Canada Day in Montreal

Old Port of Montreal.

Located near the Lachine Canal bike paths, several parks, promenades and large green spaces, the Old Port is a magical place.

Here is why the main festivities surrounding Canada Day take place in the Old Port of Montreal, a district steeped in history.

Discover the Old Port.

It was indeed by the St. Lawrence River that the founder of Montreal, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, arrived in 1642.

Subsequently, the first French settlers settled nearby. It is thanks to its port activities that Ville-Marie developed to become the great international metropolis that Montreal is today.

Today, the Old Port of Montreal welcomes more than 6 million visitors a year. They arrive by air, land and also by sea. Old Montreal is a popular stopover for large ocean-going cruise ships. With its marina and yacht club, it is also a port of call used by local, Canadian, American and other boaters.

There are also many other tourist activities to do: cruises, amphi-buses, riverboats, bike rentals, etc. Located nearby, Place Jacques-Cartier is the meeting place for the public entertainers and musicians who enliven this place. As for the adjacent streets, they include many shops, terraces, bistros, cafes and restaurants.

Old Port website
Old Port of Montreal

The history of the Old Port.

1642

Foundation of Montreal by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. This one probably docked in the current Old Port.

1809

The Accommodation was the first steamship to shuttle between Montreal and Quebec.

1850

Dredging of a channel between Montreal and Lake Saint-Pierre. The Port of Montreal can now accommodate transoceanic ships.

1898

Improvement of port facilities: concrete quays, steel sheds, basins and grain silos.

1922

Inauguration of the Clock Tower erected in honor of the men of the merchant navy lost at sea during the conflicts of the early 20th century.

1976

Relocation of the port further east putting an end to port activities in Old Montreal.

1982

Restoration of the Clock Tower and demolition of Silo No. 1 to open up the view of the river.

1992

Inauguration of the "New Old Port of Montreal" on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the founding of the City.

Follow us.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram to know everything about the event!

Pictogram view of Montreal

Partners.

Thank you to our partners who make Canada Day in Montreal possible.

Canadian Heritage Old Port of Montreal
Canada Day in Montreal