(image from postcard, circa 1900)
WalkMontreal is pleased to bring you their latest walk titled “Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue“. Join C & D as they walk this beautiful town on the south-west tip of the island of Montreal. The walk starts at Macdonald Campus of McGill University, goes thru the grounds of John Abbott College and onto Sainte-Anne Street heading west towards the historic Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal and then doubling back thru quaint side streets. Step back in time as we will also highlight some images of yesteryear.
C & D did this walk on Saturday August 3, 2024 between 2PM EST and 3:35PM EST and the terrain is mostly flat. The temperature was 31C (88F) and the total length of the walk is approximately 3KM (2 Miles). Follow along with the below map as to the route taken.
We started here at McGill University’s Macdonald Campus on Lakeshore. You can get here by the 211 bus that will bring you all the way from Lionel-Groulx Metro Station.
The road leading into Macdonald Campus which is home to the University’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Walking west along the public path.
The Power House.
CEGEP John Abbott College. Opened in 1971, it has 6500 day students and 2000 continuing education students.
John Abbott College is housed in beautiful century-old buildings.
Continue walking west.
St. Lawrence River can be seen from here.
Coming to the intersection with Maple Street and this is where Lakeshore Road becomes Rue Sainte-Anne.
Walk west along Rue Sainte-Anne.
At 9 Rue Sainte-Anne is a former Hudson Bay Fur Warehouse, built in late 1790’s-early 1800’s.
Continue walking west along the beautiful Rue Sainte-Anne.
Rue Sainte-Anne – 1920’s (postcard).
Rue Sainte-Anne – 1920’s (postcard).
Rue Sainte-Anne – 1920’s (postcard).
At 109 Rue Sainte-Anne is the City Hall built in 1860.
City Hall – undated (postcard).
City Hall – undated (postcard).
Continue walking west along Rue Sainte-Anne.
Rue Sainte-Anne -1973 (credit: R. Nadon / BANQ).
At 153 Rue Sainte-Anne is the Simon Fraser House, built between 1790 and 1810. Thomas Moore, the Irish poet (1779-1852) stayed here in 1804 and composed his famous text “The Canadian Boat Song”.
Simon Fraser House – undated (postcard).
Cross over to the other side of Rue Sainte-Anne and admire the boardwalk and canal.
We are going to walk up this ramp to get a better look downwards at the canal.
Walking up the ramp to the Galipeault Bridge.
There is a little look-out for viewing here.
You can look down at the canal, boardwalk and any boats moored there.
Canal – undated (postcard).
Lets turn around and head back down to where we were.
We are back on the ground now at the canal, walk west along the canal.
Walking underneath the Canadian National Railway Bridge.
We have now reached the Canal Locks. The Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge is above us.
At the Lock. You can see the three bridges clearly: the Galipeault Bridge (current span built 1991, 2009) in rear, the Canadian National Railway Bridge (built 1854) in centre and the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge (built 1893) in foreground.
Locks and Bridges – undated (postcard).
The Canal was a gateway to the Ottawa River, with the first lock built in 1843, to bypass the Sainte-Anne rapids.
Looking north-west towards Ottawa River, Baie de Vaudreuil. Deux-Montagnes is seen in distance.
We will cross over Rue Sainte-Anne to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Church, built between 1853 and 1856.
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Church, built between 1853 and 1856.
We will head back east, the way we came, via Rue Sainte-Anne.
We go back under the three bridges: the Galipeault Bridge (current span built 1991, 2009) in rear, the Canadian National Railway Bridge (built 1854) in centre and the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge (built 1893) in foreground.
The three bridges in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. This is before the current Galipeault Bridge (postcard).
Walking under the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge (built 1893).
Walking under the Canadian National Railway Bridge (built 1854).
Walking under the Galipeault Bridge (current span built 1991, 2009).
We are headed back walking east along Rue Sainte-Anne the way we came.
Passing the Simon Fraser House.
Walking east on Rue Sainte-Anne.
At the intersection of Rue Christie and Rue Sainte-Anne, turn left and walk up Rue Christie.
Walk up Rue Christie to the first intersection of Rue Saint-Thomas.
Walk east on Rue Saint-Thomas.
Walking east on Rue Saint-Thomas.
At the intersection of Rue Saint-Pierre, turn left and walk to the first cross-street, Rue Saint-Paul.
Walk east on Rue Saint-Paul.
Walking east on Rue Saint-Paul.
Intersection of Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Lamarche.
Walk north on Rue Lamarche to Rue Saint-Georges.
At Rue Saint-Georges, walk east.
Walking east on Rue Saint-Georges.
Rue Saint-Georges.
Rue Saint-Georges.
Continue walking east on Rue Saint-Georges.
Continue walking east on Rue Saint-Georges, we come to St. George’s Church.
St. George’s Church.
Original St .George’s Church – undated (postcard).
Intersection of Rue Saint-Georges and Rue Maple.
Turn right and walk south down Rue Maple.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
Grounds of John Abbott College can be seen on the left.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
Walking south down Rue Maple.
We come to Lakeshore Road.
We are at corner of Rue Maple and Rue Sainte-Anne.
If you walk back east towards John Abbott College, there are several buses to return to, including the 211 which will bring straight downtown to Lionel-Groulx Metro Station.
This concludes our walk in this very scenic town. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.