Montreal recognizes its “responsibilities” with six flags

La Ronde’s “catastrophic” condition jeopardizes the important legacy of Expo 67, the world’s fair held in Montreal to mark the centennial of Canadian Confederation. While the organization Heritage Montreal calls on the city to “recognize La Ronde as a heritage complex, similar to Île Sainte-Hélène,” the municipal administration instead calls on Six Flags, the owner of the premises, to take the necessary steps.

A sculpture by artist Gladstone, an old merry-go-round from Belgium, a cable car from Lausanne, Switzerland, a carousel and remnants of the Expo monorail are among the threats, Heritage Montreal said. The body’s director of policy, Dinu Bumbaru, lamented the city’s refusal to classify it as a protected site.

Unfortunately, municipal politics meant that even elected officials in Montreal rejected the idea of ​​including La Ronde in the heritage site cited by the City for Île Sainte-Hélène.

Dinu Bumbaru, Director of Policy at Heritage Montreal

This decision, according to him, deprived La Ronde of the protection regime, but also the opportunity to collaborate with the Jean-Drapeau Park Company and the City to highlight this historical, architectural and – in its own way, through activities – social.

Montreal “did its part”

But Montreal says the opposite. The city and the Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau regularly cooperate with La Ronde and its owner, Mayor Valerie Plante’s press secretary, Catherine Cadotte, said in a text message. Metro. According to her, the protection of the place belongs to its owner.

We expect Six Flags to fulfill its obligations and make the necessary investments to preserve and develop its site.

Catherine Cadotte, Mayor Plante’s press attaché needs to put La Ronde on the defensive.

The City says it believes in the high potential of Parc Jean-Drapeau, where La Ronde is located, and recalls that he took on its responsibilities “for his part”. The administration recalled that it has invested $600 million over the next 10 years for the implementation of the master plan.

Six flags have not yet responded to the queries Metro At the time of this writing.