From the Editors Volume 1, Issue 1

 Spring 2010
 h, springtime in Montreal. After such a harsh winter, residents of the island of
A
Montreal are coming out of hibernation to enjoy the sun, long evening walks and
the beautiful city in which we live. 
 Editors
Welcome to our spring 2010 edition of unMapped Montreal, a seasonal newsletter
dedicated to the island’s activities and attractions that extend beyond the usual MARIE-CLAIRE EYLOTT
ventures and venues. This issue includes some of Montreal’s best-kept secrets: fun
activities, museums to peruse, and restaurants to try out. If, like us, you feel you SARA STARKEY
know the layout of the Fine Arts Museum by heart, opt for a change of scenery at
the Belgo Building. If you’re on a first-name basis with the animals at the Biodome, Proofreader
a trip to the Ecomuseum is in order. Read about a converted Art Deco bathhouse,
and a bagel battle for the ages, and support an expanding local business by giving STEFAN SOBANSKI
Bixi a go. 
 Visual Design
Our contributors are either local or visiting students and have a wide range of
interests. Follow this guide and you’re sure to find something interesting to do CHRISTINE FOURNIER
within these pages from any area of the island. Stay tuned for our summer edition
which will include coverage on the Tam Tams festival, great public beaches, surfing Layout Design
lessons in the Lachine Canal, the best restaurants with terraces and much more.
In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the annual Festival TransAmeriques, an MORGAN TODD
annual theatre and dance festival, from May 26 to June 12 (www.fta.qc.ca).

We hope you enjoy our newsletter and can’t wait to read your comments and
suggestions.


MARIE-CLAIRE EYLOTT & SARA STARKEY
IN THIS ISSUE
From the Editors 1


Concentrated Culture Concentrated Culture 1

BY MORGAN TODD

The Belgo Building, located at 372
St. Catherine West, is filled with a
rich history in Montreal’s art-centric
subculture. The building was constructed
around 1910, and was used as a
warehouse and manufacturing space for
the fur and garment trades. Presently,
the six-story establishment is now filled
with mostly, artist and dance studios.
Entering the foyer you will notice a
quaint coffeehouse; it fills the air with
the lingering and intoxicating scent of
fresh espresso. There is a welcoming,
majestic, marble staircase – it’s a shame
that the stairs are not illuminated to see
them in their full and glowing glory.
Emerging from the glorious staircase
I arrive on the first floor. I walk through
the neutral halls, with worn hardwood
floors, barred and welcoming spaces,
Photo: Christine Fournier
the only way I can describe the space
is dilapidated-chic. I find employees
from nearby swarming to the boisterous
gym, the happening kung fu studio,
Continued on Page 2
A Historical Home 2
Meandering Memories 3
A Revolution Revisited 4 
Vibrant Village 4
Bagel Bakery Battle 5
Wine and Dine for Less 6
Dapper Dentistry 6
Overlooked Art 7
Art in the Park 8
Educational Activities 9
Mobilized Exercise 10
Spring on the Summit 11
Perfect Panoramas 12
Spring 2010  •  1
Concentrated Culture Continued from Page 1
or the serene and stylish yoga studio
to squeeze in a quick workout. The
atmosphere is invigorating, with a hint
of hard work and dedication, I was
intrigued and tempted to explore at least
one area. I tried to drop in at Ashtanga
Yoga Montreal, but I had just missed the
12:15 PM class. There is even a place to
get a massage down the hall after your
workout, if there is time.
Continuing exploring, I make my
way through the building. Starting on
the second floor I come by multiple
galleries. Each gallery has a unique twist.
Some are artist-run spaces, which allows
for the freedom to change lighting,
placement, and pieces, as well as direct-
to-customer sales. Other galleries like
the Galerie [sas] display one exhibit
at a time. Currently they are preparing
for the works of Carlito Dalceggio from
April 29 – May 29, 2010. Dalceggio
states, “I breathe to paint, I paint to
breathe. Art does not try to represent
nature, art is nature.” Natural and
fascinating emotions fill his sketches,
paintings and other works. Lastly, the
Belgo incorporates showrooms featuring
a plethora of artists. The priority of
the showrooms is to sell the art, as
opposed to mainly displaying the art.
One of my favourite galleries of this
type is Maison Kasini, which features
contemporary art. It specializes in artists
who produce interesting and unusual
works in a variety of media. You walk
into the gallery and you leave your
adult preconceptions at the door. The
colourful, playful art pieces brought out
my inner child. These are just a few of
the many galleries and studios that are
located here.
The Belgo is also home to numerous
dance studios. Like art galleries, there
are many varieties of dance studios
within the building. Some of them are
private practice spaces for dancers.
There are also the dance studios that
many dancers practice at. There may be
a common theme for the studio, such
as contemporary or ballet, but there
isn’t always one. I was fortunate enough
to witness a small group of dancers
choreographing a contemporary piece,
as they had left the door open, sparking
my curiosity. If you get the chance to
see contemporary dance, you should
see it, as it is a thought provoking and
entertainingly broad medium.
Galleries throughout the Belgo
can be hit-and-miss, depending on
different interests. Also, because all
studios and spaces within the building
operate independently, not everything
will be open at once. Often galleries’
schedules do not synchronise, especially
the artist run spaces, which may be by
appointment only – which is unfortunate
for people like me who just happened to
go one day on a whim. 

