Big Splash | The future of the port bath in the Old Port still nebulous

The traditional Grand Splash was held Friday in the Old Port of Montreal. About 150 people took part, with the objective of democratizing access to water, at a time when the future of a port bath in the Jacques-Cartier basin is still unclear.

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

The Fondation Rivières, which has been organizing the event annually for more than 15 years in several cities in the province, immediately indicates that in Montreal, the objective is to “jump into the water in order to claim public and safe access swimming in the Old Port, particularly at the Quai Jacques-Cartier”.

Some public and political personalities were on hand for this 16^e edition, Friday, including the singer and founder of the group Clay and Friends, Mike Clay, the president of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, Michel Leblanc, and the advisor associated with the mayor, Alia Hassan-Cournol. The former spokesperson for Québec solidaire, Amir Khadir, was also present.

Remember that the idea of ​​installing a port bath in the area is not new. It’s the 16^e edition of the Grand Splash at this location. In the past, mobilization has often taken place on the political scene.

André Bélanger, Executive Director of the Rivières Foundation, has been calling for a change of mentality for several years now, arguing that the quality of the water is there. “As far as security is concerned, they have made this argument for 18 years in Quebec, so there are solutions,” he argues.

The City of Quebec will indeed inaugurate a bathing area in its port this summer. The Port of Quebec announced at the end of May the creation of the Oasis project, a place that will revolve around swimming at the foot of Old Quebec. The space laid out in the existing Louise basin will offer several Olympic-length corridors (50 m), as well as an area for free swimming.

“It may be”, but…

In 2017, Valérie Plante’s party, Projet Montréal, promised to install a harbor bath in the Old Port of Montreal. In 2020, however, the City had to abandon the project, following the publication of new studies, according to which it would be too difficult to develop a port bath, given the activities of the port and the current in the sector. The quality of the water, deemed “good”, would not, however, be in question.

“Yes, it can be a port bath in the city center,” says Alia Hassan-Cournol. “The only issue we have is that the studies prove to us that safety is questionable here, for two reasons: there are strong currents, and there is still a lot of port activity and boats that pass, ”she nuances.

However, the advisor hopes to be able to find a solution soon. “Is it right here, or somewhere else downtown?” We are continuing to study. We don’t want to wait another ten years for access to swimming. We are no longer there,” she said.

“It’s also a climate justice issue,” recalls André Bélanger, whose group recently requested a meeting with the Société du Vieux-Port de Montréal, to take stock. “We want to show up there with Tourisme Montréal, with the Chamber of Commerce, and others, to try to show that there is an appetite and a common will, especially in the context of the relaunch of the downtown area” , he concludes, also saying he hopes for a multiplication of bathing areas, everywhere on the island.

Although it has several reservations, the Société du Vieux-Port de Montréal—whose main manager is the Canada Lands Company—nevertheless said it was “open” last year to the development of a port bath on its lands. The group then explained that it was collaborating with the City on an “alternative” to the Quai de l’Horloge, an option that has been repeatedly rejected given the security issues, in particular the strength of the current and the risks associated with navigation.