Montreal’s vibrant streets, hidden gems, and cultural hotspots come to life through Explore 514, a fast-growing Instagram page curated by local content creator Sarah. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a passion for showcasing the city’s rich diversity, Explore 514 highlights everything from trendy cafes and scenic neighbourhoods to community events and must-visit small businesses. The page has quickly become a go-to guide for locals and tourists alike, offering an authentic lens into the heartbeat of Montreal.
What is your channel called and what is it about?
@explore.514 – it’s all about exploring the city and highlighting some of the lesser-known spots as well as everyone’s favourite places and bringing a new light to them! The absolute goal of my page is to bring small businesses to the spotlight and give them exposure! Aside from this, I love highlighting good deals in the area because we’re all trying to save a buck or two!
When did you start it? What motivated you at the beginning?
I started content creation 5 years ago in Nashville, where I’m from, when I realized there were no active pages sharing the coffee shops in the area. I started a page called “Nashlatte”, which gained popularity over the months, as I was the only active page posting new openings and hidden gems. I moved to Dallas and started a page called “DFWlattes”, which also gained popularity and decided to expand from just posting coffee to food, experiences, activities, etc. Now that I am in Montreal, I’m tying my experiences together for the Explore.514 brand and hoping to go even further with it to add hotels, experiences, & travels. I would not have made it this far without Jesus, who was the main reason for any success I’ve had.
Who were you inspired by? Any influences?
My love for coffee and lack of social presence started the inspiration behind content creation.
How would you describe your audience?
My audience likes an honest review. They want to learn about new places opening up as well as any deals and promos going on in the city.
What is your creative process? Do you have people who work with you?
The creativity happens while I’m filming! As I film, I start to picture how the video will flow. From there, I direct the creativity and guide the person on how to place their hands, the items on the table, what action shots to take, etc. I usually bring a friend to help this creative process come to life! It may take a few takes, but the end result is worth it!
How do you monetize your content? Do you also have another job?
My only job is content creation, and I have monetized it in the past! I have gotten into UGC content, which means I create content FOR the restaurant/hotel to use on their page, and they pay me for either the raw footage or edited video to use on their platforms.
What is your favourite piece of content you have created?
Here is one of my favourites, as it is one of my first hotel collabs!
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is the creative outlet as well as the connections you can make in this industry! Don’t get me wrong, eating for free might be the best part 😉 The worst part is when a client or restaurant limits you or makes it feel forced by giving you certain guidelines on what to post, what to say, etc. The whole point of this is to be given creative freedom, so it sucks when it feels forced or prepared.
What are your future plans for your channel?
I would LOVE to get more into the hotel & travel space, but it’s much harder to do/get in. My background is in hotels & hospitality, so it would be a dream to get into the content creation side of that and get paid to do what I love for the big companies! Marriott, I’m coming for you!
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | TikTok – food & lifestyle | TikTok – travel
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another Canadian content creator that you love?
@snackycathy – I watched her grow to 1k (and counting), and I love her authenticity, willingness to step in, and patience when creating content. She understands that we have a vision behind the shots and is always willing to help get the best angles!