With the overabundance of culture
concentrated in one area, fused with
the commitment to physical and mental
health, the Belgo finds the perfect
balance between body and soul. From
the art connoisseur to the average
person you are sure to have a fun-filled
and full day. Whether searching for
inspiration, looking for decoration or
just admiration, rest assured there is
something for everyone at the Belgo
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 words and expressions that, even after

BY MARIE-CLAIRE EYLOTT
Situated near the eastern end of the
Lachine Rapids is the Maison Saint-
Gabriel, one of Canada’s oldest
buildings, though relatively unknown by
locals. The house was built in 1653, and
Marguerite Bourgeoys purchased it in
1668 to welcome hundreds of the King’s
Wards (Filles du Roi), who arrived from
France via the St. Lawrence River.
 host to a number of activities, including
To preserve the house and its 15,000
objects—faithfully arranged as per
an inventory conducted in the 18th
century—visitors are divided into small
groups accompanied by tour guides in
full costume. These lovely women (they
represent the King’s Wards, after all) lead
tourists into the rooms while delving into
the house’s history, which overlaps that
of our country’s early settlements. They
also point out the etymology of everyday
2  •  Spring 2010
four centuries, still have their place in
Quebec’s French language, arguably the
most important part of the province’s
heritage.
Visitors are then invited to explore
the stone barn and stroll in the garden at
their own pace, admiring—and, if lucky,
tasting—the native herbs which have
been growing since the 18th century.
In the spring and summer, the house is
workshops, plays and treasure hunts. The
Maison Saint-Gabriel is a must-see for
those who wish to understand Quebec’s
integral role in Canada’s history.
​
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
 red oaks, silver maples and red maples
Meandering Memories located in the central area of the property
BY STEFAN SOBANSKI or on the summit of Mount Royal. The
 cemetery’s trees can be found in three
 distinct zones: the plain, containing
 mostly silver maples, the sparser plateau
 areas at the eastern and western ends,
where sugar maple and Norway maple
are found and the summit, dominated by
oaks, sugar maples and American lindens.

