Just east of central Montréal, Île Sainte-Hélène in the St. Lawrence River expanded its landmass in the early 1960s. The city was awarded the 1967 world exposition, including using the island and nearby Île Notre-Dame for pavilion locations. Thousands of tons of rock were trucked across the Jacques-Cartier Bridge to increase the island’s acreage.
Visit the Biosphere, the former United States pavilion, a museum dedicated to profiling the North American environment. Notice the transparent dome designed by architect Buckminster Fuller. Inside, view an exhibition on Expo 67 and its environmental and cultural legacy, as well as a look to the future with predictions of changing weather and the impact of climate change on communities. While visiting, include Six Flags La Ronde amusement park, another Expo 67 venue, now offering exciting rides and family fun. Rides include a seven-story loop roller coaster and another that reaches a speed of about 70 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour).
Tour the Fort of Île Sainte-Hélène. As you wander along the island’s network of paths, discover works of art, such as Man, Three Disks by American sculptor Alexander Calder, whose work has become an icon for the city.
Photograph cityscapes and the river from the island, including a view of the human-made Île Notre-Dame. The same park on Île Sainte-Hélène, Parc Jean-Drapeau, continues on Île Notre-Dame. Follow trails through heavily treed areas and over footbridges for an excellent family outing.
Get to Île Sainte-Hélène from downtown Montréal by using any of the available modes of transportation. Ride the subway to Jean-Drapeau station or choose from two shuttle buses. A scenic way to travel is aboard the river shuttle from the Jacques-Cartier pier or the city of Longueuil. Car traffic crosses the river on the Jacques-Cartier and Concorde bridges, with bicycles permitted on the Jacques-Cartier.
