Place Des Nations, Montréal, Québec

Place des Nations was created as part of the major project that saw Île Sainte-Hélène and nearby islets transformed for the 1967 International and Universal Exposition, or Expo 67. This was the main international event marking the centennial of Canadian Confederation. Located near the Expo Express rail station, Place des Nations was the symbolic and ceremonial host site for foreign dignitaries and for public performances celebrating the diverse cultures of the world. Liberated from the symmetry of the classical amphitheatre, its concrete terraces serving as bleachers and gigantic laminated wood beams showcased the modern spirit emblematic of the era. The Expo 67 emblem is molded into the massive concrete wall behind the original stage area. Place des Nations is one of the most important venues to have survived past Expo and, as such, is an especially valuable testimonial to the openness to the world that characterized Montreal at the time and persists to this day.