From the Editors

A  h,springtimeinMontreal.Aftersuchaharshwinter,residentsoftheislandof Montrealarecomingoutofhibernationtoenjoythesun,longeveningwalksand thebeautifulcityinwhichwelive.  Welcometoourspring2010editionofunMappedMontreal,aseasonalnewsletter dedicatedtotheislandsactivitiesandattractionsthatextendbeyondtheusual venturesandvenues.ThisissueincludessomeofMontrealsbest-keptsecrets:fun activities,museumstoperuse,andrestaurantstotryout.If,likeus,youfeelyou knowthelayoutoftheFineArtsMuseumbyheart,optforachangeofsceneryat theBelgoBuilding.Ifyoureonafirst-namebasiswiththeanimalsattheBiodome, atriptotheEcomuseumisinorder.ReadaboutaconvertedArtDecobathhouse, andabagelbattlefortheages,andsupportanexpandinglocalbusinessbygiving Bixiago.  Ourcontributorsareeitherlocalorvisitingstudentsandhaveawiderangeof interests.Followthisguideandyouresuretofindsomethinginterestingtodo withinthesepagesfromanyareaoftheisland.Staytunedforoursummeredition whichwillincludecoverageontheTamTamsfestival,greatpublicbeaches,surfing lessonsintheLachineCanal,thebestrestaurantswithterracesandmuchmore. Inthemeantime,dontforgettocheckouttheannualFestivalTransAmeriques,an annualtheatreanddancefestival,fromMay26toJune12(www.fta.qc.ca).  Wehopeyouenjoyournewsletterandcantwaittoreadyourcommentsand suggestions. 
      MARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT&SARASTARKEY

Volume1,Issue1 Spring2010 Editors

MARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT SARASTARKEY

Proofreader
STEFANSOBANSKI

Visual Design
CHRISTINEFOURNIER

Layout Design
MORGANTODD

IN THIS ISSUE
FromtheEditors    1  1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Spring 2010 1

Concentrated Culture
BYMORGANTODD 

ConcentratedCulture AHistoricalHome MeanderingMemories ARevolutionRevisited  VibrantVillage BagelBakeryBattle DapperDentistry OverlookedArt ArtinthePark EducationalActivities
Photo: Christine Fournier

TheBelgoBuilding,locatedat372 St.CatherineWest,isfilledwitha richhistoryinMontrealsart-centric subculture.Thebuildingwasconstructed around1910,andwasusedasa warehouseandmanufacturingspacefor thefurandgarmenttrades.Presently, thesix-storyestablishmentisnowfilled withmostly,artistanddancestudios. Enteringthefoyeryouwillnoticea quaintcoffeehouse;itfillstheairwith thelingeringandintoxicatingscentof freshespresso.Thereisawelcoming, majestic,marblestaircaseitsashame thatthestairsarenotilluminatedtosee themintheirfullandglowingglory. Emergingfromthegloriousstaircase Iarriveonthefirstfloor.Iwalkthrough theneutralhalls,withwornhardwood floors,barredandwelcomingspaces,

 

WineandDineforLess

theonlywayIcandescribethespace isdilapidated-chic.Ifindemployees fromnearbyswarmingtotheboisterous gym,thehappeningkungfustudio,

Continued on Page 2

MobilizedExercise SpringontheSummit PerfectPanoramas

Concentrated Culture Continued from Page 1

orthesereneandstylishyogastudio tosqueezeinaquickworkout.The atmosphereisinvigorating,withahint ofhardworkanddedication,Iwas intriguedandtemptedtoexploreatleast onearea.ItriedtodropinatAshtanga YogaMontreal,butIhadjustmissedthe 12:15PMclass.Thereisevenaplaceto getamassagedownthehallafteryour workout,ifthereistime. Continuingexploring,Imakemy waythroughthebuilding.Startingon thesecondfloorIcomebymultiple galleries.Eachgalleryhasauniquetwist. Someareartist-runspaces,whichallows forthefreedomtochangelighting, placement,andpieces,aswellasdirectto-customersales.Othergallerieslike theGalerie[sas]displayoneexhibit atatime.Currentlytheyarepreparing fortheworksofCarlitoDalceggiofrom April29May29,2010.Dalceggio states,Ibreathetopaint,Ipaintto breathe.Artdoesnottrytorepresent nature,artisnature.Naturaland fascinatingemotionsfillhissketches, paintingsandotherworks.Lastly,the Belgoincorporatesshowroomsfeaturing aplethoraofartists.Thepriorityof theshowroomsistoselltheart,as opposedtomainlydisplayingtheart. Oneofmyfavouritegalleriesofthis typeisMaisonKasini,whichfeatures

