Jean-Talon railway station
Encyclopedia
Jean-Talon railway station, also known as Park Avenue Station is a former railway station located in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. It is located at the northern end of Park Avenue and its main entrance faces Jean-Talon Street. It is situated in the Park Extension
neighbourhood of the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
.
built Jean-Talon station, which was designed by architect Colin Drewitt and opened in 1931. It was inaugurated in the presence of Camilien Houde, the mayor of Montreal at the time. Jean-Talon station replaced the Mile End railway station, which was located at the corner of Saint Laurent Boulevard and Bernard Street.
In its time, all trains headed toward Quebec City
, Ottawa
and the Laurentians, including the Le Petit Train du Nord, traveled through Jean-Talon Station.
The station's role as an important railway stop permitted the station to host many important figures. One such event occurred in 1939, when the station was the site of a royal visit by George VI
and the Queen Mother, who were accompanied by former Prime Minister
William Lyon MacKenzie King
.
Jean-Talon station was an important stop for railway passengers until the early 1950s. Following the closure of Viger Station
in 1951, Jean-Talon station suffered a swift decline in traffic. It was closed itself in 1983 when Canadian Pacific transferred the management of passenger rail transport
to Via Rail Canada. The same year, the city of Montreal acquired the building and ceded part of the building to the Montreal Urban Community
for the construction underground of the Parc
Metro station
, which opened in 1987.
The central portion of the building became a Indigo Books and Music
store, which closed and was replaced by a Société des alcools du Québec
store, which itself closed in 2010.
outlet.
The entrance to the Parc
Metro station
was built within the former men's smoking room
, in the portion of the building facing Hutchison Street.
Adjacent to Jean-Talon station is the separate Parc
commuter rail station which opened in 1997 as Jean-Talon, although its name was changed to Parc in 2000.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located at the northern end of Park Avenue and its main entrance faces Jean-Talon Street. It is situated in the Park Extension
Park Extension
Park Extension is a neighbourhood in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It is located in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension and has a population of 35,000 and an area of 1.6 km². The name derives from the fact that it is situated at the north end of Park Avenue and is literally an...
neighbourhood of the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is a borough in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It has a population of 145,485 and an area of 16,05 km².-Location:...
.
History
The Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
built Jean-Talon station, which was designed by architect Colin Drewitt and opened in 1931. It was inaugurated in the presence of Camilien Houde, the mayor of Montreal at the time. Jean-Talon station replaced the Mile End railway station, which was located at the corner of Saint Laurent Boulevard and Bernard Street.
In its time, all trains headed toward Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and the Laurentians, including the Le Petit Train du Nord, traveled through Jean-Talon Station.
The station's role as an important railway stop permitted the station to host many important figures. One such event occurred in 1939, when the station was the site of a royal visit by George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and the Queen Mother, who were accompanied by former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
William Lyon MacKenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
.
Jean-Talon station was an important stop for railway passengers until the early 1950s. Following the closure of Viger Station
Place Viger
Place Viger was both a grand hotel and railway station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, constructed in 1898 and named after Jacques Viger, Montreal's first mayor...
in 1951, Jean-Talon station suffered a swift decline in traffic. It was closed itself in 1983 when Canadian Pacific transferred the management of passenger rail transport
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
to Via Rail Canada. The same year, the city of Montreal acquired the building and ceded part of the building to the Montreal Urban Community
Montreal Urban Community
The Montreal Urban Community was a regional government that covered all municipalities that later merged into the megacity of Montreal.- History :...
for the construction underground of the Parc
Parc (Montreal Metro)
Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
Metro station
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
, which opened in 1987.
The central portion of the building became a Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
store, which closed and was replaced by a Société des alcools du Québec
Société des alcools du Québec
The Société des alcools du Québec , often abbreviated and referred to as SAQ, is a provincial Crown corporation in Quebec.-Organization:...
store, which itself closed in 2010.
Current use
The building no longer serves its original vocation as a railway station. The main entrance to the building, faces the intersection of Park Avenue and Jean-Talon. The central portion of the building currently houses a Joe FreshJoe Fresh
Joe Fresh is a fashion brand created by designer Joe Mimran for Canadian food retailer Loblaw Companies Limited. "Joe," as the label is often referred to, is promoted as stylish and affordable apparel and accessories that includes adult and children’s wear, shoes, handbags, jewellery, beauty...
outlet.
The entrance to the Parc
Parc (Montreal Metro)
Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
Metro station
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
was built within the former men's smoking room
Smoking room
A Smoking room is a room which is specifically provided and furnished for smoking, generally in buildings where smoking is otherwise prohibited....
, in the portion of the building facing Hutchison Street.
Adjacent to Jean-Talon station is the separate Parc
Parc (AMT)
Parc is an Agence métropolitaine de transport commuter rail station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.It is served by commuter trains of the AMT and is part of the Blainville-Saint-Jérôme Line....
commuter rail station which opened in 1997 as Jean-Talon, although its name was changed to Parc in 2000.