Discover the riverside neighbourhood of Verdun

Verdun’s proximity with the waters of the St. Lawrence have affected its entire history – in fact, the beautiful green parks that line the entirety of the waterfront were originally built to protect the area from flooding. Locals spend their free time gazing upon the water, playing soccer, football and baseball in the nearby sporting fields or cycling the bike path system right on the banks of the river. Fancy a dip? The urban Verdun Beach is the perfect spot for a swim followed by a relaxing kick-back in the sand. The largest pre-historical archaeological site on the Island of Montréal rests under the foundations of the Maison Nivard-de Saint-Dizier, proving that local populations have loved these views for over 5,500 years.

A quick jaunt over the Samuel De Champlain Bridge (by car or the REM train) or the bicycle Estacade near water level brings you to Nuns’ Island, a leafy suburban area with quiet parks, waterfront paths and the Strøm Nordic Spa, all sure to recharge and inspire. Architecture fans will also love the stunning examples of Mies van der Rohe’s genius in the form of multiple buildings and one of the world’s most beautiful gas stations, now repurposed as an arts centre.

Mere blocks from the water, Verdun’s bustling shopping stroll is centred on Promenade Wellington, named one of the coolest streets in the world. Home to design-savvy artisanal shops and creative new restaurants, this neighbourhood hot spot also offers a glimpse at the lives of working-class locals who’ve long called the area home. Locals even refer to the street affectionately as “ma well,” and once you’ve wandered it yourself, you’ll easily see why. Better yet, Wellington is one of Montréal’s car-free streets throughout the summer months, and the promenade is spruced up for the holiday season with the annual picture-pretty Pôle Well seasonal glow-up.

Right on that same corner, the twin towers of the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs cast cooling shade in the summer months, and the church offers a pleasing schedule of concerts and events within its gorgeous interior year-round. The church is also an impressive point from which to begin an architectural tour. An afternoon in Verdun is a dream excursion for architects, with examples ranging from characteristic Montréal spiral staircases and modernist pieces like the Verdun Auditorium to the previously mentioned buildings by the legendary van der Rohe. And proving Verdun’s deep connection to its architecture, the neighbourhood is also in talks to protect the picturesque Natatorium outdoor pool, an art deco gem opened in 1940 with enough room for 1,500 swimmers—once the biggest public pool in Canada.

Verduners keep active year-round. The grand Parc de l’Honorable-George-O’Reilly outdoor dance floor next to the municipal riverside greenhouses offers daily social dance sessions including salsa, tango and country, and these bustling nights make for a perfect opportunity to cut a rug with the neighbourhood. A little snow doesn’t keep anyone inside either, with a cross-country ski track along the river’s edge starting at Parc Arthur-Therrien and traversing all the way to Lachine nearly 20 km away.

Verdun? We’ve hardly even Ver-started! With a proud past and a whole lot to offer, a visit to Verdun almost feels like a day-trip away.