Spanning two islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Parc Jean-Drapeau is home to some of the city’s most popular entertainment, picturesque green spaces and unique meeting and event spaces. It’s a four-season paradise that’s a quick subway ride away from downtown Montréal.
From illustrious past to cutting-edge future
Located east of downtown Montréal, Parc Jean-Drapeau is located on two islands — Notre-Dame Island and St. Helen’s Island — that were the site of one of the most historic events in the city’s history: Expo 67. One of its two islands was created from scratch using tonnes of earth excavated during the construction of the Montréal metro system! The 1967 exposition was a massive success, attracting millions of people and establishing Montréal as a truly global destination.
Fast forward a few decades, and Parc Jean-Drapeau still plays a central role in the city’s cultural life. Recent years have seen a great focus on “re-greening” the park space with, notably, spaces dedicated to wetlands and the creation of a one-kilometre riverside promenade on the shore of Île Ste-Hélène featuring a ferry entrance and waterfront public square open to the river. The former Expo-Express bridge — which allowed movement from one island to another during Expo 67 — was transformed into a beautiful suspended walkway.
Event spaces for all occasions
Parc Jean-Drapeau is a beloved attraction for locals and visitors alike, as a site for picnics and walks by the river by day, followed by events and concerts in the evening. As the site for the Montréal Casino, La Ronde amusement park, the Biosphere, an aquatic complex that includes an Olympic-size pool, and festivals ranging from Osheaga to Lasso, it’s a destination you can easily spend an entire day in. And there’s an event space for everything:
La Toundra
Drenched in natural light, La Toundra is a multipurpose space perfectly suited for corporate meetings, office parties or product launches. The former Canadian pavilion at Expo 67, the hall retains its mid-century architectural detailing, including floor-to-ceiling windows.
Capacity: 180 guests banquet setting, 350 guests cocktail setting
Pavillon de la Jamaïque
A handsome venue that also dates back to Expo 67, Pavillon de la Jamaïque offers stunning exposed wooden beams, floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious terrace. It’s intimate enough to ensure those vital professional connections occur and features loads of natural light.
Capacity: 100 guests banquet setting, 150 guests cocktail setting
Terrasse du Lac
If you want a venue that enables seamless flow between the indoors and the outdoors, Terrasse du Lac is an ideal option. With a generous-size terrace located beside a calm lake, the venue is a space for both sport and leisure, with swimming, beach volleyball and water sports onsite.
Capacity: Garden furniture for 150 guests
The Paddocks
Housed on Montréal’s internationally-renowned Formula One World Championship route, The Paddocks received a prestigious Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence for its design and unique construction. It’s bright, airy and very contemporary.
Capacity: 800 to 5,000 guests
Espace 67
The epic Espace 67 is a state-of-the-art outdoor space with three distinct spaces for events ranging from intimate outdoor gatherings to large-scale presentations, all set in the park’s leafy environs with a downtown skyline view. Read more about the Event Village, the Natural Agora and the Amphitheatre here.
Capacity: Up to 65,000 guests
And so much more to come
With its 150th anniversary around the corner, Parc Jean-Drapeau shows no sign of slowing down: over the next decade, driven by a desire to put sociability, sustainability, ecology and culture at the forefront, the park will continue to upgrade, preserve, landscape and develop its events portfolio to become one of the most recognized contemporary parks in the country.
Read this next: Enjoy the view year round with these indoor/outdoor spaces
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