A tale – in three parts – of two cities
Cities are about people, a place to gather, work and play; a place to live in the moment while pursuing our ambitions and dreams.
At first glance, Montreal and Shanghai share little beyond an agreement affirming their status as sister cities. What if there is something more, something ubiquitous that reinforces our shared humanity? Candid, spontaneous and uplifting, there is no agenda behind this photoessay beyond accentuating our unique qualities and shining light on the richness of our urban lives.
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Beneath the fun-going, romantic and cosmopolitan persona portrayed in travelogues and tourism commercials, Montrealers are unpretentious pragmatists. This state-of-being is reinforced by an extreme climate with icy winters punctuated by snowstorms that blanket the metropolis, and hot and humid summers that can sometimes cover us in sweat and grime.
But it's not just about the weather. A measure of adversity in its various manifestations has imparted to Montrealers a stubborn streak alongside our unquenchable joie de vivre.
© 2025 Daniel Wiener
