19 February 2007
Montreal's Old Clubs See New Life with Hip Set
Montreal Quebec - They were once potent symbols of
the wealth and clout of the dominant anglophone business class.
Modelled on the upper-crust British, wood-panelled gentlemen's retreats of yore, Montreal's lavishly
appointed private clubs reflected the city's status as Canada's financial centre and economic powerhouse.
But by the late 1990s, many of the clubs had fallen on hard times, the culmination of a number of factors,
including the flight of anglo money out of Montreal beginning in the late 1970s amid the turmoil of
nationalist politics.
Memberships were dwindling, the once-glorious buildings in crying need of a makeover, the facilities and
services demodes.
And one venerable, 80-year-old haunt that was having trouble covering the cost of the upkeep on just membership
fees, was taken over by a private real estate developer that is opening up the facilities to outsiders.
At the posh Mount Stephen Club - the imposing former home of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. founding president
George Stephen - executive director Silvio Sicoli talks proudly of the careful restoration and expansion work
taking place, such as a high-tech cleaning and pointing of the stonework.
The 1883 limestone-clad heritage mansion, modelled on an Italian Renaissance palace, boasts
obscenely thick Cuban-mahogany front doors, intricately hand-carved wood detailing,
24-karat gold doorknobs and luminous stained-glass windows; it's considered a
jewel of Canadian late-Victorian architecture.
Mount Stephen, located on Drummond Street in the downtown, was recently sold for $4-million to
Tidan Group, a private Montreal-based real estate company co-founded by Michael
Yuval and Jack Sofer.
The idea is to maintain the club's vocation as a private club, but also generate more cash from activities
such as weddings, fundraisers, Sunday brunches, and other activities, Mr. Sicoli said.
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