Dorchester Square

Dorchester Square (originally Dominion Square) is a large urban square in downtown Montreal. Together with Place du Canada, the area is just over 21,000 m2 or 2.1 ha of manicured and protected urban parkland bordered by René Lévesque Boulevard to the south, Peel Street to the west, Metcalfe to the east and Dominion Square to the north. The square is open to the public 24 hours a day and forms a focal point for pedestrian traffic in the city. Until the creation of Place du Canada in 1967, the name Dominion Square had been applied to the entire area.

Land acquisition to build the square began in 1872 and the site was inaugurated in 1878, not being thoroughly completed until 1892. The square has four statues was originally arranged in the form of a union jack. In 2010 $14-million was spent on a redesign with the removal of a flower stand on the southwest corner, all monuments refurbished, new street furniture and a lighting scheme which has greatly improved the look of the square after dark. As a nod to the fact that it was once a cemetery, small crosses have been imbedded in the walkways. In addition, some lights are pointed to shine on the foliage of the many trees, allowing for an interesting nocturnal green-glow in the summer. A planned renovation of Place du Canada has begun with renovations of the John A. Macdonald monument and the Cenotaph. A further renovation of Dominion Square street, including the bus/taxi parking area, subterranean garage entrance and exit and the kiosk is planned, and it is likely the square may be expanded with Dominion Square street converted for pedestrian use.