The large forest on Mount Royal

If you enjoy breathing fresh air and would
like to take advantage of a breath-taking
view of Montreal, how about a stroll in
Montreal’s largest cemetery? The Notre-
Dame-des-Neiges cemetery, founded in
1854, is one of the largest of its kind. It
may be compared to Pere Lachaise in Paris
or Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston.
It is the broadest cemetery in Canada,
occupying 343 acres or 1.39 square km.
Visitors can easily become lost or fail
to locate the section of the cemetery for
which they are searching.
shelters a variety of animal species.
Grey squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs,
raccoons and striped skunks are the
most common mammals. Cottontail
rabbits and red foxes are often seen as
well, contributing to the mountain’s
rustic character... a special treat in a
major urban area. Above and beyond its
instructive value, the rich animal life in
 the cemetery adds another perspective to
 the experience, setting us forth, as human
 beings, to contemplate on our place in
 Photo: Christine Fournier nature and the world.
Lombardy poplars. There are other notable
species as well: northern red ash, red If you enjoy nature, solitary
oak and Colorado blue spruce, and rarer promenades for reflection and are
varieties such as butternut, American sensitive to religious architecture, then a
elm, black cherry, white pine and eastern stop by this vast cemetery is worthwhile.
hemlock. Many of these trees range from 
175 to 225 years of age. 
Watkins, Meredith G. “The cemetery and
About one hundred trees from the cultural memory: Montreal, 1860-1900. Urban
natural forest before the founding of the History Review 31.1 (2002): 52+. CPI.Q
cemetery are still standing. These are the (Canadian Periodicals). Web. 24 Mar. 2010.

There lies an impressive historical

legacy under your footsteps, when you
meander through the 55 km of lanes that
compose the cemetery. In the last half of
the 19th century, only French Canadian,
Irish and Scottish Catholics or English
Protestants were buried here (1). It is only
at the turn of the twentieth century that
other immigrants began to bury their loved
ones on these grounds. The Repertoire de
personnages, which lists many prominent
and historic figures buried in the cemetery,
is available for reference.

The various works of art that

embellish the cemetery’s mausoleums
are a noteworthy religious and artistic
legacy. The Resurrection Chapel built
in 1856, and the Jarry-Henrichon
House, dating from 1751, which was
rebuilt and switched places in 1957 are
two monuments worth seeing (1). The
cemetery was declared a national historic
site by the government of Canada in 1998.

The cemetery’s grounds are also host

to many plants and animals. Many of
the trees found along the roadways are
ornamental varieties. These trees include
around sixty species: silver maples,
Norway maples and horse chestnuts.
You can also find sugar maples, Norway
maples, Siberian crab apple trees and 
Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010  •  3
A Revolution Revisited
BY MARIE-CLAIRE EYLOTT

In the heart of one of Montreal’s oldest

working-class neighbourhoods stands
the former Bain Genereux, a beautifully
restored, Parisian-inspired Art Deco
public bath house built in 1927. The
building is home to the Ecomusee
du Fier-Monde, a museum dedicated
to the history of the working class in
Montreal, in particular of the Centre-
Sud area. Montreal was Canada’s
most prolific city during the Industrial
Revolution of the second half of the Photo: www.ecomusee.qc.ca Photo: Christine Fournier
19th century, and Centre-Sud was at the facilities. The exhibit, which runs along exhibit remains, however, a touching
centre of the action. the bathhouse walls, uses photographs, homage to the Industrial Revolution’s
memorabilia, interviews and multimedia salt of the earth.
The museum’s permanent exhibition installations to narrate how the working 
All the Livelong Day: Triumphs class lived and sought to improve their
and Tragedies of a Working-Class conditions. Ecomusee du Fier-Monde
Neighbourhood recounts the lives and 2050 Amherst
accomplishments of the area’s industrial The Ecomusee du Fier-Monde (Berri-UQAM metro)
workers, the majority of whom lived also hosts many modern art exhibits Adults $6; children & students $4
with their families in surrounding throughout the year. Its main permanent
quarters with no bath or shower http://www.ecomusee.qc.ca/

Vibrant Village         ​
BY MARIE-CLAIRE EYLOTT

Cozy village life is a mere 20-minute

drive—or a 30-minute bus ride—from
the heart of the city. Nestled on the
shores of Lac St. Louis in the heart of the
West Island, the 300-year-old Pointe-
Claire Village is the perfect place for a
quiet afternoon. Many of its buildings
recall the French regime, notably St.
Joachim Church—a beautiful example
of 18th century Neo-Gothic style in
Quebec— and, a short walk along the
lakeshore, the Sulpician windmill, one
of Montreal’s oldest colonial vestiges. 

Within this kilometre-long stretch
of boutiques, cafés, restaurants, artisan
workshops and ice cream shops, visitors
and residents are spoilt for choice. Free
parking is located along the strip, so
shoppers are free to leisurely peruse the
many stores. 

