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.