contemporaryart.Itspecializesinartists whoproduceinterestingandunusual worksinavarietyofmedia.Youwalk intothegalleryandyouleaveyour adultpreconceptionsatthedoor.The colourful,playfulartpiecesbroughtout myinnerchild.Thesearejustafewof themanygalleriesandstudiosthatare locatedhere. TheBelgoisalsohometonumerous dancestudios.Likeartgalleries,there aremanyvarietiesofdancestudios withinthebuilding.Someofthemare privatepracticespacesfordancers. Therearealsothedancestudiosthat manydancerspracticeat.Theremaybe acommonthemeforthestudio,such ascontemporaryorballet,butthere isntalwaysone.Iwasfortunateenough towitnessasmallgroupofdancers choreographingacontemporarypiece, astheyhadleftthedooropen,sparking mycuriosity.Ifyougetthechanceto seecontemporarydance,youshould seeit,asitisathoughtprovokingand entertaininglybroadmedium. GalleriesthroughouttheBelgo canbehit-and-miss,dependingon differentinterests.Also,becauseall studiosandspaceswithinthebuilding operateindependently,noteverything willbeopenatonce.Oftengalleries

schedulesdonotsynchronise,especially theartistrunspaces,whichmaybeby appointmentonlywhichisunfortunate forpeoplelikemewhojusthappenedto goonedayonawhim.  Withtheoverabundanceofculture concentratedinonearea,fusedwith thecommitmenttophysicalandmental health,theBelgofindstheperfect balancebetweenbodyandsoul.From theartconnoisseurtotheaverage personyouaresuretohaveafun-filled andfullday.Whethersearchingfor inspiration,lookingfordecorationor justadmiration,restassuredthereis somethingforeveryoneattheBelgo Building.

Ashtanga Yoga Montreal, Suite #118 (514) 875-9642 (www.ashtangamontreal.com) Galerie [sas], Suite #416 (514) 878-3409 Schedule (www.galeriesas.com) Maison Kasini, Suite #408 (514) 448-4723 (www.maisonkasini.com)

A Historical Home
BYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

Situatedneartheeasternendofthe LachineRapidsistheMaisonSaintGabriel,oneofCanadasoldest buildings,thoughrelativelyunknownby locals.Thehousewasbuiltin1653,and MargueriteBourgeoyspurchaseditin 1668towelcomehundredsoftheKings Wards(FillesduRoi),whoarrivedfrom FranceviatheSt.LawrenceRiver.  Topreservethehouseandits15,000 objectsfaithfullyarrangedasper aninventoryconductedinthe18th centuryvisitorsaredividedintosmall groupsaccompaniedbytourguidesin fullcostume.Theselovelywomen(they representtheKingsWards,afterall)lead touristsintotheroomswhiledelvinginto thehouseshistory,whichoverlapsthat ofourcountrysearlysettlements.They alsopointouttheetymologyofeveryday 2 Spring 2010

wordsandexpressionsthat,evenafter fourcenturies,stillhavetheirplacein QuebecsFrenchlanguage,arguablythe mostimportantpartoftheprovinces heritage. Visitorsaretheninvitedtoexplore thestonebarnandstrollinthegardenat theirownpace,admiringand,iflucky, tastingthenativeherbswhichhave beengrowingsincethe18thcentury. Inthespringandsummer,thehouseis hosttoanumberofactivities,including workshops,playsandtreasurehunts.The MaisonSaint-Gabrielisamust-seefor thosewhowishtounderstandQuebecs integralroleinCanadashistory.
 Maison Saint-Gabriel 2146 Place Dublin (Charlevoix metro, bus 57 East) Adults $8; students $4; children $2. (www.maisonsaint-gabriel.qc.ca)
Photo: Guy Plante

Meandering Memories
BYSTEFANSOBANSKI    

redoaks,silvermaplesandredmaples locatedinthecentralareaoftheproperty oronthesummitofMountRoyal.The cemeterystreescanbefoundinthree distinctzones:theplain,containing mostlysilvermaples,thesparserplateau areasattheeasternandwesternends, wheresugarmapleandNorwaymaple arefoundandthesummit,dominatedby oaks,sugarmaplesandAmericanlindens. ThelargeforestonMountRoyal sheltersavarietyofanimalspecies. Greysquirrels,chipmunks,groundhogs, raccoonsandstripedskunksarethe mostcommonmammals.Cottontail rabbitsandredfoxesareoftenseenas well,contributingtothemountains rusticcharacter...aspecialtreatina majorurbanarea.Aboveandbeyondits instructivevalue,therichanimallifein thecemeteryaddsanotherperspectiveto theexperience,settingusforth,ashuman beings,tocontemplateonourplacein natureandtheworld. Ifyouenjoynature,solitary promenadesforreflectionandare sensitivetoreligiousarchitecture,thena stopbythisvastcemeteryisworthwhile.

