Perchoir d’Haiti

Founded in the late 1950’s by Carlo d’Orléans-Juste (1931-1996), the Perchoir d’Haïti quickly became a central meeting place for Haitian exiles, who arrived in Montreal in greater numbers during the 1960’s following the Duvalier dictatorship (1957-1986).

Located at 1247 Metcalfe St., the Perchoir d’Haïti was a resto-bar and club which fostered much dialogue between Haitian and Quebec intellectuals.

In addition to allowing a wider audience to discover artists and musicians from Haiti, in the 1960s, the Perchoir d’Haïti also hosted its famous “literary Mondays” where Haitian and Quebec poets such as Anthony Phelps and Gaston Miron exchanged and recited their latest works. While the Perchoir d’Haiti ultimately lost some of its luster during this decade, it is still remembered today as one of the cornerstones of (modern) Haitian immigration to Quebec.