History Through Our Eyes: Oct. 2, 1963, extending Île-Ste-Hélène
Work was progressing on the enlargement of what we then called St.
Helen's Island for use as part of the site of what was to be Expo 67.
Dikes had been built around the areas to be filled in. Île-Ronde, which was to become part of Île-Ste-Hélène (it lent its name to La Ronde), was being used as an operational base, and rock for the dikes was being quarried there.
“Work is to begin later on a new island of similar size, Île-Notre-Dame, as the second half of exhibition grounds,” we wrote. “World’s Fair Deputy Commissioner-General Robert Shaw says dredging will begin within 10 days to fill in extended parts of St. Helen’s Island. Most of this phase is to be completed before freeze-up, Mr. Shaw says.”
That timeline proved optimistic.
On Dec. 26, 1963, we reported that the dredging was not providing enough fill, so the city was about to call tenders for a contract to bring in more fill by truck to the site. In addition, “instructions already have been given by the administration to contractors working on construction of Montreal’s projected subway system to transport all excavated material to the World’s Fair site for filling in the link between Île-Ronde and St. Helen’s Island,” we reported.
The panic was on account of the city’s commitment to making the site available by July 1, 1964 to the Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition.
A huge ceremony to transfer the site was indeed held the night of June 30-July 1, 1964 — even if Île-Notre-Dame was yet to come.
