Jean-Drapeau Park
jean drapeau park formerly called parc de îles thirdlargest park montreal quebec canada comprises two island saint helen island artificial island notre dame island situated shore old montreal saint lawrence river island site expo world fair notre dame island constructed exposition saint helen island artificially extended north south end park renamed honour jean drapeau late mayor montreal initiator expo saint helen island discovered french explorer samuel de champlain named honour wife hélène de champlain née boullé also bear name helena mother roman emperor constantine great island belonged family le moyne de longueuil sold british government british built fort magazine bunker war new canadian government acquired converted park island archipelago chosen site man world expo prepare role mayor jean drapeau expanded saint helen island consolidated several neighboring island including round island created notre dame island using fill excavated construction montreal metro early million ton fill needed massive undertaking work completed notredame island st helen island hosted expo featured pavilion sixty country closing expo late site continued fair vocation name man world finally facility dismantled island converted park parc de îles de montreal renamed parc jeandrapeau honour former mayor montreal jean drapeau reshaped island built montreal metro brought expo city summer high season park majority attraction open public include amusement park la ronde operated six flag emphyteutic lease montreal casino environmental museum montreal biosphere united state pavilion expo early victorian era fortification saint helen island fort formula one race track circuit gilles villeneuve host canadian grand prix city largest outdoor concert venue regularly hosting van warped tour osheaga festival heavy mtl edm festival known île soniq olympic rowing basin aquatic centre hosted world aquatic championship beach plage jeandoré winter several weekend park throw winter carnival fête de neiges de montréal free event offer variety winter activity island also boast numerous hiking skiing trail bike path large athletic ground diverse service convenience temperate month diverse array free pay activity offered weekly basis addition aforementioned attraction there also weekly electronic dance festival located alexander calder sculpture man commissioned expo island also notable remnant expo still use though still standing american french pavilion best preserved functioning today biosphere casino respectively canadian pavilion contains administrative office rental hall site studio radioclassique montréal former tunisian jamaican pavilion also use former bike rental latter used principally reception considerable portion île notredame redeveloped intricate elaborate flower garden early remains today significant remnant former world fair place de nation western end île saintehélène though abandoned officially offlimits become popular spot fishing snowboarding park added winter hochelaga archipelago rubicon rider montreal dragon boat racing team