For instance, Babar Books and
Rêve d’enfants are but two of the filled with gourmet, holiday, home decor
Photo: Christine Fournier

neighbourhood’s adorable children’s or Le Bilboquet as you stroll along the

stores; La Maison de Calico is a
heritage building now used for quilting
workshops; Bead Box offers DIY beading
kits, respectively; Flirt is a high-end
women’s fashion boutique; and the
popular Le Panier is an inviting shop
4  •  Spring 2010
and toy gift ideas, to name a few. 

Stop for a spot of tea on the terrace
of one of the Village’s family-run cafés or
tuck into a fine Italian, Belgian or French
meal. Finally, for something sweet, treat
yourself to ice cream from Wild Willy’s
waterfront.

Quaint boutiques and restaurants in a
picturesque setting, just far enough from
the downtown core? Go west, young
(and not so young) shoppers.
 
Bagel Bakery Battle
BY STEFAN SOBANSKI

St. Viateur Bagel is in steady competition
with Fairmount Bagel, located just one
block north. It is unclear as to the exact
year that Fairmount opened shop. In
1949, Isadore Shlafman bought a cottage
and knocked down the back wall of the
house to install a bagel oven. His bagel
bakery was to be found downstairs,
while he and his family lived upstairs.
Fairmount Bagel is mostly a family-run
business: Mr. Shlafman’s grandchildren
still manage the business today,using
the same traditions and methods that
were employed from the beginning.
On the other hand, St. Viateur Bagel
opened in 1957. It was founded by Myer
Lewkowicz who brought his “famous”
recipe from Eastern Europe. His business
has grown to include four bakeries and
two bagel cafes in Montreal today. 

Where did these traditions of hand-
rolling dough into a circular shape
originate? Who invented the bagel?

Maria Balinska, editor of BBC Radio’s
World Current Affairs department,
journalist and documentary filmmaker
has researched in international archives Photo: Julia Manzerova
and done numerous personal interviews crunchier and sweeter bagel in Montreal 1750, the bajgiel became a staple of
to uncover the bagel’s links with the and a puffy, moist, salty bagel in New the Polish diet. Bagels were brought to
defeat of the Turks by Polish King Jan York City. the United States by immigrant Jews. A
Sobieski in 1683 and to Jewish migration  prosperous business emerged in New
across the Atlantic to America. She Other than these two styles of York City that was controlled for decades
recently wrote a book, “The Bagel: The bagel, there exist a number of varieties by Bagel Bakers Local 338, which had
Surprising History of a Modest Bread”, elsewhere in the world, depending on contracts with nearly all bagel bakeries
which tells the noteworthy story of the the tradition in the country. For example, in the city for its workers who prepared
bagel’s journey. Russian Bubliks greatly resemble bagels, all the bagels by hand. The bagel
 but are a bit bigger, have a wider hole became more well-known throughout
The two most prominent styles and are drier. The Finnish often eat North America from the 1960s, partly
of bagel in North America are the Vesirinkeli for breakfast, toasted and because Harry Lender and Florence
Montreal-style bagel and the New York- buttered. For preparation, they are Sender pioneered automated production
style bagel. The basic difference between placed in salted boiling water before and distribution of frozen bagels.
the two styles is that the Montreal bagel being baked. In Turkey, a salty, fatty-type 
contains no salt; it is also boiled in of bagel is the Acma. Its ring shape is Back in Montreal, both bakeries
honey-sweetened water before baking. sometimes marketed as a Turkish bagel; master the “art” of bagel making: hand
The New York bagel is boiled in plain they are sold on the street in baskets or rolling each one, boiling them in honey-
water and has salt. The end result is a carts. In some parts of Austria, Beugel sweetened water, and baking them in a
are sold before Easter. These are similar wood-burning oven. Fairmount Bagel
to bagels, the yeasted wheat dough, and St. Viateur are both located in the
and are usually flavored with caraway, Mile-End district, are open 24 hours
boiled and baked. The bagel is also daily, and offer several varieties of bagels
quite popular in London, and is spelled ranging from poppy seed to whole
“beigel”. The pronunciation and spelling wheat to the classic sesame seed, among
of bagel differs among communities. others.
Montrealers and Torontonians
pronounce it like bay-gel; people from
small towns in Northern Ontario and
Eastern Canada pronounce it like bag-el, Fairmount Bagel Bakery Inc.
as in plastic bag. In New England, it is 74 Fairmount Avenue West
spelled “baigel”. (514) 272-0667