Ifyouenjoybreathingfreshairandwould liketotakeadvantageofabreath-taking viewofMontreal,howaboutastrollin Montrealslargestcemetery?TheNotreDame-des-Neigescemetery,foundedin 1854,isoneofthelargestofitskind.It maybecomparedtoPereLachaiseinParis orMountAuburnCemeteryinBoston. ItisthebroadestcemeteryinCanada, occupying343acresor1.39squarekm. Visitorscaneasilybecomelostorfail tolocatethesectionofthecemeteryfor whichtheyaresearching. Thereliesanimpressivehistorical legacyunderyourfootsteps,whenyou meanderthroughthe55kmoflanesthat composethecemetery.Inthelasthalfof the19thcentury,onlyFrenchCanadian, IrishandScottishCatholicsorEnglish Protestantswereburiedhere(1).Itisonly attheturnofthetwentiethcenturythat otherimmigrantsbegantoburytheirloved onesonthesegrounds.TheRepertoirede personnages,whichlistsmanyprominent andhistoricfiguresburiedinthecemetery, isavailableforreference. Thevariousworksofartthat embellishthecemeterysmausoleums areanoteworthyreligiousandartistic legacy.TheResurrectionChapelbuilt in1856,andtheJarry-Henrichon House,datingfrom1751,whichwas rebuiltandswitchedplacesin1957are twomonumentsworthseeing(1).The cemeterywasdeclaredanationalhistoric sitebythegovernmentofCanadain1998. Thecemeterysgroundsarealsohost tomanyplantsandanimals.Manyof thetreesfoundalongtheroadwaysare ornamentalvarieties.Thesetreesinclude aroundsixtyspecies:silvermaples, Norwaymaplesandhorsechestnuts. Youcanalsofindsugarmaples,Norway maples,Siberiancrabappletreesand

Photo: Christine Fournier  Lombardypoplars.Thereareothernotable speciesaswell:northernredash,red oakandColoradobluespruce,andrarer varietiessuchasbutternut,American elm,blackcherry,whitepineandeastern hemlock.Manyofthesetreesrangefrom 175to225yearsofage.

  

Aboutonehundredtreesfromthe naturalforestbeforethefoundingofthe cemeteryarestillstanding.Thesearethe

  Watkins, Meredith G. The cemetery and cultural memory: Montreal, 1860-1900. Urban History Review 31.1 (2002): 52+. CPI.Q (Canadian Periodicals). Web. 24 Mar. 2010.

Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010 3

A Revolution Revisited
BYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

IntheheartofoneofMontrealsoldest working-classneighbourhoodsstands theformerBainGenereux,abeautifully restored,Parisian-inspiredArtDeco publicbathhousebuiltin1927.The buildingishometotheEcomusee duFier-Monde,amuseumdedicated tothehistoryoftheworkingclassin Montreal,inparticularoftheCentreSudarea.MontrealwasCanadas mostprolificcityduringtheIndustrial Revolutionofthesecondhalfofthe Photo: www.ecomusee.qc.ca 19thcentury,andCentre-Sudwasatthe facilities.Theexhibit,whichrunsalong centreoftheaction. thebathhousewalls,usesphotographs, memorabilia,interviewsandmultimedia Themuseumspermanentexhibition installationstonarratehowtheworking All the Livelong Day: Triumphs classlivedandsoughttoimprovetheir and Tragedies of a Working-Class conditions. Neighbourhoodrecountsthelivesand accomplishmentsoftheareasindustrial TheEcomuseeduFier-Monde workers,themajorityofwhomlived alsohostsmanymodernartexhibits withtheirfamiliesinsurrounding throughouttheyear.Itsmainpermanent quarterswithnobathorshower

Photo: Christine Fournier

exhibitremains,however,atouching homagetotheIndustrialRevolutions saltoftheearth.



Ecomusee du Fier-Monde 2050 Amherst (Berri-UQAM metro) Adults $6; children & students $4 http://www.ecomusee.qc.ca/

Vibrant Village

BYMARIE-CLAIREEYLOTT

Cozyvillagelifeisamere20-minute driveora30-minutebusridefrom theheartofthecity.Nestledonthe shoresofLacSt.Louisintheheartofthe WestIsland,the300-year-oldPointeClaireVillageistheperfectplacefora quietafternoon.Manyofitsbuildings recalltheFrenchregime,notablySt. JoachimChurchabeautifulexample of18thcenturyNeo-Gothicstylein Quebecand,ashortwalkalongthe lakeshore,theSulpicianwindmill,one ofMontrealsoldestcolonialvestiges.  Withinthiskilometre-longstretch ofboutiques,cafs,restaurants,artisan workshopsandicecreamshops,visitors andresidentsarespoiltforchoice.Free parkingislocatedalongthestrip,so shoppersarefreetoleisurelyperusethe manystores.  Forinstance,BabarBooksand Rvedenfantsarebuttwoofthe neighbourhoodsadorablechildrens stores;LaMaisondeCalicoisa heritagebuildingnowusedforquilting workshops;BeadBoxoffersDIYbeading kits,respectively;Flirtisahigh-end womensfashionboutique;andthe popularLePanierisaninvitingshop 4 Spring 2010

filledwithgourmet,holiday,homedecor andtoygiftideas,tonameafew.  Stopforaspotofteaontheterrace ofoneoftheVillagesfamily-runcafsor tuckintoafineItalian,BelgianorFrench meal.Finally,forsomethingsweet,treat yourselftoicecreamfromWildWillys

Photo: Christine Fournier

orLeBilboquetasyoustrollalongthe waterfront.  Quaintboutiquesandrestaurantsina picturesquesetting,justfarenoughfrom thedowntowncore?Gowest,young (andnotsoyoung)shoppers.

