The Canada Lands Company is running the Old Port like a second-rate amusement park. It’s sad to see zip lines and pirate ships go up while things that have value to actual Montrealers, like a large and scenic refrigerated skating ring, are shut down.
The CLC’s only mission is to extract as money as possible from the Old Port lands. Maybe it should be run by another agency instead?
The pirate ships are filled with local children all the time. I know a lot of people with season passes (adults can just sit for free, it’s a nice place for an afternoon).
I remember when the Old Port was undeveloped, sketch AF and a total mess, with broekn glass between the cobblestones and not a pinch of lawn as far as the eye could see. Nobody was on the street but the homeless and Hotel Nelson had punk shows. Rents were ridiculously cheap because everything was run down and remote.
The rink went in pretty early and like most stuff from that time was kind of a “let’s try this and see” thing. That it lasted over 30 years is pretty impressive, actually. Lots of the structures and attractions from that time didn’t make it.
DeWolf 21:07 on 2025-03-05 Permalink
The Canada Lands Company is running the Old Port like a second-rate amusement park. It’s sad to see zip lines and pirate ships go up while things that have value to actual Montrealers, like a large and scenic refrigerated skating ring, are shut down.
The CLC’s only mission is to extract as money as possible from the Old Port lands. Maybe it should be run by another agency instead?
jeather 21:40 on 2025-03-05 Permalink
The pirate ships are filled with local children all the time. I know a lot of people with season passes (adults can just sit for free, it’s a nice place for an afternoon).
Orr 19:39 on 2025-03-06 Permalink
I’d pay to see the Ferris Wheel removed.
Ian 08:05 on 2025-03-07 Permalink
I remember when the Old Port was undeveloped, sketch AF and a total mess, with broekn glass between the cobblestones and not a pinch of lawn as far as the eye could see. Nobody was on the street but the homeless and Hotel Nelson had punk shows. Rents were ridiculously cheap because everything was run down and remote.
The rink went in pretty early and like most stuff from that time was kind of a “let’s try this and see” thing. That it lasted over 30 years is pretty impressive, actually. Lots of the structures and attractions from that time didn’t make it.