A Shrine That Faces West

Traveling northwest on the Montreal Island will without a doubt bring you into sight of the magnificent structure that rests on the west slope of Mount Royal. St. Joseph's Oratory instils a dominant presence as it perches elegantly on the side of the mountain, looking over everything in the west. This particular Roman Catholic church is the largest one in Canada, with a seated capacity of several thousand people. The site originated from a small chapel, which eventually became too small to serve congregations, thus the construction of the Oratory was commenced in 1924, and subsequently completed in 1967. The dedication to Saint Joseph stemmed from the original dedication of the small chapel initially built, honouring the miracles made possible by Saint André Bissette. Although slightly smaller, the Oratory dome is comparable to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, thereby making it one of the largest domes in its nature. This significant symbol and place of worship is a site for many pilgrims each year, however, a visit to this Montreal landmark is a necessity regardless of religious orientation. 

Is that the USS Enterprise?

Although you may think it came out of a sci-fi movie, the Montreal Olympic Stadium is in fact, not a novel Star Trek ship docked on the island, never to take flight again. The 'BIG O', also known as Olympic Stadium, was notably the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics held here, right in Montreal. With its obvious functionalities, the stadium become the venue of choice for several professional sports teams, such as the Montreal Expo's (MLB), Alouettes (CFL), and Impact (MLS). Despite this large facility being one of the most famous buildings in Montreal, it has received its fair share of controversy and problems. The facility was unfortunately not fully completed in time for the 1976 Olympics, with major improvements necessary for the room and the tower above. The tower is renown to be the largest inclined structure in the world, initially designed to support a retractable roof. It was not until many years later that the tower as well as the roof were fully completed and operational. However, this component kept running into major problems, including ripped pieces and faulty design, forcing the construction and implementation of a permanent roof in 1998. Due to the many of these necessary renovations, the project was completed well over budget, thus infamously adopting the nickname as the 'Big Owe'. Nonetheless, the Big O(we) has had a handful of great moments, hosting performances by AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Pink Floyd, as well as other numerous conventions and events. Furthermore, the observatory, accessible via a funicular that travels up the spine of the tower, is a sure spot to capture spectacular views of the city below. 

The Cross that Watches Over All

Residing in the foothills of Mount Royal, we can always seen the illuminated cross that stands on the east plateau. This shining beacon is not only a symbolic figure for students to find their way home at night, but it commands some of the greatest traditions of this city. An original cross was first erected in 1643 by the founder of the city, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneueve, as part of a prayer to end a detrimental flood in order to save the city. Since that historic day, a cross has stood atop Mount Royal to remind us all of the rich history that this great land represents. Not only until 1924 did the cross begin to glow, as a newer version was constructed by the Societe Saint-Jean Baptiste. Today, with several rounds of improvement, the cross glows white, however it possess the ability to give off radiant colours depending on certain events. For example, the cross will be controlled to glow purple for the days in between the death of the previous Pope and the election of the new Pope. Furthermore, you may see the cross resonate in red to promote AIDS awareness or blue to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. So next time you have to use the cross as a compass to find your way home, remember Chomedey de Maisonneueve who helped the city through one of its earliest conquests.

The Underground City

Montreal is known to many as a city with a dynamic and exuberant exterior, however there is a hidden treasure beneath the gracious skyline of downtown: The Underground City. At first, before coming to this city, I thought that it was a grand exhibition of old building foundations and rusty bricks that were monumental in the city's heritage. Could I be more wrong. The Underground City, being hidden from the naked eye, is truly a delight to fashionable shopper, while a safe-haven for those desperate to escape the winter weather. This vast underground network rest beneath numerous complexes, office buildings shopping centers, metro stations, etc... It is comprised of approximately 32 kilometers of tunnels that cover about 12 square kilometers, enabling you to watch a movie at Scotia Bank theater and then walking to Place-d'Armes in the Old Port for dinner without setting foot outside. This underground metropolis is particular busy during the rough winter months as commuters flood the tunnels and underground networks. The numerous food courts can satisfy any craving,  while the free wifi make it transformable into an effective study space. With the brutal winter months ahead, do not confine within one's warm household and instead discover what the Underground City has to offer.

     

Habitat 67: Redefining Urban Living Since 1967

Another weird but iconic part of Montreal: Habitat 67. This urban architectural project headed by McGill graduate Moshe Safdie lies on the South shores of the St. Lawrence and was part of the pavilion for the Montreal Expo in 1967. This awkward yet innovative structure is one of the most recognized in Montreal and Canada.
The inspiration for this design was to portray the juxtaposition between suburban living environments, consisting of fresh air, greenery, and privacy, with the dense and populated life of an urban apartment building. Being apart of the Expo, it served to convey the new potential of living in increasingly crowded and urban cities and the integration of several various aspects of living. The lego-like building is now any ordinary building that you can rent or purchase; however the privilege to be apart of such a landmark does not come with a cheap price. A 1,200 square-foot, 2 bedroom apartment would cost about $500,000 if not more, while rent are upwards to $1,000 per month. The construction of Habitat as an Expo exhibition and architectural ingenuity was received with much praise, however this government-subsidized project costing about $135 million for about 200- or so unit was also perceived as a failure in the eyes of many. Regardless, Habitat 67 is redefining social urban living and remains as spectacle for many to witness. 

http://walrusmagazine.com/articles/2008.02-architecture-montreal-habitat/1/

St. Laurent Boulevard: Rich in History, Youthful at Heart

As only knowing St. Laurent as the street with buzzing nightlife and accessible drunchies, it doesn't do justice to the historical significance of this street that presides outside of our McGill bubble. So here's a brief history lesson for all of you. St. Laurent is nicknamed "The Main" and serves the similar bearings as Main Street in other North American metropolises, with a wide spectrum of shops and cafes able to satisfy whatever craving or urge. The Main was established in 1905 and still serves as the physical divider between East and West Montreal. Historically, this boundary divided the predominately English speaking people in the West and the French speaking population in the East. With these large groups inhabiting the left and right, it would make sense that other ethnic groups such as the Jewish, Chinese, Italian, Portugese, Greek, etc... straddled the boundary and established their respective communities. The 11km street that extends from the very shores of the St. Lawrence river to the very north of Montreal island, is now the hub for many festivals, trendy boutiques, and delicious foods. The once upon a time run-down factories of the Southern strip have now turned into classy, expensive lofts. This raw, creative, and dramatic Boulevard has withstood a drastic evolution throughout the city's history and will continue to contribute to the youth and vibrance of the entire Montreal community for many years to come.

Source: http://www.feelguide.com/2010/11/18/saint-laurent-boulevard-legendary-place-in-the-canadas-psyche-and-living-history/

Montreal: Civil Engineering at its best...

Let's start things off with something that only a small population of McGill students probably remember. It's something that all McGill-ghetto dwellers have experienced time and time again, and are greatly privileged with nowadays. I am specifically referring to the Avenue des Pin and Parc INTERSECTION!! You may be curious as to why I am blogging about a random intersection...but wait!! Think about how you would go about your late-night frolicking or two-chow cravings or Korova jammings with this ridiculous obstacle in your way. In addition to the fast and furious drivers that dominate the streets of Montreal, navigating through this maze of under- and over-passes would just add to the dangers of late-night J-walking. Clearly, somebody was having way too much fun with the design and seemed to have an limitless supply of cement at their disposal. Anyways, just thought this was an amusing little fact that has probably changed the course of student life at McGill, and by that I mean how epic BDP tuesdays have probably become..