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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|Sunday, April 26, 2026|
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      --°C|Sunday, April 26, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.Get 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      Explore
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      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
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      • See all Guides
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      Your Guide to Japan Week 2026: Ten Days of Food, Culture, and Craft in Montreal
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      Montreal: A Nest of Spies During the American Civil War

      The director of the Crave Original documentary Kings of Coke recently sat down with The Main to talk about the release of his latest book, The North Star.

      ByDaniel Bromberg

      April 22, 2023 · 6 min read

      Montreal: A nest of spies during the American Civil War

      Julian Sher is no stranger to storytelling. The Canadian investigative journalist, author and filmmaker has spent decades researching and recounting accounts of our nation's history, often with a focus on its darker, more sinister aspects. His most recent documentary, Kings of Coke, chronicled the dominance of Montreal's West End Gang, an Irish Mafia that became one of the largest criminal organizations in North America.

      Only six months following its release, Sher, 70, has followed up with another fascinating tale of Canadian history, this time with a book entitled The North Star: Canada and the Civil War Plots Against Lincoln, set to hit shelves on April 25. This latest publication uncovers some of the unexpected ways citizens north of the 49th parallel, particularly Montrealers, were involved in the American Civil War — including the eventual manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.

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      For readers who care about Montreal

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

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      How to Make a Killing Wants to Eat the Rich. It Just Forgets to Bite.
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      A (Mostly) Spoken History of Casa del Popolo, the Venue That Launched a Thousand Weird Bands
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      A (Mostly) Spoken History of Casa Del Popolo, the Venue That Launched a Thousand Weird Bands

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      Remembering Gabor Szilasi, the Refugee Who Became Montreal's Greatest Witness
      Arts & Culture
      J.P. Karwacki

      Remembering Gabor Szilasi, the Refugee Who Became Montreal's Greatest Witness

      The Hungarian-born photographer spent seven decades documenting this city's streets, faces, and disappearing present. He died on April 10, 2026, at 98.

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      Montreal: A Nest of Spies During the American Civil War

      The director of the Crave Original documentary Kings of Coke recently sat down with The Main to talk about the release of his latest book, The North Star.

      ByDaniel Bromberg

      April 22, 2023 · 6 min read

      Montreal: A nest of spies during the American Civil War

      Julian Sher is no stranger to storytelling. The Canadian investigative journalist, author and filmmaker has spent decades researching and recounting accounts of our nation's history, often with a focus on its darker, more sinister aspects. His most recent documentary, Kings of Coke, chronicled the dominance of Montreal's West End Gang, an Irish Mafia that became one of the largest criminal organizations in North America.

      Only six months following its release, Sher, 70, has followed up with another fascinating tale of Canadian history, this time with a book entitled The North Star: Canada and the Civil War Plots Against Lincoln, set to hit shelves on April 25. This latest publication uncovers some of the unexpected ways citizens north of the 49th parallel, particularly Montrealers, were involved in the American Civil War — including the eventual manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.

      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

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