Stroll PhotographyRue Saint-Ambroise StreetThis photography stroll on rue Saint-Ambroise near the Saint-Remi Tunnel accompanies the one in the Square Sir-George-Etienne-Cartier on Notre-Dame West in Saint-Henri.
Throughout its years of activity, the Canada Malting Co. created jobs, sold malt to breweries and was part of our industrial and economic development.
Built in 1905, the Canada Malting Co. plant is similar to other buildings designed by David Jerome Spence, an architect who had an eye for arched windows and detailed cornices.
In those days, the plant received its malted grains from Saskatchewan and Alberta. Ships arrived at the old Port of Montreal on Notre-Dame West where the grains were loaded unto barges and transported upstream on the Lachine Canal.
Malt is the result of the germination of cereal grains. First, malted grains are sorted by length and size, second, they are cleaned to remove dust and foreign particles, third, they are soaked to begin germination and fourth, they are kiln dried for about 24 hours.
In 1970, after the closing of the Lachine Canal, the grains had to be delivered to the plant by trains and trucks at great expenses. Ten years or so later, around 1980, the malting plant closed its doors and relocated in the new Port of Montreal on Notre-Dame East.
Some forgotten company used the place for grain storage until 1985. Nowadays, the building is no longer the propriety of the Canada Malting Company and, since 2005, the old malting plant has been put up for sale by its present owners.
After 25 years of abandonment, the plant cannot be recycled. The damages caused by water infiltration, decaying mortar, rust, vandalism and graffitis would cost too much to repair.
The plant and its silos sit empty in a world where disused buildings are either demolished or transformed into condos.
Two movies have been filmed on the location. The Point, a movie about Pointe-Sainte-Charles and La Rage de l’Ange by Dan Bigras (2006). Thank you for visiting Saint-Ambroise Street.
Exit Saint-Ambroise
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