Montreal In Pictures

October 16 2012

It looked like there could be a nice sunset tonight so I headed down to Old Montreal in the hope of getting a few good shots. Rather than going to the normal haunts, I decided to check out the Faubourg Quebec area that has been undergoing a major transformation with lots of new condos being constructed in the area East of rue Berri and south of Notre Dame.

Faubourg Quebec toward Marché Bonsecours
ISO 100 – 98mm – f4.5 – 1/750 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Until the great fire of July 8 1852 when one third of Montreal was destroyed, the area was fairly prestigious with the British barracks close by. After the fire destroyed pretty much the entire neighborhood, the railways moved in. In 1884 Dalhousie train station was built where the first Canadian transcontinental train trip began its journey to Vancouver on 28 June 1886 (arriving on the 4th July).

The recent development of the area includes Dalhousie Square which has train tracks embedded in honor to the importance railroads had on the area.

Dalhousie Square
ISO 100 – 18mm – f3.5 – 1/30 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

The Dalhousie station still stands and has been recently renovated and is now the home to the Eloize Circus company.

Former Dalhousie Railway Station
ISO 100 – 18mm – f3.5 – 1/15 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Dalhousie Station lost its importance in 1898 when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) built the larger and grander Viger Station and hotel just one block north. This chateau-like structure is now abandoned (being last used as offices for the City of Montreal until 2005) but plans are in the works for it to be renovated and once again become a hotel.

Viger Station and Hotel
ISO 100 – 18mm – f3.5 – 1/30 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Dalhousie Square is reported to be worth checking out at night and I had planned to stick around. Unfortunately by the time the sun had set I had wandered back to the Basin du Bonsecours to shoot the sunset and didn’t have time to go back. I will be sure to return to get some night shots though.

Here are some shots taken around the Parc du Basin Bonsecours just prior and during sunset. I was a bit surprised to see they had already drained the basin – guess ice skating isn’t that far away….I get a chill just thinking about winter being almost upon us.