Pointe-à-Callière, 30 years of history... and countless memories!

Did you know that Montréal and Pointe-à-Callière share the same birthday? Every year on May 17, we celebrate the founding of Montréal and the creation of the Museum!

To mark its 30th anniversary, and the 380th anniversary of Montréal, Pointe-à-Callière invited culture columnist Claude Deschênes to make a list of cultural events that marked the Montréal scene in 1992, the year the Museum opened. Read his top 10 list, which may harken you back to some fond memories...

1. Kick-off of Montréal’s 350th birthday festivities

The celebration of Montréal’s 350th birthday began on the evening of May 16 with a carnivallike parade. Created by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, Les Nuits de Montréal featured 1,500 participants parading along Saint-Laurent Boulevard.

2. Inauguration of Pointe-à-Callière

On May 17, the day of Montréal’s 350th birthday, the official opening of Pointe-à-Callière was attended by the Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney; the Premier of Québec, Robert Bourassa; the Mayor of Montréal, Jean Doré; and the new museum’s executive director, Francine Lelièvre. It is the only large-scale archaeological museum in Canada.

3. Céline goes celestial

Céline Dion’s career took off internationally in 1992. On March 30, she performed “Beauty and the Beast” with Peabo Bryson at the Oscars. The song, which had topped the charts for weeks, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Previously, in April 1990, Dion had launched Unison, her first English-language CD.

4. Saltimbanco at the Old Port

The Cirque du Soleil show Saltimbanco, directed by Franco Dragone, had its world premiere at the Old Port of Montréal on April 23. The show ran for 20 years and was seen by 14 million spectators in 140 cities around the world.

5. A star is born

On May 27, singer-songwriter Daniel Bélanger released his first album, Les insomniaques s’amusent. Among the CD’s 11 songs were “Ensorcelée,” “Sèche tes pleurs,” “Opium” and “Quand le jour se lève.” The album would go on to sell over 200,000 copies.

6. Leolo at Cannes

Jean-Claude Lauzon’s iconic film Léolo, staring Ginette Reno and Pierre Bourgault, was released at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

7. Opening of the Biodôme

In June, Montréal gained a living museum that recreates several of Earth’s ecosystems. The Biodôme was built in the structure of the former Olympic velodrome, designed by architect Roger Taillibert.

8. Louise Lecavalier around the world

In September, Frank Zappa invited choreographer Édouard Lock’s dance company to take part in his tour of The Yellow Shark in Frankfurt, Berlin, and Vienna. Company member Louise Lecavalier was a key performer, along with Germany’s Ensemble Modern. In October, the world tour of the La La La Human Steps show Infante, C’est destroy stopped at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

9. Richard Séguin, Québec’s darling

In October, Richard Séguin swept up four awards at the ADISQ gala. His album Aux portes du matin won Félix awards for best pop-rock album, singer-songwriter show, song of the year, and male performer.

10. Rousseau solo

Comedian Stéphane Rousseau’s first solo show at Théâtre St-Denis, Rousseau, was seen by over 300,000 spectators in two years.

You can discover 20 other Cultural Events of 1992 in the special anniversary publication, Pointe-à-Callière, 30 years of history... and countless memories!