Did you know that there is a brigade of ambassadors in downtown Montreal? They are recognized by their blue uniform, where it is written on the back Your downtown resource. They roam the streets of downtown Montreal, seven days a week, all year round, to inform tourists and locals.
The mission of these six ambassadors: they are the eyes and ears of the city centre. “These ambassadors are a first in Quebec. It is a recognized practice in most major cities in the world, in New York, Chicago, Boston, Toronto. We were inspired by the practices of these cities which face the same issues as Montreal,” explains Glenn Castanheira, general manager of Montreal centre-ville, in an interview. The pilot project started in 2021 then was renewed and is still in the running-in and adjustment period.
The ambassadors answer questions from tourists and locals: where is the nearest metro station? Where is Old Montreal? Where is this restaurant or shop? How does BIXI work? Where is the restroom ? In this regard, the P’tit Coin network offers 10 clean and free public toilets between Saint-Urbain and Atwater streets: there are notably the toilets of the Center Sheraton, Complexe Desjardins, Place Montréal Trust, Center Eaton, from La Maison Alcan or Faubourg Sainte-Catherine. For each of the participating buildings, there is an indication on the door and dots on the ground with arrows leading to the toilets.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Ambassadors answer questions from tourists and locals.
A social role
“In addition to informing people, they make the link with downtown merchants, they also act a bit like inspectors, because they report acts of vandalism, broken furniture. They are there to improve the experience of visitors and residents and help the City maintain the public space,” explained Mr. Castanheira.
The other role of ambassadors is to support marginalized populations and ensure good coexistence with traders. “They can defuse situations, help marginalized populations and refer them to community groups as needed. Our ambassadors are trained in first aid and have had training by the YMCA,” he adds.
Théo Closson is responsible for the field teams in downtown Montreal. He believes that the role of ambassadors is very important.
It is sometimes the first contact we have downtown and they are good communicators. The ambassadors roam the streets of downtown, Sherbrooke Street, Sainte-Catherine Street, René-Lévesque Boulevard, they know everything that happens there.
Théo Closson, field team manager in downtown Montreal
We met Théo Closson at Square Phillips, which is being revitalized. Tables and chairs have been set up. From July 5 to August 25, a musical program is planned at lunchtime; from Wednesday to Friday, there will be a guitar trio, a string quartet, a flute and guitar duo and piano. “It’s good to reclaim places like this square, moreover, you can take the chair and move it in the shade, don’t hesitate”, he says, because at the same time, a member of the cleaning brigade (which has existed since 2001) greets him and points out that people are too hot in the sun on the chairs in the Square (which are unoccupied) and that umbrellas should be installed. He is right, because in full sun, we were cooking. “We are still adjusting,” repeats Théo Closson.
PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @BRYANTPARKNYC
New York’s Bryant Park offers a bit of tranquility and excitement in the heart of Manhattan.
Downtown challenges
The general manager of Montreal downtown, Glenn Castanheira, does not hide that he is inspired by Bryant Park in New York. In the heart of Midtown in Manhattan, there is this small park very popular with New Yorkers, where there are many activities all year round. “We want to do the same thing with Dorchester Square: set up tables there so that people can come and picnic and reclaim the public space, because downtown Montreal is not just a business district. ! “, believes the latter.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Phillips Square is being revitalized.
The biggest criticism of downtown is the sense of place. It belongs to everyone, but to no one at the same time.
Glenn Castanheira, general manager of downtown Montreal
The general manager, for his part, believes that it is an incredible cultural center of which we should all be proud. Victim of its own success, it is often criticized, but no one rolls up its sleeves to improve it.
And the works? “There are, in fact, many infrastructure works and real estate works, because Montreal is experiencing an unprecedented real estate boom. We have to manage all the construction sites. Imagine our city center if there were no more construction sites or social crisis, and everything was accessible by public transport very efficiently at all times, we would be the best in the world! Despite everything, we have one of the most dynamic downtown areas in North America, but we want to improve it further! concludes Glenn Castanheira.