Montreal’s metro is marking its 60th anniversary with a series of events, broadcasts and community initiatives planned across the city this fall.
The STM is also asking Montrealers to share their own metro memories and experiences. The stories will be brought together in a collective work set to be unveiled Oct. 14.
“It has shaped our city, connected our neighbourhoods, and helped drive Montreal’s economic development,” said Soraya Martinez Ferrada, mayor of Montreal. “Sixty years is more than 11 billion trips that have been taken on the metro. 11 billion metro moments.”
“That ambition helped businesses grow, neighbourhoods to be connected to downtown, and [helped the city] become one of Quebec’s most important economic hubs,” added Martinez Ferrada. “Today, we need the same kind of ambition. Sixty years shows us our age. It gives us challenges for the future, and I’m sure we’ll celebrate 60 years together but also work together in keeping this infrastructure for the future.”
The anniversary program will feature local sports teams, artists, cultural organizations and musicians, including the Alouettes, CF Montréal, Piknic Électronik and Alexandra Stréliski.
“This is the first problem that we’re working on; to maintain what we have,” said Aref Salem, chairman of the STM board. “The second point, we have to invest more in services and to increase these services eventually. So, this is something that we’re working on right now.”
Radio-Canada will also air a documentary hosted by Pierre-Yves Lord, filmed over the past year in several STM facilities. “Pierre-Yves prend le métro” will air Sept. 17 at 9 p.m.
To mark the anniversary, the STM will also sell limited-edition 60th-anniversary clothing and merchandise from Sept. 23 to Oct. 19. Proceeds will support Centraide of Greater Montreal and Réchaud-bus, which provide support to people experiencing homelessness and young people in disadvantaged communities.
