A citizen port

The year 2019 heralded a number of new and rewarding community relations initiatives. Whether making our activities and projects better known in a spirit of transparency with residents, or making the public benefit from our new public spaces on the waterfront, or supporting community organizations, the Port of Montreal increased the number of events and actions. 

À bon port

Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal 

Exhibition at the Port Centre

After two years on display and attracting some 100,000 visitors, the History of Ships exhibition was dismantled. Key elements such as the model ships and historic murals were kept and installed in the lobby. 

A new free exhibition, All aboard!, opened in December. It is an informative showcase of port activities as well as a dynamic, entertaining new space designed for families, school groups and all visitors interested in learning more about the port world. 

Public and rental spaces like no other in Montreal 

Between June, when the counting equipment was installed, and December 2019, more than 650,000 people came to the Port of Montreal’s Grand Quay, either to visit the public areas offering breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and downtown Montreal, or to attend one of the 200 days of events held in one of the rental spaces. 

Nautical picnics 

Two days of free family activities were organized at the Grand Quay, including seafarers’ tales and legends and an introduction to sailing, in addition to fireworks evenings. More than 7,000 people attended this event. 

Observation tower

Construction of the future observation tower began in the fall, with a 2021 planned opening. As a major tourist and architectural landmark in the city, it will contribute to Montreal’s reputation, attractiveness and tourism offer.

Port in the City

With the same objective of reaching out to citizens, particularly those residing in neighbourhoods bordering its facilities, the Port of Montreal changed the format of its annual Port in the City event, which had traditionally offered guided cruises on the river. This year, the event took a fresh approach. By setting up an information booth in a container that was moved to public events in several neighbourhoods, and offering guided tours of a terminal by bus from these events, the Port of Montreal increased awareness of the Port among citizens. Throughout the summer, close to 5,000 residents of neighbouring port facilities came to meet us and 400 people took a bus tour around a container terminal. 

Consultations

The year 2019 was marked by an increased presence of MPA teams in public consultations organized by the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) related to several neighbourhoods bordering Port facilities. For example, the Bridge-Bonaventure sector, the Viau Terminal sector and the Des Faubourgs sector were the focus of a collective reflection on harmonious urban cohabitation. Also, in December the MPA held a public information meeting on its overpass project in the Viau Terminal sector.

Port en ville - Piano

Community investment policy

Through its community investment policy, the MPA supported close to 70 organizations in Montreal and Contrecœur, mainly dedicated to fighting poverty, exclusion and food insecurity in the neighbourhoods bordering its operations, but also to protecting the environmental and promoting careers in the marine industry. 

Survey 

A Léger-Marketing survey conducted in 2019 with a sample of 1,100 people found that public opinion of the Port was progressively improving: 

  • The proportion of Port neighbours who agreed that the MPA communicates in a transparent manner rose from 39% in 2017 to 56% in 2019. 
  • The proportion of our neighbours who agreed that the Port of Montreal is a vector of support for the community and community organizations rose from 49% in 2017 to 67% in 2019.
  • The proportion of Montrealers surveyed who agreed that they were proud to live in a port city rose from 52% in 2015 and 57% in 2017 to 63% in 2019.  

These encouraging results further strengthen the MPA’s commitment to healthy cohabitation and dialogue with the community in a spirit of continuous improvement.