The bagel was actually invented in St. Viateur Bagel
Krakow, Poland, competing with the 263 St. Viateur Street West
Russian Bublik. Between 1600 and (514) 276-8044
Photo: Christine Fournier
Spring 2010  •  5
Wine and Dine for Less
BY SARA STARKEY

There are many restaurants in Montreal
that allow patrons to bring their own
bottles of wine to dinner. This concept
has been popular across North America
since the 1950s, but has been especially
well-received in Montreal, with
hundreds of participating restaurants
across the city.

Although some restaurants will
charge a “corkage fee” ranging from
about $5-25, many do not, making
the practice perfect for those on a
modest budget. Not only do these
restaurants allow for an affordable
dining experience, but they are also very
diverse in terms of cuisine. Deciding
between Japanese, Italian, Greek, and
of course French, among many others,
might be your most difficult decision.  Photo: Dave Sidaway

 
La Raclette in the Mount Royal is
a Swiss restaurant best known for its
house specialties: fondues and raclettes.
A raclette is a traditional cheese dish
which here is cooked at the table in
a small, portable stove. The patron is
given a pan or coupelle, in which to pile
cheese, dried meats such as prosciutto,
pickled onions, gherkins, peppered
potatoes and various other vegetables,
and places it onto the table-top grill until
the dish is cooked through. This cheese
originates from the Alpine regions in
Switzerland, and is easy to melt, the
desired result for this type of meal.
A dry white wine will complement
any meal served, the traditional choice
being the Swiss wine, Fendant, which
has light, fruity undertones, the perfect
accompaniment to the heavy cheese in
the meal, with no added corkage fees.
Save room for dessert because it’s simply
to die for. Swiss chocolate drizzled over
poached pear, whipping, and ice cream
is even more heavenly than it sounds.

This cozy restaurant has friendly,
attentive service. Ranging between $50-
100 for two, it is a bit pricey but is a
worthwhile experience 

if you want to try something new. It’s
no surprise this restaurant has been
running strong for over a decade. Its
open-concept kitchen, low lighting and
terrace seating in the summer, along with
delicious food makes it a popular choice
among locals.
La Raclette
1059 Rue Gilford
(514) 524-8118

Dapper Dentistry
BY MORGAN TODD

One of the smallest and most

interesting art galleries in Montreal
is Galerie Dentaire. Not only is it a
gallery, but it is also a modern dental
office. Upon entering the building
the beautiful and serene waiting area
welcomes you, which is also the main
gallery space. The gallery features
mostly Quebec artists, with new
exhibitions every few months. With
the perfect mix of contemporary and Photo: Christine Fournier Photo: Jean Fortin
Old World favorites such as oversized, and the friendly staff, a checkup seems
Victorian desks, brick walls mixed more like a vacation than a chore. The Galerie Dentaire
with sleek fixtures and stylish indirect added bonuses of short wait lists and 1239 Amherst (Metro Beaudry)
lighting, this is not your ordinary affordable fees make dental hygiene a (514) 523-5535
dentist’s office. With calming music positive experience. (www.galeriedentaire.com)

