Highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Canadiens de Montréal hockey club -
Montréal authorizes name change of a portion of rue De La Gauchetière Ouest

MONTREAL , Oct. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - The Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, today announced that the city will authorize a name change for the portion of rue De La Gauchetière Ouest located between Peel and de la Montagne streets. This section of the street will be called "avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal".

"The Habs have marked the history of Montréal as well as the spirit of our community. The Canadiens de Montréal have been part of our lives for the past 100 years and the team holds a special place in Montrealers' hearts and memories. By renaming part of rue De La Gauchetière Ouest, across from the Bell Centre and place du Centenaire, we wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of the Canadiens hockey club to our great city. This will also give more weight to the area as a sports and tourist attraction by adding a historic dimension," said Mayor Tremblay .

This decision is the result of a request by the Club de hockey Canadiens inc. and is part of the centennial celebrations of this prestigious professional sports organization. The portion of rue De La Gauchetière Ouest to be renamed is located between rue Peel and rue de la Montagne, in the Ville-Marie borough. The name rue De la Gauchetière will be maintained along most of the street's current route, which extends eastbound to rue Dorion.

After the adoption of a resolution at the next city council meeting to approve the new name, there will be a one-year period for occupants to make their change of address. In the meantime, double street signs will be posted. Montréal will install new signs showing the new name of the street (avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal) and cross out in red the name appearing on the old street signs, to indicate that the name De la Gauchetière Ouest will soon be a thing of the past for that portion of the street. After the one-year period, double street posting will end, and the old signs will be removed. The new street name will be the only one used.

"Our administration is pleased to be part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Montréal Canadiens. We wanted to highlight this anniversary in several ways, including painting the centennial logo at indoor municipal skating facilities, putting up banners along city streets, and promoting the construction, by the Canadiens, of new outdoor ice rinks," said Mayor Gérald Tremblay.

For further information: Gonzalo Nunez, Relations avec les médias, [phone]; Source: Martin Tremblay, Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif, [phone]