Gaykryssningsområden i Montreal

Montreal today has very little in the way of public gay cruising compared to the past. The shift is partly cultural (apps and safer venues), partly social (visibility and acceptance), and partly legal (policing and redevelopment of older cruising areas). Here’s a deeper look at the history and context:

Cruising in Montreal Before Apps

Like most major cities, Montreal once had a discreet cruising culture that flourished before mainstream LGBTQ+ acceptance and long before the rise of Grindr or Sniffies. Cruising was about finding connection in an era when being openly gay was risky, and it gave men a way to meet outside bars and clubs.

The main sites included:

• Mont-Royal Park – especially wooded trails and viewpoints near the park’s summit and around Beaver Lake. Its size and central location made it the city’s most famous cruising ground from the 1960s through the 1990s.
• Parc Lafontaine – another green space in the Plateau that offered semi-secluded areas, popular especially in summer.
• Public baths and cinemas – though not “cruising grounds” in the outdoor sense, Montreal had bathhouses and adult theatres where gay men could meet long before they were mainstreamed as part of the Village scene.
• The Old Port and riverside areas – some spots along the St. Lawrence River had reputations for nighttime cruising, though these were less established than the big parks.

The Fade-Out

Several factors explain why Montreal’s public cruising scene has faded:

• Grindr and dating apps – Meeting men discreetly became safer and more direct, reducing reliance on parks.
• The Village’s growth – The Gay Village along Sainte-Catherine Street developed into one of the biggest in North America, offering bars, saunas, and clubs where men could meet openly.
• Policing and urban changes – Increased security, lighting, and patrols in parks like Mont-Royal made cruising riskier and less appealing.
• Kulturskift – As queer life became more mainstream and visible, the need for hidden spaces lessened, though some lament the loss of their social and erotic role.

Montreal Today

While outdoor cruising has mostly disappeared, Montreal still has a thriving sex-positive culture indoors. Bathhouses such as Bastu GI Joe OCH Bastu Centre-Ville cater to men seeking connection. The Village remains the social and nightlife hub, drawing people away from the old outdoor haunts. Cruising today is more private, more app-driven, and more aligned with organised venues than public spaces.