Broder ses racines

PAAL Partageons le monde
, Montreal, Quebec

In 2023 and 2024, the social innovation organization PAAL Partageons le monde launched Broder ses racines (Embroidering Roots), a project focused on residents of Ahuntsic and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhoods in Montreal. The initiative promoted encounters among neighbours from different backgrounds, blending art and local history to foster inclusion and celebrate the city’s rich heritage. It also aimed to strengthen immigrants’ sense of belonging through meaningful programming.

The first phase, led by Pilar Hernandez with artistic direction from cultural mediator Yaen Tijerina, included six workshops in which participants embroidered old photographs, crafting a creative reconnection to their local heritage. In the second phase, participants explored neighbourhood landmarks with a historian and visited Quebec’s provincial archives. This experience encouraged those involved to reflect on their relationship with history and the idea of rootedness. The project culminated in exhibitions featuring the embroidered photographs and personal stories, in collaboration with la Société d’histoire d’Ahuntsic-Cartierville, la maison de la culture Ahuntsic, and the Benny Library.

With the support of a range of engaged partners, PAAL Partageons le monde celebrated local heritage and fostered community engagement, creating a meaningful new form of cultural expression for both the participants and the broader community.