“Oh! A military parade! Can you hear the rhythmic marching of the soldiers?”

This medieval-looking fortress houses the Fusiliers Mont-Royal armoury. Created in 1869, this unit of the Canadian Armed Forces is Montreal's oldest French-speaking regiment. This reserve force of volunteers supports the regular army. For more than 150 years, its members have taken part in operations both abroad and in Canada in support of the population.

Right from the start, the Fusiliers Mont-Royal recruits heavily from the neighbourhood. The officers choose a plot of land on the avenue as the site of their training centre. The Regiment calls on the public to help finance the project through raffles, benefit parties and bazaars. The armoury opens in 1910.

Design and writing credits for historical panels: Pirogue in collaboration with BCK design