In Canada, the "nine to five" office hours are taken seriously and usually observed to the letter. At 5:10 pm, the streets of Plateau, a working-class neighborhood that has turned trendy, are bustling with activity in Montreal, Quebec. A couple dressed head-to-toe in linen and pushing twins walk at an Olympic pace, while a jogger heading toward Parc Mont-Royal overtakes them, checking his phone strapped to his glistening bicep. "No time to mess around!" as the saying goes here. But it is possible to escape this highway of hurried fitness enthusiasts. Between two streets, behind the buildings, under laundry lines, the alleys – of which there are more than 4,000 in Montreal – offer a different rhythm: They are a paradise for children and a calm oasis for parents.

These small paths overflow with creativity; you might come across open-air libraries, hockey cages, imaginary street signs (such as the "Impasse des Gloutons" [Gluttons' Dead End]), or even a disco ball. Not far from the shady Place Saint-Louis, which borders one of the city's busiest streets, a peaceful, little green path is tucked away. Mélanie was holding her son by the hand, as he had just started walking in January. "It's so peaceful here. During my maternity leave, I got used to stopping by, it really does me good," she said.

You have 74.4% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.