonings with institutional racism in Canadian higher education.

      The Flying Cathedral That Made a City Lose Its Mind
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Flying Cathedral That Made a City Lose Its Mind

      In the summer of 1930, a British airship the length of two and a half Boeing 747s locked onto a mooring mast on the South Shore. Nearly a million people came to watch.

      The Montreal Punch That May Have Killed Houdini
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Montreal Punch That May Have Killed Houdini

      A backstage encounter at a Montreal theatre, a few punches, a death six weeks later. The cause remains disputed.

      The Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the Dep
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the Dep

      How a 1970 law, a Rosemont grocer, and generations of immigrant families created Montreal's most essential institution.

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      How Montreal Built Its Own Irish Pub Culture

      The shamrock has been on Montreal's coat of arms since 1832, and the pub culture that followed has been here just as long.

      More History Lesson

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureWhat To Do This Weekend (04.30–05.03)DesignA Field Guide to Design Week Montreal 2026Food + drinkMontreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026Arts & CultureThe Drama Makes You the Villain in Real TimeArts & CultureThe Separatist Cafe Where All Are Welcome
      The best cheap things to do in Montreal for $20 or less

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      The Best Cheap Things to Do in Montreal for $20 or Less

      Next

      Royalmount's New Italian Dining Hall Siamo Noi Asks Montreal to Think Bigger

      Royalmount's new Italian dining hall Siamo Noi asks Montreal to think bigger

      More History Lesson

      Latest from The Main

      Arts & CultureWhat To Do This Weekend (04.30–05.03)DesignA Field Guide to Design Week Montreal 2026Food + drinkMontreal Leads Canada's 100 Best Bar Rankings for 2026Arts & CultureThe Drama Makes You the Villain in Real TimeArts & CultureThe Separatist Cafe Where All Are Welcome
      The best cheap things to do in Montreal for $20 or less

      Previous

      The Best Cheap Things to Do in Montreal for $20 or Less

      Next

      Royalmount's New Italian Dining Hall Siamo Noi Asks Montreal to Think Bigger

      Royalmount's new Italian dining hall Siamo Noi asks Montreal to think bigger

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      Before the world knew his name, Montreal heard him first
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      Before the World Knew His Name, Montreal Heard Him First

      The Harlem of the North, Little Burgundy, raised a legend. It took 100 years to say it as loudly as possible from the city's rooftops.

      What Happened to Montreal's Red Light District?
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      What Happened to Montreal's Red Light District?

      Jazz legends, burlesque queens, and organized crime made it one of the most alive corners in North America. Then Montreal decided it had a reputation to protect.

      How 24 Stanley Cups turned the Montreal Canadiens into a religion
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      How 24 Stanley Cups Turned the Montreal Canadiens into a Religion

      From dynasty to drought: a brief-ish look at the making of Montreal's most devotional sports franchise.

      When Montreal had a steam-powered shortcut to the top of Mount Royal
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      When Montreal Had a Steam-powered Shortcut to the Top of Mount Royal

      From 1884 to 1918, a steam-powered cable railway hauled Montrealers to the summit in minutes, despite a park designer's vision of leisurely mountain strolls.

      A butcher's gamble, a forgotten tavern, and how the Mile End earned its name
      History Lesson
      The Main

      A Butcher's Gamble, a Forgotten Tavern, and How the Mile End Earned Its Name

      From a Durham County butcher shop and Massachusetts tavern keepers to a global creative district, the real story's one historians got wrong for decades.

      The century-long smoked meat legacy of Schwartz's Deli
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      The Century-long Smoked Meat Legacy of Schwartz's Deli

      How a Romanian immigrant's recipe and stubborn refusal to change built Montreal's most iconic sandwich.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Before the world knew his name, Montreal heard him first
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      Before the World Knew His Name, Montreal Heard Him First

      The Harlem of the North, Little Burgundy, raised a legend. It took 100 years to say it as loudly as possible from the city's rooftops.

      What Happened to Montreal's Red Light District?
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Happened to Montreal's Red Light District?

      Jazz legends, burlesque queens, and organized crime made it one of the most alive corners in North America. Then Montreal decided it had a reputation to protect.

      How 24 Stanley Cups turned the Montreal Canadiens into a religion
      History Lesson
      The Main

      How 24 Stanley Cups Turned the Montreal Canadiens into a Religion

      From dynasty to drought: a brief-ish look at the making of Montreal's most devotional sports franchise.

      When Montreal had a steam-powered shortcut to the top of Mount Royal
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      When Montreal Had a Steam-powered Shortcut to the Top of Mount Royal

      From 1884 to 1918, a steam-powered cable railway hauled Montrealers to the summit in minutes, despite a park designer's vision of leisurely mountain strolls.

      A butcher's gamble, a forgotten tavern, and how the Mile End earned its name
      History Lesson
      The Main

      A Butcher's Gamble, a Forgotten Tavern, and How the Mile End Earned Its Name

      From a Durham County butcher shop and Massachusetts tavern keepers to a global creative district, the real story's one historians got wrong for decades.

      The century-long smoked meat legacy of Schwartz's Deli
      History Lesson
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Century-long Smoked Meat Legacy of Schwartz's Deli

      How a Romanian immigrant's recipe and stubborn refusal to change built Montreal's most iconic sandwich.