6  •  Spring 2010
Overlooked Art
BY CHRISTINE FOURNIER

The largest art museum in Montreal
goes unnoticed by most. In total it is 70
kilometers long and covers a large part
of the city with many exhibits by noted
Quebec artists and architects. Each of
its 68 “rooms” has its unique style and
flavour.
The Montreal Metro system, which
is operated by the Société de transport
de Montréal, opened on October 14,
1966 and while it is not a museum in
the conventional sense of the word, the
works of art it houses number in the
hundreds. There are sculptures, murals,
mosaics, stained glass and architectural
elements- while some stations are the
work art. Though most art is from newer
periods, think modern or pop art, certain
pieces have classical inspirations.
Around 90 artists currently have
pieces for the public to see. In some
cases, artists like Frédéric Back, Marcelle
Ferron Antoine D. Lamarche, André
Léonard, Jean-Paul Mousseau, Pierre
Osterrath, and Marcel Raby have works
in multiple metro stations, though the
names may not be familiar to many
transit users, their pieces definitely are.
While some stations are utterly
boring due to their lack of art and
rather practical but drab setting,
such as Atwater, Guy-Concordia and
Longueuil—Université-de-Sherbrooke.
The Jolicoeur station seems to be from
another era, having never left its vintage
feel behind while LaSalle, one of the
best stations for architecture lovers,
is a concrete abstract sculpture that
has a metro running through it. De la
Concorde and Place-Saint-Henri follow
this trend but are modern marvels with
splashes of colour, columns and pattern.
Another noteworthy station is De la
Savanne, with its angular features and
funky light fixtures that look like an
extreme version of sugar crystals.
Photo: Peter E. Lee
For those interested in murals and
mosaics, Assomption, Crémazie, De
Castelnau, D’Iberville, Snowdon,
Université-de-Montréal and Viau stations
are worth a visit. Villa-Maria has what
appears to be a Pac Man-inspired piece
by André Léonard entitled Circles. The
mural at Papineau is a wonderful piece
by Jean Cartier and George Juhasz
entitled Les Patriotes de 1837-1838.
While the works at the Pie-IX station are
Olympic-themed. For those who love
modern, pop or abstract art, beautiful
tile mosaics can be found at Cadillac,
Henri-Bourassa and Jean-Talon. The
most known are probably those at Peel,
whose circles of colourful tiles are
courtesy of Jean-Paul Mousseau.
Sculptures are also quite prevalent.
Berri-UQAM, Cartier, Côte-des-Neiges,
Georges-Vanier as well as Monk have
some nice ones, while Namur features
a suspended, molecular-like piece
that appears to belong in a science
classroom rather than metro station. The
tree with faces found at Lionel-Groulx
can seem a little creepy the piece is
called L’Arbre de vie (The Tree of Life)
by Joseph Rifesser and was donated by
the United Nations. Germain Bergeron’s
Pic et Pelle at the Monk station looks like
two twig insects hard at work.
The stained glass works are probably
amongst the most beautiful pieces.
Champ-de-Mars, Charlevoix and Du
Collège have nice pieces, but nothing
as spectacular as those found in three
other stations, which pay tributes to the
history of Montreal. Berri-UQAM has
Photo: Christine Jackowski
gorgeous modern pieces dedicated to
the city’s founders and was created by
Pierre Gaboriau and Pierre Osterrath,
while Place-des-Arts’ mural by Frédéric
Back showcases Montreal’s music scene.
The best may be the five piece series,
a tribute to life in Montreal in the 19th
century by Nicolas Sollogoub at the
McGill station.
While all the above mentioned art
can be found below city streets that is
not to say that none can be found above
ground. Square-Victoria has a beautiful
Art Nouveau metro entrance designed
by Hector Guimard, and was donated to
us by the city of Paris. The Parc station
is an old train terminal whose beauty
can only be appreciate from outside.
Jean-Drapeau and Cartier have outdoor
sculptures that deserve a look as well.


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 Montreal’s metro system, visit Matt
McLauchlin’s site at www.metrodemontreal.
com or the STM’s site at www.stm.info.
Spring 2010  •  7
Art in the Park
BY CHRISTINE FOURNIER 