Bagel Bakery Battle

BYSTEFANSOBANSKI 

St.ViateurBagelisinsteadycompetition withFairmountBagel,locatedjustone blocknorth.Itisunclearastotheexact yearthatFairmountopenedshop.In 1949,IsadoreShlafmanboughtacottage andknockeddownthebackwallofthe housetoinstallabageloven.Hisbagel bakerywastobefounddownstairs, whileheandhisfamilylivedupstairs. FairmountBagelismostlyafamily-run business:Mr.Shlafmansgrandchildren stillmanagethebusinesstoday,using thesametraditionsandmethodsthat wereemployedfromthebeginning. Ontheotherhand,St.ViateurBagel openedin1957.ItwasfoundedbyMyer Lewkowiczwhobroughthisfamous recipefromEasternEurope.Hisbusiness hasgrowntoincludefourbakeriesand twobagelcafesinMontrealtoday.  Wheredidthesetraditionsofhandrollingdoughintoacircularshape originate?Whoinventedthebagel?  MariaBalinska,editorofBBCRadios WorldCurrentAffairsdepartment, journalistanddocumentaryfilmmaker hasresearchedininternationalarchives anddonenumerouspersonalinterviews touncoverthebagelslinkswiththe defeatoftheTurksbyPolishKingJan Sobieskiin1683andtoJewishmigration acrosstheAtlantictoAmerica.She recentlywroteabook,TheBagel:The SurprisingHistoryofaModestBread, whichtellsthenoteworthystoryofthe bagelsjourney.  Thetwomostprominentstyles ofbagelinNorthAmericaarethe Montreal-stylebagelandtheNewYorkstylebagel.Thebasicdifferencebetween thetwostylesisthattheMontrealbagel containsnosalt;itisalsoboiledin honey-sweetenedwaterbeforebaking. TheNewYorkbagelisboiledinplain waterandhassalt.Theendresultisa

Photo: Julia Manzerova

crunchierandsweeterbagelinMontreal andapuffy,moist,saltybagelinNew YorkCity.  Otherthanthesetwostylesof bagel,thereexistanumberofvarieties elsewhereintheworld,dependingon thetraditioninthecountry.Forexample, RussianBubliksgreatlyresemblebagels, butareabitbigger,haveawiderhole andaredrier.TheFinnishofteneat Vesirinkeliforbreakfast,toastedand buttered.Forpreparation,theyare placedinsaltedboilingwaterbefore beingbaked.InTurkey,asalty,fatty-type ofbagelistheAcma.Itsringshapeis sometimesmarketedasaTurkishbagel; theyaresoldonthestreetinbasketsor carts.InsomepartsofAustria,Beugel aresoldbeforeEaster.Thesearesimilar tobagels,theyeastedwheatdough, andareusuallyflavoredwithcaraway, boiledandbaked.Thebagelisalso quitepopularinLondon,andisspelled beigel.Thepronunciationandspelling ofbageldiffersamongcommunities. MontrealersandTorontonians pronounceitlikebay-gel;peoplefrom smalltownsinNorthernOntarioand EasternCanadapronounceitlikebag-el, asinplasticbag.InNewEngland,itis spelledbaigel.  Thebagelwasactuallyinventedin Krakow,Poland,competingwiththe RussianBublik.Between1600and

1750,thebajgielbecameastapleof thePolishdiet.Bagelswerebroughtto theUnitedStatesbyimmigrantJews.A prosperousbusinessemergedinNew YorkCitythatwascontrolledfordecades byBagelBakersLocal338,whichhad contractswithnearlyallbagelbakeries inthecityforitsworkerswhoprepared allthebagelsbyhand.Thebagel becamemorewell-knownthroughout NorthAmericafromthe1960s,partly becauseHarryLenderandFlorence Senderpioneeredautomatedproduction anddistributionoffrozenbagels.  BackinMontreal,bothbakeries mastertheartofbagelmaking:hand rollingeachone,boilingtheminhoneysweetenedwater,andbakingthemina wood-burningoven.FairmountBagel andSt.Viateurarebothlocatedinthe Mile-Enddistrict,areopen24hours daily,andofferseveralvarietiesofbagels rangingfrompoppyseedtowhole wheattotheclassicsesameseed,among others.

