Magic mountain

[NEIGHBOURHOOD CHRONICLES 3]

It’s a little-known Montreal fact that situated on Mount Royal’s western flank, is a series of very small waterfalls (emanating from the many underground streams that honeycomb the mountain) that is part of the most unique power source in North America. By 1964 Jean Lesage’s Liberal government had nationalized all of Quebec’s privately-owned electrical companies (when René Lévesque was minister of natural resources). All, except for this pocket-sized subterranean hydro-electric station that generates enough electricity from Mount Royal’s underground streams to provide the power needs for a few city-owned buildings in the park proper, and a half-dozen houses adjacent to the mountain.