Christophe Colomb Avenue

Christophe Colomb Avenue
Christophe Colomb Avenue, seen northbound, with the tower of Église St-Arsène.
Interactive map of Christophe Colomb Avenue
Native nameavenue Christophe-Colomb (French)
NamesakeChristopher Colombus
Length8.5 km (5.3 mi)
LocationMontreal
South endRachel Street
Major
junctions
A-40 (TCH)
North endGouin Boulevard
Construction
Inauguration1897

Christophe Colomb Avenue (officially in French: avenue Christophe-Colomb) is a major north–south street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has a length of 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles), and crosses the boroughs of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville. The street is predominantly residential south of Villeray Street and is a large urban boulevard to the north. It is served primarily by the weekday only 13 Christophe Colomb route.

The street was named after explorer Christopher Columbus on 20 December 1897.[1] There have been recent calls from First Nations groups to rename the street, citing Columbus's treatment of native peoples.[2][3] One petition calls for reverting to the street's previous name, Des Ormes Boulevard.[3]

Christophe Colomb Avenue begins at Rachel Street, near Lafontaine Park in the south. It is an extension of Parc Lafontaine Street. It is interrupted by Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park between Laurier Avenue and Saint Grégoire Street for distance of 400 metres. In the north, the street ends at Gouin Boulevard, near Louis Hébert Park and the Rivière des Prairies.

Bicycle lanes were added on the northern section from Gouin Boulevard to Saint-Grégoire Street in 2025, along with the first protected intersections in the city, at the intersections with Bellechasse, Sauriol and Priory Streets.[4]

Points of interest

References

  1. ^ "avenue Christophe-Colomb" [Christophe-Colomb Avenue] (in French). Historical Directory of Montreal Place Names, City of Montreal. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Il est temps de renommer l'avenue Christophe-Colomb" [It's time to rename Christophe Colomb Avenue]. Radio Canada (in French). Société Radio-Canada. 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "En mission pour changer le nom de l'avenue Christophe-Colomb" [On a mission to change the name of Christophe-Colomb Avenue]. La Presse (in French). Montreal.
  4. ^ "Avenue Christophe-Colomb: aménagement de voies cyclables" [Avenue Christophe-Colomb: development of cycle paths] (in French). City of Montreal. 21 August 2025.

45°32′43″N 73°36′58″W / 45.5453°N 73.616°W / 45.5453; -73.616