Les moments du cœur de l'île

Les moments du cœur de l'île

With eight Oases, hundreds of cultural activities every day, both outdoors and at indoor venues, more than 20 festivals and events, new public spaces, original activities, terrasses, stores and restaurants, all downtown, the summer will be jam-packed with culture and happy reunions. From Atwater to Papineau streets and Sherbrooke St. to the St. Lawrence River, Les moments du cœur de l’île will have the streets of our metropolis brimming with action and fun all summer long!

Les moments du cœur de l’île is downtown Montreal’s collaborative summer project presented by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Montréal centre-ville, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Ville de Montréal, in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal.

The Oasis

With eight Oases, hundreds of cultural activities every day, both outdoors and at indoor venues, more than 20 festivals and events, new public spaces, original activities, terrasses, stores and restaurants, all downtown, the summer will be jam-packed with culture and happy reunions.

OASIS | PLAGE SAINT-JAMES

This summer the beach is coming to you! This Oasis in the square facing the Saint James United Church lives up to its name, offering Montrealers a vacation in the sun, right in the downtown core. You’re invited to get away from it all and relax at the Plage Saint-James Oasis. Passersby can drop in on this village-like to enjoy comfortable furniture, shade, a seaside soundscape, and that one-of-a-kind feeling of hot sand under foot. It’s a unique way to take a break in the Quartier!

OASIS | PLACE DES FESTIVALS

The greening of downtown Montreal is a top priority for the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership this summer. Over a hundred potted trees and a fountain turn the Place des Festivals into a refreshing shade garden — the perfect spot to relax and plan your itinerary for the day. A team of urban agriculture specialists has carefully chosen the tree species for these green spaces and will treat them with tender loving care throughout the summer. Festival goers are invited to reconnect with this space with the return of outdoor shows.

OASIS | QUARTIER CHINOIS

The Oasis | Quartier chinois invites you to enjoy a welcoming and intergenerational space in the image of this century-old neighborhood. Enjoy captivating performances and animations all summer long, as well as food from the Asian Market.

At the heart of this Oasis, the artwork Le Peigne sits in the large tree at the centre of the vacant lot. Partially made of plastic gathered in Chinatown and decorated with magnolias, Le Peigne illuminated at night presents itself as a fossilized relic of urban nature. Transdisciplinary artist Wawa Li and space designer Sarah Tu have joined forces to apply the artisanal plastic-recycling methods developed by Studio Ascètes, whose practice is focused on addressing the global garbage crisis.

The Montreal Asian Market offers street food stands run by local merchants. Market opening hours : Thusday to Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

OASIS | QUARTIER LATIN

With the largest concentration of terrasses in Montreal – more than 50 – the Quartier Latin is the perfect place to enjoy happy hour. When Saint-Denis Street becomes a pedestrian zone, the area offers a truly festive and welcoming atmosphere: various cultural activities await you throughout the summer. This year, the new green street furniture provides trees and other plants, creating the feeling of being in an orchard all along the street. The concept is called Agora Maximus, and it represents a clever combination between two symbols of Roman culture: the agora, a gathering place for civic and cultural events, and the Circus Maximus, a site of culture, entertainment and heritage.

Alcohol may not be consumed.

OASIS | JARDINS GAMELIN

The Jardins Gamelin are back in force for their 8^th season!

Rediscover your Jardins Gamelin as you knew them: festive, musical, green and gourmet. We're waiting for you with a wide range of activities, performances by artists from all over the world and a ton of opportunities to dance with your friends! In a relaxed atmosphere, take a break on the large terrace with the return of the Casse-croûte and its bar, to enjoy the beautiful summer days with friends and family.

Established eight years ago at Place Émilie-Gamelin in the Quartier des Spectacles, the spirit of the Jardins Gamelin is rooted in the values of social inclusion, collaboration and cohabitation. It is a true place of life where urban agriculture is at the forefront. Throughout the four-month season, there are thematic gardens, a redesigned layout and free cultural and musical programming reflecting the diversity and artistic richness of Montreal.

