"The Mordecai Richler Library is as much a cultural repurposing project as it is a public institution. Housed in the former Anglican Church of the Ascension, a 1904 stone structure on Parc Avenue, the library was reborn through a neighbourhood-led push to preserve the building’s community function. It officially took on the name of Mile End’s most famous literary son in 2015, honouring Richler’s outsized role in shaping how this corner of Montreal is remembered on the page.

Inside, you’ll find more than books: a digital lending platform, an art hive, music instruments, outdoor gear, and even a public piano. There are dedicated spaces for teens and families, plus a reading room that doubles as a teamwork space. The building blends old bones with new purpose, from the elevator that cuts through original wood beams to the outdoor mini-park acquired for quiet play and reading. It’s a library that mirrors its neighbourhood—scrappy, thoughtful, and deeply layered."