Tucked away between Montreal’s bustling downtown and historic Old Montreal is Square Viger. This isn’t just any green space. Square Viger holds a fascinating, layered history, echoing the city’s own evolution. Originally a marshland, the city began acquiring the land in the 1840s. They planted trees and laid paths, slowly transforming the area. Before Square Viger officially opened, the land served a more practical purpose. A hay market and public scales operated on the east side of Saint Denis Street, moving around within the site but always staying to the east. Square Viger officially opened to the public on September 11, 1860.
Imagine strolling through Square Viger in 1870. You’d be enjoying the only public space in Montreal where you could hear live music. From 1885 to 1889, the renowned Ernest Lavigne directed his orchestra here, filling the square with vibrant melodies. The square continued to evolve. Greenhouses graced the area starting in 1865 before finding a new home in La Fontaine Park in 1889. In 1892, responding to public demand and a need for expansion, the city demolished a nearby cattle market. This opened the area for development and attracted some of Montreal’s French-Canadian elite. Prestigious buildings like Place Viger, designed by architect Bruce Price in 1898, and the École des hautes études commerciales, built between 1908 and 1910, began to define the surrounding area.
The mid-20th century brought new proposals for Square Viger. Ideas ranged from a municipal library and an auditorium to commemorate Montreal’s 300th anniversary to, rather prosaically, a large parking lot. However, the burgeoning need for roads reshaped the city, and Square Viger bore the brunt of this transformation. The construction of the Ville-Marie Expressway in the 1970s dramatically altered the landscape. The park, as it was, vanished. In its place arose a new Square Viger, built atop the expressway’s concrete roof. Divided into three sections by Saint-Denis, Berri, and Saint-Andr streets, the modern square features works by sculptors Charles Daudelin, Claude Théberge, and Peter Gnass, completed in 1985. Even in its modern form, Square Viger continues to be a hub of activity. It has hosted artist collectives, exhibitions, and even served as a central location for the 2006 World Outgames. Square Viger continues to evolve. There are plans for its future to reclaim some of its former glory, addressing criticisms about its concrete structures and creating a more user-friendly space for all.