Centre des métiers du cuir de Montréal (CMCM)

The Centre des métiers du cuir de Montréal (CMCM) is a school that teaches the art and craft of turning leather into various objects, including shoes. It attracts three types of clientele: Cégep du Vieux Montréal students registered in the technical program in applied arts and crafts, leatherwork; professional artisans looking to upgrade their skills; and members of the public who would like to take a hobby course.

Located on Jean-Talon Street East, the CMCM’s workshops are equipped with a wide variety of specialized leatherworking tools and machinery.

While these are used by students, they can also be rented by professionals and businesses. Furthermore, in February 2010, the CMCM opened an exhibition gallery to display the creations of graduates and professionals.

Founded in 1989 to support the Quebec government’s national training plan in the applied arts and crafts sector, the CMCM works to raise the profile of the leatherworking profession and promote its artisans inside and outside the province.

After independently awarding an attestation of college studies (known by its French acronym, AEC) for its first seven years, in 1996 the CMCM established a partnership with Cégep du Vieux Montréal that enables it to offer graduates a diploma of college studies (DEC) in leatherwork. As of 2019, the program had approximately 30 students. They learn design and production techniques, both traditional and computer-assisted, working with chrome tanned and vegetable tanned leather.