Saint Helen's Island
Encyclopedia
Saint Helen's Island is an island
in the Saint Lawrence River
, in the territory of the city of Montreal
. It is situated immediately southeast of the Island of Montreal
, in the extreme southwest of Quebec. It forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago
. The Le Moyne Channel separates it from Île Notre-Dame
.
It was named in 1611 by Samuel de Champlain
in honour of his wife, Hélène de Champlain, née Boullé. The island belonged to the Le Moyne family of Longueuil
from 1665 until 1818, when it was purchased by the British
government. A fort, powderhouse and blockhouse were built on the island as defences for the city, in consequence of the War of 1812
.
The newly formed Canadian government acquired the island in 1870; it was converted into a public park in 1874.
In the 1940s, during World War II
, Saint Helen's Island, along with various other regions within Canada, such as the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
and Hull, Quebec
, had Prisoner-of-war camp
s. St. Helen's prison was number forty seven and remained unnamed just like most of Canada's other war prisons. The prisoners of war (POWs) were sorted and classified into categories including their nationality and civilian
or military status. In this camp, POWs were mostly of Italian and German nationality. Also, prisoners were forced into hard labour which included farming and lumbering the land. By 1944 the camp would be closed and shortly afterwards destroyed because of an internal report on the treatment of prisoners.
The archipelago of which Saint Helen's Island is a part was chosen as the site of Expo 67
, a World's Fair
on the theme of Man and His World, or in French
, Terre des Hommes. In preparation for Expo 67, the island was greatly enlarged and consolidated with several nearby islands, using earth excavated during the construction of the Montreal metro
. The nearby island, Île Notre-Dame
, was built from scratch.
After Expo, the site continued to be used as a fairground, now under the name Man and His World or Terre des Hommes
. Finally, most of the Expo installations were dismantled and the island was returned to parkland.
Saint Helen's Island and Île Notre-Dame together make up Parc Jean-Drapeau
(formerly Parc des Îles). Several important attractions are found on the island, including the Stewart Museum (Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène
), the La Ronde amusement park, the Biosphere (an interpretative museum about the Saint Lawrence River installed in the former American Pavilion from Expo), and an Aquatic Complex (French Complexe aquatique de l'île Sainte-Hélène) that includes 3 exterior pools. The park is a primary recreational site for Montrealers and hosts frequent concerts and shows, including the L’International des Feux Loto-Québec international fireworks
competition and the annual Osheaga music festival.
The island is accessed via the Concorde and Jacques Cartier
bridges, and via the Jean-Drapeau
metro
station.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, in the territory of the city of Montreal
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...
. It is situated immediately southeast of the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, in the extreme southwest of Quebec. It forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago
Hochelaga Archipelago
The Hochelaga Archipelago, also known as the Montreal Islands , is a group of islands at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers in the southwest part of the province of Quebec, Canada.-Size:...
. The Le Moyne Channel separates it from Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island built in 10 months from 15 million tons of rock excavated for the Montreal Metro in 1965. It was created for Expo 67 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The island is part of the city of Montreal and forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
.
It was named in 1611 by Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
in honour of his wife, Hélène de Champlain, née Boullé. The island belonged to the Le Moyne family of Longueuil
Longueuil, Quebec
Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
from 1665 until 1818, when it was purchased by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government. A fort, powderhouse and blockhouse were built on the island as defences for the city, in consequence of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
The newly formed Canadian government acquired the island in 1870; it was converted into a public park in 1874.
In the 1940s, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Saint Helen's Island, along with various other regions within Canada, such as the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean is a region in Quebec, Canada. It contains the Saguenay Fjord, the estuary of the Saguenay River, stretching through much of the region...
and Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, had Prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
s. St. Helen's prison was number forty seven and remained unnamed just like most of Canada's other war prisons. The prisoners of war (POWs) were sorted and classified into categories including their nationality and civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
or military status. In this camp, POWs were mostly of Italian and German nationality. Also, prisoners were forced into hard labour which included farming and lumbering the land. By 1944 the camp would be closed and shortly afterwards destroyed because of an internal report on the treatment of prisoners.
The archipelago of which Saint Helen's Island is a part was chosen as the site of Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
, a World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
on the theme of Man and His World, or in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Terre des Hommes. In preparation for Expo 67, the island was greatly enlarged and consolidated with several nearby islands, using earth excavated during the construction of the Montreal metro
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....
. The nearby island, Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame
Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island built in 10 months from 15 million tons of rock excavated for the Montreal Metro in 1965. It was created for Expo 67 to celebrate Canada's centennial. The island is part of the city of Montreal and forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
, was built from scratch.
After Expo, the site continued to be used as a fairground, now under the name Man and His World or Terre des Hommes
Terre des Hommes
Terre des hommes may refer to:* Terre des hommes , a 1939 philosophical memoir by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry...
. Finally, most of the Expo installations were dismantled and the island was returned to parkland.
Saint Helen's Island and Île Notre-Dame together make up Parc Jean-Drapeau
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Parc Jean-Drapeau is situated to the east of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the Saint Lawrence River. It comprises two islands, Saint Helen's Island and the artificial island Île Notre-Dame....
(formerly Parc des Îles). Several important attractions are found on the island, including the Stewart Museum (Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène
Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène
The Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène, an historic site on Saint Helen's Island that belongs to the city of Montreal, Quebec, was constructed in the early 1820s as an arsenal in the defensive chain of forts built to protect Canada from a threat of American invasion. Although not heavily fortified, it...
), the La Ronde amusement park, the Biosphere (an interpretative museum about the Saint Lawrence River installed in the former American Pavilion from Expo), and an Aquatic Complex (French Complexe aquatique de l'île Sainte-Hélène) that includes 3 exterior pools. The park is a primary recreational site for Montrealers and hosts frequent concerts and shows, including the L’International des Feux Loto-Québec international fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
competition and the annual Osheaga music festival.
The island is accessed via the Concorde and Jacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier Bridge
The Jacques Cartier Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge crossing the Saint Lawrence River from Montreal Island, Montreal, Quebec to the south shore at Longueuil, Quebec, Canada...
bridges, and via the Jean-Drapeau
Jean-Drapeau (Montreal Metro)
Jean-Drapeau is a station on the Yellow Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal...
metro
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....
station.