Rabouin and access to the river
Luc Rabouin says he wants to make the river more accessible to Montrealers, which is nice – more riverside promenades would be a bonus, undoubtedly – but this is not the first time we’ve seen this kind of thing promised.
Ian 18:58 on 2025-10-11 Permalink
As long as we’re lining up for pipe dreams, I’d like a castle and a pony.
Kate 20:56 on 2025-10-11 Permalink
I’d settle for a shoebox house and a scooter.
MarcG 08:20 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
Can anyone identify the location of the first photo in that article?
Benoit 08:26 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
@MarcG it’s René-Lévesque Park in Lachine
MarcG 08:43 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
Thanks Benoit. I don’t recall there being all of those docks on the left side, I guess they’ve not surprisingly made some changes since the last time I was there 100 years ago.
CE 08:53 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
It’s actually probably an older photo, the marina was removed a few years ago.
MarcG 09:45 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
As if we needed more proof that memory is an unreliable witness.
It’s great to have access to the river but in terms of swimming, if the water quality sucks, it’s not worth much. I’m not sure on the stats but it seems like half the summer days Verdun beach is closed for swimming because of poopy water and the neighbouring pool is jammed. Can anything be done about that?
Kate 11:55 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
I’m afraid the answer to any question now about public needs and requirements has to be “will it make somebody a lot of money?” and if the answer is “no” – as it will be to cleaning up the river – nothing can be done about it.
We put it in the memory hole that the river going past Montreal has already taken in sewage from the Great Lakes, from Toronto, Oshawa, Kingston, and – via the Ottawa river – Gatineau and Ottawa itself.
Montreal is in the process of building a vastly expensive sewage processing plant on its far eastern end so it doesn’t ship too much of its own crap downriver to Trois‑Rivières, Quebec City and the sea, but that’s of limited use when any heavy downpour means the city has to open some of its sewers directly into the river because the sewer system was originally built for a much smaller population than we have now.
CE 14:13 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
It’s worth noting that the water quality in the river is much, much better than it was in decades past and will likely only get better. It’s also considerably cleaner than most other rivers that pass by urbanized areas.
Orr 14:29 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
There are many riverside parks, dozens and dozens, all around the island of Montreal.
A bicycle is an excellent way to visit them, as bike paths more-or-less follow the outside edge of our Island.
The fact people who don’t live near the water’s edge don’t seem to know very about them, or that they exist at all, is a very good reason to get outside in this nice October weather and explore our beautiful city, our beautiful island.
Ian 23:26 on 2025-10-12 Permalink
You can get to many of them by metro and/or bus as well, but what does that have to do wtih water quality?
MarcG 07:32 on 2025-10-13 Permalink
The point of access isn’t only to swim. Here are some things I’ve seen people doing by the river in Verdun: Walking, jogging, biking, skateboarding, mobility scootering, smoking weed, camping, learning to play trumpet, singing Sacred Harp songs, breaking the no-feeding-ducks bylaw, fishing, yogaing, teaching kids wild survival techniques, drinking alcohol, eating sandwiches, staring at the water thoughtfully, observing beavers, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, walking on the ice.
I’m patiently waiting for a certain someone to suggest the bulldozing of Beaconsfield. (Although the water level is so low right now that there’s a short beach in some places allowing you to walk along the edge of the private property.)
Tim S. 09:54 on 2025-10-13 Permalink
Yes, yes, but the problem is none of these waterfront spots are in the Plateau. Turning De Lormier into a canal really is the obvious next step for Projet, if you think about it. What other city has kayak as a major transportation mode?
Ian 10:10 on 2025-10-13 Permalink
As a Plateau resident I demand reserved paddleboat lanes