Today, JCCBI started surveying the area near the Île Sainte-Hélène Pavilion (ISHP) to explore its archaeological potential before excavation work is done in this sector.

JCCBI is always very mindful of the historical potential of the land around the infrastructure that it manages. Studies indicate that the sector could include the remains of buildings from the early 19th century, hence the preliminary archaeological exploration.

In fall 2019, a 19th-century pipe kiln was discovered under the Jacques Cartier Bridge on the Montreal side.

A bit of history

Île Sainte-Hélène has long had historical significance. The British government acquired the land in the early 19th century to build a military complex before the Ville de Montréal used it as a park in 1874. With the construction of the Jacques Cartier Bridge (called the Harbour Bridge at the time) in 1930 and of Île Notre-Dame in 1967, the area has changed a great deal.

In 1978, JCCBI was created to manage the Jacques Cartier Bridge. The ISHP, a formidable art-deco building, became the property of JCCBI.

We will keep you updated about any discoveries in the ISHP sector. Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts for more info.