Fairmount Bagel Bakery Inc. 74 Fairmount Avenue West (514) 272-0667 St. Viateur Bagel 263 St. Viateur Street West (514) 276-8044

Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010 5

Wine and Dine for Less

BYSARASTARKEY

TherearemanyrestaurantsinMontreal thatallowpatronstobringtheirown bottlesofwinetodinner.Thisconcept hasbeenpopularacrossNorthAmerica sincethe1950s,buthasbeenespecially well-receivedinMontreal,with hundredsofparticipatingrestaurants acrossthecity.  Althoughsomerestaurantswill chargeacorkagefeerangingfrom about$5-25,manydonot,making thepracticeperfectforthoseona modestbudget.Notonlydothese restaurantsallowforanaffordable diningexperience,buttheyarealsovery diverseintermsofcuisine.Deciding betweenJapanese,Italian,Greek,and ofcourseFrench,amongmanyothers, mightbeyourmostdifficultdecision.  LaRacletteintheMountRoyalis aSwissrestaurantbestknownforits housespecialties:fonduesandraclettes. Aracletteisatraditionalcheesedish whichhereiscookedatthetablein asmall,portablestove.Thepatronis givenapanorcoupelle,inwhichtopile cheese,driedmeatssuchasprosciutto, pickledonions,gherkins,peppered potatoesandvariousothervegetables, andplacesitontothetable-topgrilluntil thedishiscookedthrough.Thischeese originatesfromtheAlpineregionsin Switzerland,andiseasytomelt,the desiredresultforthistypeofmeal.

 Adrywhitewinewillcomplement anymealserved,thetraditionalchoice beingtheSwisswine,Fendant,which haslight,fruityundertones,theperfect accompanimenttotheheavycheesein themeal,withnoaddedcorkagefees. Saveroomfordessertbecauseitssimply todiefor.Swisschocolatedrizzledover poachedpear,whipping,andicecream isevenmoreheavenlythanitsounds.  Thiscozyrestauranthasfriendly, attentiveservice.Rangingbetween$50100fortwo,itisabitpriceybutisa worthwhileexperience

 ifyouwanttotrysomethingnew.Its nosurprisethisrestauranthasbeen runningstrongforoveradecade.Its open-conceptkitchen,lowlightingand terraceseatinginthesummer,alongwith deliciousfoodmakesitapopularchoice amonglocals.

Photo: Dave Sidaway

La Raclette 1059 Rue Gilford (514) 524-8118

Dapper Dentistry
BYMORGANTODD

Oneofthesmallestandmost interestingartgalleriesinMontreal isGalerieDentaire.Notonlyisita gallery,butitisalsoamoderndental office.Uponenteringthebuilding thebeautifulandserenewaitingarea welcomesyou,whichisalsothemain galleryspace.Thegalleryfeatures mostlyQuebecartists,withnew exhibitionseveryfewmonths.With theperfectmixofcontemporaryand OldWorldfavoritessuchasoversized, Victoriandesks,brickwallsmixed withsleekfixturesandstylishindirect lighting,thisisnotyourordinary dentistsoffice.Withcalmingmusic 6 Spring 2010

Photo: Christine Fournier

Photo: Jean Fortin

andthefriendlystaff,acheckupseems morelikeavacationthanachore.The addedbonusesofshortwaitlistsand affordablefeesmakedentalhygienea positiveexperience.

Galerie Dentaire 1239 Amherst (Metro Beaudry) (514) 523-5535 (www.galeriedentaire.com)

Overlooked Art
BYCHRISTINEFOURNIER 

ThelargestartmuseuminMontreal goesunnoticedbymost.Intotalitis70 kilometerslongandcoversalargepart ofthecitywithmanyexhibitsbynoted Quebecartistsandarchitects.Eachof its68roomshasitsuniquestyleand flavour. TheMontrealMetrosystem,which isoperatedbytheSocitdetransport deMontral,openedonOctober14, 1966andwhileitisnotamuseumin theconventionalsenseoftheword,the worksofartithousesnumberinthe hundreds.Therearesculptures,murals, mosaics,stainedglassandarchitectural elements-whilesomestationsarethe workart.Thoughmostartisfromnewer periods,thinkmodernorpopart,certain pieceshaveclassicalinspirations. Around90artistscurrentlyhave piecesforthepublictosee.Insome cases,artistslikeFrdricBack,Marcelle FerronAntoineD.Lamarche,Andr Lonard,Jean-PaulMousseau,Pierre Osterrath,andMarcelRabyhaveworks inmultiplemetrostations,thoughthe namesmaynotbefamiliartomany transitusers,theirpiecesdefinitelyare. Whilesomestationsareutterly boringduetotheirlackofartand ratherpracticalbutdrabsetting, suchasAtwater,Guy-Concordiaand LongueuilUniversit-de-Sherbrooke. TheJolicoeurstationseemstobefrom anotherera,havingneverleftitsvintage feelbehindwhileLaSalle,oneofthe beststationsforarchitecturelovers, isaconcreteabstractsculpturethat hasametrorunningthroughit.Dela ConcordeandPlace-Saint-Henrifollow thistrendbutaremodernmarvelswith splashesofcolour,columnsandpattern. AnothernoteworthystationisDela Savanne,withitsangularfeaturesand funkylightfixturesthatlooklikean extremeversionofsugarcrystals.

