Soraya Martinez Ferrada Pledges to Protect Montreal’s Cultural Venues

In response to the growing insecurity faced by many cultural venues, mayoral candidate and leader of Ensemble Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has pledged to stand with Montreal’s performance halls by introducing a new approach to managing noise complaints.

The current regulations, and those proposed by Projet Montréal, miss the mark. By treating concert halls like a noisy backyard party, the City of Montreal is accelerating their closure. A new approach is urgently needed to prevent more venues from shutting down and to preserve Montreal’s cultural vibrancy for all its residents.

Speaking at a press conference outside the legendary La Tulipe, which closed less than a year ago due to repeated complaints from a single neighbor and the Rabouin administration’s failure to act, Martinez Ferrada emphasized the economic and cultural value of Montreal’s nightlife, which plays a vital role in positioning the city as the cultural capital of French-speaking North America.

Under an Ensemble Montréal administration led by Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the City will adopt a collaborative and community-driven approach and commit to the following:

• Preserve the cultural identity and nightlife of our neighborhoods by directing all noise complaints related to performance venues to a dedicated administrative unit, rather than immediately involving the police;
  
• Champion cooperation over punishment by managing these complaints through a mediation process before issuing penalties, treating them as neighborhood disputes requiring a graduated, community-based response.

For Ensemble Montréal, it is essential to respect citizens’ concerns while acknowledging the unique role cultural venues play in shaping Montreal’s identity.

Quotes:

“Montreal’s nightlife is not only crucial to our cultural scene, but also to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and the city’s economic development. We can manage sound intelligently, without silencing the spaces that have already been struggling for years. The City must support its creators, artists, and musicians by every means possible.” — Soraya Martinez Ferrada, mayoral candidate and leader of Ensemble Montréal

“Cracking down won’t solve cohabitation challenges. Ensemble Montréal will be a true ally to performance venues, using every tool available to ensure their survival. We need to strengthen our cultural scene, not shut it down with punitive, outdated regulations.” — Chantal Rossi, Ensemble Montréal spokesperson for culture and heritage

“MTL 24/24 welcomes Ensemble Montréal’s commitment to rethinking noise complaint management by emphasizing mediation, dialogue, and specialized handling. It’s a concrete step toward better recognizing the essential role nightlife culture plays in Montreal’s social fabric.” — Martin Chartrand, Executive Director, MTL 24/24

“L’Union Française is a 140-year-old charitable institution run by volunteers. Hosting over 200 events a year showcasing local and emerging artists, without any government support, it plays a vital role in Montreal’s cultural diversity. The proposed noise by-law is deeply concerning and doesn’t reflect the reality of small venues or public opinion. We need a fairer, less punitive alternative, one built by trained professionals who can offer mediation and support tailored to small, under-resourced organizations. Otherwise, more venues will sadly join the list of those lost to noise complaints.”  — Yan Niesing, Executive Director, Union Française de Montréal