Museums rarely permit visitors to touch
works of art, but this one only says
not to climb them. Personally, I love
going to museums to look at paintings,
photographs and sculptures and will
admit the urge to touch pieces can
barely be resisted in some cases. Few
museums allow the public to touch
pieces, though when they do many
take advantage. I believe that touch
can only enhance the experience of
looking at beautiful pieces of art.
The Muse de Plein Air de Lachine
is an outdoor museum that is part of
the Lachine Museum. A section of this
open-air museum can be found in Park
René-Lévesque. The park is located on
a long peninsula which extends into
Lac St.Louis. There are 22 scale art
pieces made of metal, wood or stone
which run along a 4-kilometer path.
The path is divided by a small grass
strip so that pedestrians and cyclists
8  •  Spring 2010
can enjoy the park without getting in
each others’ way.
Each piece has a sign stating
the name of the artist and a short
bilingual description of the piece
and its inspiration. The park offers
unique pieces, such as The Passing
Song by Catherine Widgery. A passing
song is the sound made by the wind
when a human soul leaves the body
in the Cherokee tradition. Widgery
constructed a canopy of ghosts (or
souls) that amplifies the sound of the
wind when standing under it. Bill
Vazan’s Story Rock looks like a giant
target carved in a large stone until you
get closer and see swirling motifs and
petroglyph-inspired carvings.
René-Lévesque Park also has a small
arboretum with trees native to Quebec
and Canada. Small signs posted in front Photo: Christine Fournier
of the trees allow visitors to discover
the names of around thirty species,
though until the leaves bloom it is hard
to tell them apart.
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 René-Lévesque. 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
Educational Animals
BY CHRISTINE FOURNIER

Looking for an educational activity

children will enjoy? Why not visit the
Ecomuseum in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, on
the western tip of the island of Montreal.
This 28-acre wildlife park houses over
ninety species of birds, amphibians,
reptiles, fish and mammals that can be
seen in their natural habitat. 

Gravel paths and ramps lead to the
various animal enclosures around the
park and it is highly recommended to
wear waterproof footwear as the ground
can be muddy after rainfall or during the
winter thaw when the snow melts. 

Visitors will spent about an hour and
a half walking around, reading signs
and stopping to take numerous pictures.
The coyote and wolf exhibits have a
lookout with Plexiglas windows to enjoy
a view of these animals without having
to look through chain-link fencing. One
can appreciate being able to get quite
close to some of the animals, like otters,
porcupine and raccoons, although the
porcupine was pretending to be a hay Photo: Christine Fournier Photo: Christine Fournier
bale that day. 
 snake pit. However, some of these This indoor exhibit is on the bottom
Certain areas of the park are closed species can still be seen in the education floor of the center and is quite unique.
off during the winter, such as the marsh center as part of the From Light to Dark In the “light” part of the exhibit there
walk, butterfly garden, turtle pond and exhibit.
Continued on Page 10

Photo: Christine Fournier

Spring 2010  •  9
Educational Animals Continued from Page 9

are frogs, snakes, turtles and fish, before

going through a double set of doors
to the “dark” part. Here the lights are
turned very low, making it impossible
to see anything for a few minutes while
their eyes adjusted to the dark. It may
take quite a while to locate some of the
animals in their glassed-off enclosure
but that was part of the fun. 

The Ecomuseum offers kid-friendly
activities throughout the year amongst
them summer camps, apprenticeship
for a day programs, guided group tours,
birthday parties and sleepovers. A list
of upcoming events is available at
their website at www.ecomuseum.ca.
Facilities here include a shaded picnic
area, an indoor lunch room, washrooms,
water fountains, a small gift shop
and plenty of free parking. It is open
everyday, except Christmas, from 9am to
5pm, no admittance after 4pm though.
 Photo: Christine Fournier

Getting to the museum is relatively

easy but only by car. Take highway 40 to
exit 41 and follow boulevard Ste.Marie
to the Ecomuseum. The 210 bus, which
leaves regularly from Fairview Shopping
Center or John Abbott College during the Ecomuseum
week, stops in front of the museum. No 21125 Chemin Sainte-Marie
weekend bus service is available. Stainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3Y7
(514) 457-9449
 (www.ecomuseum.ca)

Mobilized Exercise
BY SARA STARKEY

The Bixi bike, an inexpensive and

convenient way to travel around
Montreal named for a hybrid taxi/
bicycle, is perfect for both the well-
being of the environment and for
personal fitness. Available for use
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week from Spring to Fall, these bikes
offer tourists and locals alike a piece of
Montreal’s culture.

