The Montreal Art Center

In 2011, Allan Diamond was ready to adopt a slower pace of life. As a successful entrepreneur and a self-proclaimed workaholic, he wasn't going to take to retirement easily. Having been a lifelong art lover and a talented hobbyist painter, he thought, what better way to ease into retirement than to open up an art centre? This would give him ample opportunity to work on his two favourite things: business and art.

"Well, it didn't quite work out like that, and the first two years I was here I hardly got to paint at all," laughs the good-humoured owner of the Montreal Art Centre. Since he took over the 19th century corner building in Montreal's historic Griffintown District, he has worked non-stop to turn the place from an abandoned factory into the vibrant, modern art centre it is today. It hasn't been easy, and it hasn't been quick. But has it been worth it? Most definitely. This place brings a lot of happiness to a lot of people.