Revisiting Montreal's Expo 67 site

Autumn leaves brighten Buckminster Fuller's iconic geodesic dome.

In Montreal I have just had the opportunity to visit Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, site of Expo 67. 

Expo 67 site is now Parc Jean-Drapeau, named for the mayor who initiated Expo 67.

I had been there 47 years ago on my first trip outside my home province of Alberta. As one of 400 winners of a nation-wide essay contest sponsored by Dominion Stores, I went to Expo in early September after my first summer of working away from home at Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. It was a pivotal time in my life. Once back home, I attended my high school graduation and moved from the farm to Edmonton to start classes at the University of Alberta.

Renovations at the Montreal Casino, France's former Expo 67 pavilion.

On Île Notre-Dame the former Expo 67 pavilion of France still stands and is now a casino. I went in to check it out but the only money I spent inside was for lunch.

In the casino colourful playing card characters welcome gamblers.

On Île Sainte-Hélène, Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome, the focal point of the American expo pavilion and a dominant symbol of the whole exhibition, now houses the Biosphere, a national environmental museum. I spent several informative and enjoyable hours there. The developing autumn colours made for some spectacular views from the top.

There are great views from the top of the Biosphere.

Alexander Calder’s huge sculpture Man, designed for Expo 67, still looks across the St Lawrence River to the Old Port of Montreal. 

Man was designed by Alexander Calder for Expo 67.