Boucherville’s 350th anniversary: Spotlight on transportation with RTL!
Longueuil, August 11, 2017 – Boucherville is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, the Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) is pleased to present a program of activities centered around the various methods of transportation that have shaped the city’s history over the centuries.
Presented in collaboration with Ville de Boucherville and the Corporation des fêtes du 350e, these activities will be held on August 19 and 20, as part of the Semaine des transports, which runs from August 12 to 27. In particular, the RTL will put on the largest free exhibition anywhere in Québec this year of antique and modern buses.
As a partner in Boucherville’s 350th anniversary celebrations, the RTL will also offer a free shuttle service on August 19, which will tour the neighbourhoods of Boucherville, and make stops at the four exhibition sites and the Montarville terminal. Shuttles will depart every 20 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The schedule and route are available on the RTL’s website.
“The RTL is thrilled to be associated with Boucherville’s 350th anniversary celebrations. To mark the occasion, we’re happy to offer fun and interesting activities for the whole family that highlight the significant contribution and importance of public transit in Boucherville’s long history, even up to today. And thanks to the free shuttle service on August 19, everyone can celebrate together without worrying about parking and traffic,” said Colette Éthier, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors.
Activities on August 19
Bus exhibition - Place la Seigneurie (280 boul. du Fort-Saint-Louis)
In a rare event, the RTL will stage an exhibition on the history of public transit in Boucherville. Various vehicles will be on display and representatives from the RTL will be there to answer questions. The railway museum in Saint-Constant, Exporail, will also present an exhibition on the history of train transportation in Boucherville. The Fondation de l’héritage du transport du Québec will put on a display of antique and restored buses. Exhibition opening hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“100 ans de camionnage au Québec” – Robert Transport (20 boul. Marie-Victorin)
Visitors to this exhibition will learn all about the history of trucking and get a glimpse of the future of truck transportation. Old trucks and trailers will be featured, including 1918 and 1928 Ford Model TT trucks, alongside new vehicles that run on liquefied natural gas. There will be several truck parts on display under a tent, including an engine, tires, and a truck driving simulator.
Exhibition of technologies of tomorrow – Promenades Montarville (1001 boul. de Montarville)
Excited to see what the future holds? At Promenades Montarville, you can admire a fully electric school bus and several other electric vehicles. Visitors will also learn more about the public transit technologies of the future. A 100% solar car will be on display by the team from École polytechnique de Montréal who designed and built it.
Antique vehicle exhibition – Place Pierre-Boucher (520 boul. du Fort-Saint-Louis)
A number of antique cars, some dating back to the 1910s, will be on display at Place Pierre Boucher. The exhibition will also feature vehicles that played a part in Boucherville’s railway history, including a handcar, an old railway car, and a Canadian National patrol car.
Activities on August 20
Parade of ground transportation vehicles
A spectacular parade of over forty vehicles from the four exhibition sites, including several antique cars and RTL buses, will take place on Sunday, August 20, at 1:30 p.m. The parade will also include marching bands, and a horse-drawn carriage and cars. The vehicles will follow a 2.5-km route along boulevard du Fort-Saint-Louis, between boulevard Industriel and rue Jacques- Viau. The parade will be followed by a family celebration at Parc de la mairie until 6 p.m. There will be a corn roast and a performance sure to please everyone, young and old.
About Boucherville’s 350th anniversary
To celebrate its 350th anniversary, Boucherville has organized more than 120 activities throughout 2017. Anniversary celebrations are firmly focused on Boucherville’s rich history of pioneers and visionaries who each shaped the city in their own way through all of its great eras. They will celebrate the city’s successful entry into the 21st century, but also daily life over the years, from the Boucherville’s founding up until today.
Click here for the complete program of Boucherville’s 350th anniversary celebrations.
About the RTL
The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) is the main transit provider for individuals within the five cities that comprise the Agglomération de Longueuil. The third-largest public transit organization in Québec, the RTL operates a network of 793 kilometres. With some 1,100 employees, the RTL is a major employer that contributes to the economic vitality of the region.
Ever receptive to its users, the RTL plays a key role in the lives of the people and the communities it serves by providing solutions that are efficient, innovative, and adapted to the evolving needs of its clientele. Improving quality of life for the citizens of the Agglomération de Longueuil is a top priority for the RTL.
Source:
Anik Le Marquand
Réseau de transport de Longueuil
450 442-8600, poste 8145
alemarquand@rtl-longueuil.qc.ca