Photo: Christine Jackowski

Forthoseinterestedinmuralsand mosaics,Assomption,Crmazie,De Castelnau,DIberville,Snowdon, Universit-de-MontralandViaustations areworthavisit.Villa-Mariahaswhat appearstobeaPacMan-inspiredpiece byAndrLonardentitledCircles.The muralatPapineauisawonderfulpiece byJeanCartierandGeorgeJuhasz entitledLes Patriotes de 1837-1838. WhiletheworksatthePie-IXstationare Olympic-themed.Forthosewholove modern,poporabstractart,beautiful tilemosaicscanbefoundatCadillac, Henri-BourassaandJean-Talon.The mostknownareprobablythoseatPeel, whosecirclesofcolourfultilesare courtesyofJean-PaulMousseau. Sculpturesarealsoquiteprevalent. Berri-UQAM,Cartier,Cte-des-Neiges, Georges-VanieraswellasMonkhave someniceones,whileNamurfeatures asuspended,molecular-likepiece thatappearstobelonginascience classroomratherthanmetrostation.The treewithfacesfoundatLionel-Groulx canseemalittlecreepythepieceis calledLArbre de vie (The Tree of Life) byJosephRifesserandwasdonatedby theUnitedNations.GermainBergerons Pic et PelleattheMonkstationlookslike twotwiginsectshardatwork. Thestainedglassworksareprobably amongstthemostbeautifulpieces. Champ-de-Mars,CharlevoixandDu Collgehavenicepieces,butnothing asspectacularasthosefoundinthree otherstations,whichpaytributestothe historyofMontreal.Berri-UQAMhas

gorgeousmodernpiecesdedicatedto thecitysfoundersandwascreatedby PierreGaboriauandPierreOsterrath, whilePlace-des-ArtsmuralbyFrdric BackshowcasesMontrealsmusicscene. Thebestmaybethefivepieceseries, atributetolifeinMontrealinthe19th centurybyNicolasSollogoubatthe McGillstation. Whilealltheabovementionedart canbefoundbelowcitystreetsthatis nottosaythatnonecanbefoundabove ground.Square-Victoriahasabeautiful ArtNouveaumetroentrancedesigned byHectorGuimard,andwasdonatedto usbythecityofParis.TheParcstation isanoldtrainterminalwhosebeauty canonlybeappreciatefromoutside. Jean-DrapeauandCartierhaveoutdoor sculpturesthatdeservealookaswell.  
The cost to ride the metro is $2.75 for a single fare, though many of pieces mentioned are located past the turnstiles, so plan to pay for multiple fares. Six tickets cost $13.25 but one- or three-day tourists passes cost $7 and $14 respectively. All of these can be loaded onto an OPUS card if desired. The tourist pass is available at all times from Peel, Bonaventure and Berri-UQAM from May to November it is available at many other stations. Consult www. stm.info for more information. For more information on art and the history of the Montreals metro system, visit Matt McLauchlins site at www.metrodemontreal. com or the STMs site at www.stm.info.

Photo: Peter E. Lee

Spring 2010 7

Art in the Park

BYCHRISTINEFOURNIER 

canenjoytheparkwithoutgettingin eachothersway. Eachpiecehasasignstating thenameoftheartistandashort bilingualdescriptionofthepiece anditsinspiration.Theparkoffers uniquepieces,suchasThe Passing Song byCatherineWidgery.Apassing songisthesoundmadebythewind whenahumansoulleavesthebody intheCherokeetradition.Widgery constructedacanopyofghosts(or souls)thatamplifiesthesoundofthe windwhenstandingunderit.Bill VazansStory Rocklookslikeagiant targetcarvedinalargestoneuntilyou getcloserandseeswirlingmotifsand petroglyph-inspiredcarvings. Ren-LvesqueParkalsohasasmall arboretumwithtreesnativetoQuebec andCanada.Smallsignspostedinfront ofthetreesallowvisitorstodiscover thenamesofaroundthirtyspecies, thoughuntiltheleavesbloomitishard totellthemapart.

