From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 19 of 36
The Jacques Cartier Bridge
1930
In 1930, a new bridge linked Montréal with the South Shore. Cars crossed the river between its great metal beams. Today it is called the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
Look together
What shapes can you see between the beams?
An idea to try
With sticks or straws, build an arch made of triangles that stands up on its own. Look for other bridges your child knows.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The bridge opened to traffic on May 14, 1930, and was inaugurated on May 24. It received the Jacques Cartier name in 1934. Although space for streetcars was planned, no streetcar ever crossed it. It was not the first link between Montréal and the South Shore either.
The scene shows period cars and a simplified structure. Find the triangles connecting the beams.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified evocation of the bridge in 1930 with period cars. No streetcar ever crossed it.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated — History of the Jacques Cartier BridgeOpened on May 14, 1930; official opening on May 24; name adopted in 1934; no streetcars.
Page prepared on September 19, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Québec’s Great Moments to Colour
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