The Jardins Gamelin initiative and the revitalization of this public space are being carried out by the Partenariat du Quartier des Spectacles and thanks to the support of the borough of Ville-Marie and numerous partners, including Sentier Urbain, the Société de développement social and the SPVM.

OASIS | ESPLANADE TRANQUILLE

The Esplanade Tranquille, a new public space in the Quartier des Spectacles, will pay homage to the Tranquille Bookstore that once stood there and its owner, Henri Tranquille (1916-2005). The site of the signing of Refus global in 1948, it’s an important historical landmark for Quebec. Inspired by the concept of the backyard, this sociable, playful space offers an entertaining cultural experience with metropolitan flair for young and old alike year-round!

OASIS | Esplanade PVM à Place Ville Marie

Esplanade PVM promises a festive summer with a program that will delight aficionados of culture, circus art, music, comedy, gastronomy and physical activity, as well as people looking to spice up their workday.

Recently revamped, Esplanade PVM is part of Nouveau Centre, a destination for exceptional experiences that brings new life to Ivanhoé Cambridge flagship properties in Montréal: PVM, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, the Centre Eaton de Montréal and Place Montréal Trust.

With a diverse summer programming that includes gourmet discoveries, shopping adventures, cultural offers and innovative experiences, Nouveau Centre re-energizes the heart of the city.

OASIS | Village

Mille facettes by MASSIVart and Sid Lee Architecture invites the public to a gigantic open-air disco in the Village! In the heart of the neighbourhood, in Place du Village, Disco Géodésique is a public space that encourages get togethers, discussion, inclusion and the celebration of human connection. Designed as a large dome, the enormous mirror ball comprises a multitude of colourful facets that turn the space into a giant kaleidoscope.

Meanwhile, after sunset, Sainte-Catherine St. East is transformed into an open-air dance floor, speckled with the multicoloured reflections of more than 60 mirror balls.

Throughout the summer, numerous unique and bold activities and performances, reflecting the character of the Village, invite visitors to enter a world of love, peace and sequins!

The urban vegetable garden

This vegetable garden, located on Sainte-Catherine St. East across from Place Dupuis, is home to many varieties of edible flowers and plants, free for anyone to pick.

The project’s main purpose is to give back to the community. In partnership with the organizations Le Sac à dos and Au Coup de pouce Centre-Sud, a young person registered for an employability program maintains the garden and oversees harvesting, acquiring useful horticultural knowledge in the process.

The garden also serves as a rest area where people can hang out, talk or take a break.

ABOUT LES MOMENTS DU CŒUR DE L’ÎLE

The product of a fruitful collaboration between the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Montréal centre-ville, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Ville de Montréal, in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal, Les moments du cœur de l’île is downtown Montreal’s collaborative summer project. Bringing together the district’s cultural and economic stakeholders, the initiative encompasses a wide variety of activities presented by each partner. From Atwater to Papineau streets, between Sherbrooke St. and the St. Lawrence River, downtown is the place to go for countless cultural activities thanks to a variety of pedestrian zones, safe public spaces, spontaneous performances and an enhanced cultural offering. From June to the fall, these initiatives invite Montrealers, visitors and tourists to enjoy the best of the island outdoors.

More information: lecoeurdelile.com

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

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PRESS RELEASES

Les moments du cœur de l'île: a spectacular joint effort results in a successful and lively summer downtown!
29.09.22

Oasis | Quartier chinois : Culinary delights, public art and cultural programming all summer
21.07.22

Mille facettes: disco comes to the village this summer
13.07.22

Les moments du cœur de l'île : a summer of unique festive moments downtown!
24.05.22

MEDIA CONTACTS

Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
Mélanie Mingotaud
melanie@mingo2.ca
514 582-5272