Saint Helen's Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Île Sainte-Hélène
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| Geography | |
| Location | Saint Lawrence River |
| Coordinates | 45°31′04″N 73°32′02″W / 45.51778°N 73.53389°W |
| Archipelago | Hochelaga Archipelago |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Province | Quebec |
| City | Montreal |
| Borough | Ville-Marie |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Saint Helen's Island (French: Île Sainte-Hélène) is an island in the Saint Lawrence River. It is part of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The island is located just southeast of the Island of Montreal.
Saint Helen's Island is part of the Hochelaga Archipelago. The Le Moyne Channel separates it from Notre Dame Island. Both Saint Helen's Island and Notre Dame Island form Jean-Drapeau Park.
The island was named in 1611 by Samuel de Champlain. He named it after his wife, Hélène de Champlain. The Le Moyne family owned the island from 1665 until 1818. Then, the British government bought it. A fort, a powderhouse, and a blockhouse were built there. These structures helped defend the city after the War of 1812.
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Island History: From Fort to Park
In 1838, the British planned to build an observatory on the island. However, the observatory was later moved to Toronto.
The Canadian government took over the island in 1870. By 1874, it became a public park. People used to visit the island to swim and enjoy the beach.
During World War II in the 1940s, Saint Helen's Island had a prisoner-of-war camp. This camp held mostly Italian and German prisoners. The prisoners were made to do hard work like farming. The camp was closed and destroyed by 1944.
Expo 67: A World's Fair Transformation
The islands, including Saint Helen's Island, were chosen for Expo 67. This was a big World's Fair with the theme "Man and His World." To prepare for Expo 67, Saint Helen's Island was made much larger. Workers used earth dug up during the building of the Montreal metro. The nearby Notre Dame Island was even built completely from scratch for the event.
After Expo 67, the site continued to be used for events. It was still called "Man and His World." Most of the Expo buildings were taken down. The island was then turned back into parkland.
Fun Things to Do on the Island
Saint Helen's Island has many exciting places to visit. These include the Saint Helen Island Fort. There is also La Ronde, a popular amusement park. The Biosphere is another key attraction. It is a museum about the Saint Lawrence River. It is located in the old American Pavilion from Expo 67.
The island also has an Aquatic Complex. This complex has three outdoor swimming pools. The park is a favorite spot for people from Montreal to relax. It also hosts many concerts and shows. These events include the L'International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks competition. The yearly Osheaga music festival is also held here.
On Sundays during the summer, you can enjoy "Piknic Elektronic." This event features live electronic music DJs.
How to Get to the Island
You can reach Saint Helen's Island in many ways. You can use public transport, drive a car, ride a bicycle, or walk. The Concordia Bridge connects the island to Montreal's Cité du Havre area. It also links to Notre Dame Island. Notre Dame Island has bike paths to Saint-Lambert on the south shore.
The Jacques Cartier Bridge also connects the island. You can access it from both the Island of Montreal and Longueuil. The Yellow Line of the Montreal Metro has a stop on Saint Helen's Island. This stop is called Jean-Drapeau station.
Images for kids
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Picnic on Saint Helen's Island, 1938
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Beach scene, 1938
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Man, a sculpture by Alexander Calder, on Saint Helen's Island
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"Le Phare du Cosmos" (1967) by Yves Trudeau (created for Expo 67) in Saint Helen's Island
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The Tour de Lévis
See also
In Spanish: Île Sainte-Hélènen para niños
