MONTREAL, CANADA.- The McCord Museum is pleased to announce the release of an illustrated book that reveals the history of Scottish immigration and settlement in Montreal. Inspired by the McCord Museum’s 2003-2004 exhibition, The Scots — Dyed-in-the-Wool Montrealers, The Scots of Montreal: A Pictorial Album is published by Véhicule Press in collaboration with the McCord and the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal.

The Scots of Montreal: A Pictorial Album draws upon the rich content of the exhibition, using photographs, paintings, documents, and artifacts from the McCord collection and the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal to tell the colourful story of Montreal’s Scottish immigrants and their descendants. We meet larger-than-life characters such as James McGill, Simon McTavish, A.W. Ogilvie, Sir Sanford Fleming and Sir William Dawson, discover what housewares, clothing and curiosities immigrants carried in their kists (trunks), and learn about the legacy of Scottish architects, craftsmen, entrepreneurs and stonemasons.

Since the 18th century, Montrealers of Scottish origin have influenced Canada’s political, cultural, scientific, and business life. Although they made up less than ten percent of Montreal’s population, they influenced the city and the country far beyond their numbers. The Scots were instrumental in building Canada’s national railroads, Montreal’s first bridge, and many of the financial, educational and industrial institutions that still sustain Montreal — the Bank of Montreal, McGill University, Redpath Sugar and the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Beautifully sewn and printed on 100 lb matte-coated paper, this sumptuously illustrated book features 12 colour plates and more than 60 black & white photographs accompanied by an animated historical narrative that takes the reader beyond the stern official portraits and preconceptions to discover how deeply the Scottish thistle is rooted in Montreal’s soil.