Museumsrarelypermitvisitorstotouch worksofart,butthisoneonlysays nottoclimbthem.Personally,Ilove goingtomuseumstolookatpaintings, photographsandsculpturesandwill admittheurgetotouchpiecescan barelyberesistedinsomecases.Few museumsallowthepublictotouch pieces,thoughwhentheydomany takeadvantage.Ibelievethattouch canonlyenhancetheexperienceof lookingatbeautifulpiecesofart. TheMusedePleinAirdeLachine isanoutdoormuseumthatispartof theLachineMuseum.Asectionofthis open-airmuseumcanbefoundinPark Ren-Lvesque.Theparkislocatedon alongpeninsulawhichextendsinto LacSt.Louis.Thereare22scaleart piecesmadeofmetal,woodorstone whichrunalonga4-kilometerpath. Thepathisdividedbyasmallgrass stripsothatpedestriansandcyclists

Photo: Christine Fournier

Photo: Christine Fournier

The park and museum can be reached easily using public transportation. The 110 bus leaves from the Angrignon metro station every 30 minutes. It is a short, five-minute walk from the bus stop to the park. By car, the museum can be reached by taking highway 20 towards the Mercier Bridge, take exit 2 and follow the signs to Park Ren-Lvesque. The park is at the corner of St. Patrick Street and Chemin du Canal. Parking, though not free, is inexpensive at $3 a day. There is no entrance fee to get into the park, which is open year round, though the paths are not well-maintained during the winter. It is a great place to picnic in the summer and an ice cream shop and rental shop as well as small restaurants can be found near the entrance of the park.
Photo: Christine Fournier

8 Spring 2010

Educational Animals
BYCHRISTINEFOURNIER

Lookingforaneducationalactivity childrenwillenjoy?Whynotvisitthe EcomuseuminSte-Anne-de-Bellevue,on thewesterntipoftheislandofMontreal. This28-acrewildlifeparkhousesover ninetyspeciesofbirds,amphibians, reptiles,fishandmammalsthatcanbe seenintheirnaturalhabitat.  Gravelpathsandrampsleadtothe variousanimalenclosuresaroundthe parkanditishighlyrecommendedto wearwaterprooffootwearastheground canbemuddyafterrainfallorduringthe winterthawwhenthesnowmelts.  Visitorswillspentaboutanhourand ahalfwalkingaround,readingsigns andstoppingtotakenumerouspictures. Thecoyoteandwolfexhibitshavea lookoutwithPlexiglaswindowstoenjoy aviewoftheseanimalswithouthaving tolookthroughchain-linkfencing.One canappreciatebeingabletogetquite closetosomeoftheanimals,likeotters, porcupineandraccoons,althoughthe porcupinewaspretendingtobeahay balethatday.  Certainareasoftheparkareclosed offduringthewinter,suchasthemarsh walk,butterflygarden,turtlepondand

 snakepit.However,someofthese Thisindoorexhibitisonthebottom speciescanstillbeseenintheeducation floorofthecenterandisquiteunique. centeraspartoftheFrom Light to Dark Inthelightpartoftheexhibitthere exhibit.

Photo: Christine Fournier

Photo: Christine Fournier

Continued on Page 10

Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010 9

Educational Animals Continued from Page 9

arefrogs,snakes,turtlesandfish,before goingthroughadoublesetofdoors tothedarkpart.Herethelightsare turnedverylow,makingitimpossible toseeanythingforafewminuteswhile theireyesadjustedtothedark.Itmay takequiteawhiletolocatesomeofthe animalsintheirglassed-offenclosure butthatwaspartofthefun.  TheEcomuseumofferskid-friendly activitiesthroughouttheyearamongst themsummercamps,apprenticeship foradayprograms,guidedgrouptours, birthdaypartiesandsleepovers.Alist ofupcomingeventsisavailableat theirwebsiteatwww.ecomuseum.ca. Facilitieshereincludeashadedpicnic area,anindoorlunchroom,washrooms, waterfountains,asmallgiftshop andplentyoffreeparking.Itisopen everyday,exceptChristmas,from9amto 5pm,noadmittanceafter4pmthough.  Gettingtothemuseumisrelatively easybutonlybycar.Takehighway40to CenterorJohnAbbottCollegeduringthe exit41andfollowboulevardSte.Marie week,stopsinfrontofthemuseum.No totheEcomuseum.The210bus,which weekendbusserviceisavailable. leavesregularlyfromFairviewShopping


Photo: Christine Fournier

Ecomuseum 21125 Chemin Sainte-Marie Stainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3Y7 (514) 457-9449 (www.ecomuseum.ca)

Mobilized Exercise
BYSARASTARKEY

TheBixibike,aninexpensiveand convenientwaytotravelaround Montrealnamedforahybridtaxi/ bicycle,isperfectforboththewellbeingoftheenvironmentandfor personalfitness.Availableforuse twenty-fourhoursaday,sevendaysa weekfromSpringtoFall,thesebikes offertouristsandlocalsalikeapieceof Montrealsculture.  Asthefirstpublicbikingsystemin Canada,MontrealsBixiisnowonpar withthesystemsinParisandBarcelona, andisoneoftheforerunnersinterms oflarge-scaleproductioninallofNorth America.LondonandMelbourneare nowadoptingtheBixibikeasameans oftravel,expandingthelocalcompany acrossthreecontinents.  Thebikes,equippedwithbaskets,are freeforthefirsthalfhourofuse,which encouragesshorttrips,asthecompany hopestopromotetheincorporationof bikingintodailyroutine.Thebikescan betakenfromorleftatanyofthethree hundredstationslocatedthroughout thedowntownarea.Theserviceis availableforaflatrateof$5aday,$28 foramonth,or$78forafullyearwith additionalfeesforuseperhour.  10 Spring 2010

Agreatwayoftouringthecity, cuttingdownonpollutionandtaking partintheMontreallifestyle,theBixi bikeistrulyonetowatchoutforasit expandsacrosstheworld.

