On October 2 1535 Jacques Cartier first set foot on the land that would become Montreal. He wasn’t looking for a city. He was searching for a passage to the Orient. He found Hochelaga instead. A village of over a thousand people. The Jacques Cartier metro station stands today near the very spot where this momentous meeting took place.
The Cartier metro station is more than just a place to catch a train. It’s a silent witness to history. A reminder of a pivotal moment in the exploration of Canada. A time when European and Indigenous cultures first collided.
Cartier’s arrival in Hochelaga was initially met with wonder and awe. The Indigenous people welcomed the explorers. They showed them their village. They shared their lives. Cartier’s journals detail this encounter. His descriptions paint a vivid picture of Hochelaga’s impressive size and organization. This was far different from the smaller village of Stadacona he had encountered earlier near present-day Quebec City.
However Cartier’s visit was not without consequence. His actions were not always honourable. He kidnapped two young boys from Gaspé Bay on his first voyage. He then brought them back on his second voyage to act as guides. This act of betrayal set a troubling precedent for future interactions between Europeans and Indigenous peoples.
Cartier’s second journey led him up the St Lawrence River. It ended at the Lachine Rapids. Cartier believed the rapids to be the barrier preventing him from reaching the Orient. The name Lachine itself comes from the French word for China. It’s a geographical testament to Cartier’s misguided belief that he was close to Asia.
Cartier’s explorations were pivotal. He provided crucial information about the geography of the St Lawrence River. He gave it a name Canada a word derived from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata meaning village. This name would eventually encompass the entire country.
The Jacques Cartier metro station sits quietly. It is a hub of activity. It connects Montrealers to the rest of the city. It silently guards the memory of a dramatic moment in the city’s past. It’s a place where history and modern life intertwine. A place to reflect on the legacy of Jacques Cartier and his impact on the future of Canada. Remember his story the next time you ride the metro.