As the first public biking system in
Canada, Montreal’s Bixi is now on par
with the systems in Paris and Barcelona,
and is one of the forerunners in terms
of large-scale production in all of North
America. London and Melbourne are
now adopting the Bixi bike as a means
of travel, expanding the local company
across three continents.

The bikes, equipped with baskets, are
free for the first half hour of use, which
encourages short trips, as the company
hopes to promote the incorporation of
biking into daily routine. The bikes can
be taken from or left at any of the three
hundred stations located throughout Photo: Zeblackstar

the downtown area. The service is A great way of touring the city,
available for a flat rate of $5 a day, $28 cutting down on pollution and taking
for a month, or $78 for a full year with part in the Montreal lifestyle, the Bixi
bike is truly one to watch out for as it Find out more at www.bixi.com.
additional fees for use per hour.
 expands across the world.

10  •  Spring 2010

Spring on the Summit
BY CHRISTINE FOURNIER 

Far from the hustle and bustle of the
city at the top of steep, narrow streets,
one of the city’s most beautiful gems is
found in the exclusive neighbourhood
of Westmount. It may only be a five-
minute drive from popular Mont-Royal;
but Summit Park is unknown to many.
While it mainly serves as a dog park
for local residents, it is popular with
bird-watchers and hikers alike.
Summit Park is small at 57 acres
bit has many paths that meander up
and down under a canopy of trees.
The trails that circle around this peak
offer hikers many sights, such as the
University of Montreal and St. Joseph’s
Oratory. Since this park is used by
pet owners, dogs frequently wonder
around unleashed, often running up to
fellow hikers wanting affection.
There are many interestingly-shaped
trees and a large variety of birds to see
while walking around including an
owl perched high in hollowed out tree.
The park is a protected bird and flower
Photo: Christine Fournier
Photo: Christine Fournier
sanctuary making it possible to observe
around 180 different species.
Open year-round and the park
is quite enjoyable on warm, sunny
days. In early spring the paths may
be icy so extra precautions such as
wearing shoes with good tractions,
using crampons or slip-on cleats is
recommended. There are few activities
to do in the park, no benches or picnic
tables were spotted during my visit
although that did not stop a couple of
people from sitting down in the snow
to enjoy a snack and the view. As well
the park has no washroom facilities.
Located just outside the park is a
belvedere, which offers great views
starting from downtown Montreal and
going to Lachine and the West Island,
as well as the South Shore. On a clear
day, the Adirondacks and the Green
Mountains, which are in the United
States, can be seen. There are arrows
pointing to various sites on and off the
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.
Spring 2010  •  11
Perfect Panoramas
BY SARA STARKEY 

Visitors of downtown Montreal typically
flock to the top of Mount Royal for an
aerial view of the city, but spectacular
views can be found in even the most
surprising places. For those highly
susceptible to the allure of a city skyline,
Montreal has a way of making even the
most mundane of errands a chance to
see a breathtaking sight.
There are several cross-city buses
that have surprisingly beautiful sights.
Although some of these views are from
cement highways, they will be sure to
12  •  Spring 2010
brighten any morning commute. The 211
bus route to Dorval in particular has a
bird’s eye view of the entire city when
travelling in either direction. Similarly,
Route 144, which travels along Des Pins,
has an amazing scene of the downtown
area up-close.
 Instead of taking the underground
Parc Jeanne Mance, situated at the
foot of Mount Royal, has the most
incredible view at dusk; the tallest
buildings in Montreal lit up by the
setting sun. Level with the city, this
particular scene offers the viewer a sense
of the scale of the buildings and the
expanse of the landscape.

Photo: Hazel Gabe
Hotel de la Montagne, a hotel in
the heart of the city, offers a unique
view-from-the-top of the surrounding
buildings. At night, visitors of the hotel
dine and swim on the rooftop terrace
while the lights of the city sparkle all
around.

metro, the promise of a spectacular view
beckons many tourists to opt for above-
ground transportation. The best advice
I can offer to any tourist is to keep your
eyes open. Take the chance to stray off
the beaten path. You never know when
the beauty of Montreal can take your
breath away.
Photo: Maha Online
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