Photo: Zeblackstar

Find out more at www.bixi.com.

Spring on the Summit

BYCHRISTINEFOURNIER 

Farfromthehustleandbustleofthe cityatthetopofsteep,narrowstreets, oneofthecitysmostbeautifulgemsis foundintheexclusiveneighbourhood ofWestmount.ItmayonlybeafiveminutedrivefrompopularMont-Royal; butSummitParkisunknowntomany. Whileitmainlyservesasadogpark forlocalresidents,itispopularwith bird-watchersandhikersalike.  SummitParkissmallat57acres bithasmanypathsthatmeanderup anddownunderacanopyoftrees. Thetrailsthatcirclearoundthispeak offerhikersmanysights,suchasthe UniversityofMontrealandSt.Josephs Oratory.Sincethisparkisusedby petowners,dogsfrequentlywonder aroundunleashed,oftenrunningupto fellowhikerswantingaffection.

Photo: Christine Fournier

whilewalkingaroundincludingan sanctuarymakingitpossibletoobserve owlperchedhighinhollowedouttree. around180differentspecies.  Therearemanyinterestingly-shaped treesandalargevarietyofbirdstosee Theparkisaprotectedbirdandflower  Openyear-roundandthepark isquiteenjoyableonwarm,sunny days.Inearlyspringthepathsmay beicysoextraprecautionssuchas wearingshoeswithgoodtractions, usingcramponsorslip-oncleatsis recommended.Therearefewactivities todointhepark,nobenchesorpicnic tableswerespottedduringmyvisit althoughthatdidnotstopacoupleof peoplefromsittingdowninthesnow toenjoyasnackandtheview.Aswell theparkhasnowashroomfacilities.  Locatedjustoutsidetheparkisa belvedere,whichoffersgreatviews startingfromdowntownMontrealand goingtoLachineandtheWestIsland, aswellastheSouthShore.Onaclear day,theAdirondacksandtheGreen Mountains,whichareintheUnited States,canbeseen.Therearearrows pointingtovarioussitesonandoffthe island.    Getting to Summit Park may not be easy
using public transportation. The 166 or 66 bus stops nearby, but walking uphill to the park cannot be avoided. By car, access is much easier. It is only a couple of turns off Chemin de la Cote-des-Neiges. Free parking is available at the corner of Summit Circle and Chemin Summit or at the lookout.
Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010 11

Perfect Panoramas
BYSARASTARKEY 

VisitorsofdowntownMontrealtypically flocktothetopofMountRoyalforan aerialviewofthecity,butspectacular viewscanbefoundineventhemost surprisingplaces.Forthosehighly susceptibletotheallureofacityskyline, Montrealhasawayofmakingeventhe mostmundaneoferrandsachanceto seeabreathtakingsight. Thereareseveralcross-citybuses thathavesurprisinglybeautifulsights. Althoughsomeoftheseviewsarefrom cementhighways,theywillbesureto

brightenanymorningcommute.The211 busroutetoDorvalinparticularhasa birdseyeviewoftheentirecitywhen travellingineitherdirection.Similarly, Route144,whichtravelsalongDesPins, hasanamazingsceneofthedowntown areaup-close.  ParcJeanneMance,situatedatthe footofMountRoyal,hasthemost incredibleviewatdusk;thetallest buildingsinMontreallitupbythe settingsun.Levelwiththecity,this particularsceneofferstheviewerasense ofthescaleofthebuildingsandthe expanseofthelandscape. 

HoteldelaMontagne,ahotelin theheartofthecity,offersaunique view-from-the-topofthesurrounding buildings.Atnight,visitorsofthehotel dineandswimontherooftopterrace whilethelightsofthecitysparkleall around.  Insteadoftakingtheunderground metro,thepromiseofaspectacularview beckonsmanytouriststooptforabovegroundtransportation.Thebestadvice Icanoffertoanytourististokeepyour eyesopen.Takethechancetostrayoff thebeatenpath.Youneverknowwhen thebeautyofMontrealcantakeyour breathaway.

Photo: Maha Online

Pick-up your quarterly issue at:  InfotouristeCentre 1255PeelStreet,Suite100  TouristWelcomeOfficeinOldMontreal 174Notre-DameStreetEast  For free subscriptions please contact us: (514)873-2015 (info@tourisme-montreal.org)
 or

Photo: Hazel Gabe

www.tourisme-montreal.org

12 Spring 2010