Robert-Bourassa Boulevard

Robert-Bourassa Boulevard (previously named "University Street") is a major north-south artery located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It links Sherbrooke Street in the north and Notre-Dame Street in the south.

The street runs from the foot of Quebec Autoroute 10 to Sherbrooke Street.

There are several notable buildings located on the southern portion of the street, including Place Ville Marie, Place Bonaventure, Telus Tower and the world headquarters of the ICAO.

At its southern end, the street forms the western boundary of the Quartier international de Montréal, with a colonnade of pillars encasing a stylized representation of the flags of the world.^[1]

University Street

University street was named and inaugurated on November 30, 1842. The major part of this street, linking Dorchester (later renamed René Lévesque Boulevard) and Sherbrooke Street, was ceded by the descendants of Sir Thomas Phillips, a merchant, and an entrepreneur in construction, who became a city councillor in the 1840s. At the time, University ended at Sherbrooke Street, where a little path continued to McGill University, the institution from which the street got its name. It was eventually extended from Sherbrooke street to just past Pine Avenue, where it reaches the base of Mount Royal and up along side the former Royal Victoria Hospital.

McGill University has many of its buildings on the street.

On March 15, 2015, following a decision to rename the street, University was abridged to just the three blocks between Sherbrooke street and Pine Avenue (ending slightly beyond at the base of Mount Royal).

Name change

On August 27, 2014, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced the majority of University Street that runs through downtown Montreal would be renamed Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, after the former premier of Quebec. This portion of the street stretches from Notre Dame through to Sherbrooke Street. Only a small section of the street, between McGill University and the former Royal Victoria Hospital, retained its name. The official name change took effect on March 15, 2015.

Controversy

This change has not been without controversy. Some city officials have raised complaints that the change is political in nature and does not reflect the importance of McGill University in the development of that area. ^[2]

References

Coordinates: 45°30′13″N 73°34′14″W / 45.503518°N 73.570496°W / 45.503518; -73.570496