Camillien Houde was one of Montréal’s most well-known mayors, serving four terms between 1928 and 1954. Loved by many for his charm and strong connection to everyday people, he helped improve the city through public parks and social programs during tough times like the Great Depression.
During World War II, Houde made headlines when he told Quebec men not to follow the federal government’s call for national registration. He believed it was the first step toward forced military service. For this, he was arrested and held for over four years without trial. When he returned, Montréalers welcomed him warmly, and he was re-elected as mayor in 1944.
Houde’s story reflects Montréal’s independent spirit and the tension between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Today, his name lives on at the Mount Royal lookout—an iconic spot named in his honour.
1935 – A photo showing Mayor Camillien Houde delivering a speech to a crowd in winter. Standing on a square, he addresses the crowd gathered around him into a microphone.1935 – Photo showing the Mayor in full speech, standing on a square, in front of a microphone.1935 – Photograph during a speech.1940 – Group photograph including Camillien Houde and his wife Georgianna in the front row.1940 – Photograph of Camillien Houde surrounded by a group of men and women, taken on the exterior porch of a building.1940 – Photograph of Mayor Camillien Houde and Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis.1945 – Photograph of the Mayor and his wife, Georgianna, in a convertible car.1947 – Photograph of Camillien Houde sitting at his desk with his wife Georgiana and his three daughters.1947 – Photograph of Mayor Camillien Houde signing the register of oaths in the presence of clerk J.Alphonse Mongeau.1948 – Photograph of the car driving the Mayor and his wife, Georgianna.1950 – At the mayor’s office.1950 – Giving a speech.1950 – Examining various artefacts in his office.1950 – Photograph sitting in the mayor’s office, smoking a cigarette. Image taken by Clay Sperling, a photographer employed by the Montreal Standard newspaper.1950 – Photograph showing Maurice Duplessis giving a speech at the Windsor Hotel, while Camillien Houde laughs in the background.1950 – Photograph showing Montreal Mayor Camillien Houde holding a draw with radio host Roger Baulu. A young child in diapers is in the bin of participating coupons to select the winning number.1950 – The photograph is accompanied by a card from John G. Contat, manager of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montreal.1951 – Photograph of Camille Houde accompanying a group of people on platform 14 of the central station.1951 – Photograph of the Mayor in an exhibition focusing in particular on certain commercial companies active since 1846 (wheelwrights, carters and fuel merchants).1958 – A photo of Place d’Armes, taken from above the Canadian National Bank building, shows cars and a crowd gathered for Camillien Houde’s funeral.
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people's lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school's newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.
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