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Montreal, the eve of the Games

Broadcast Date: July 16, 1976

It's the eve of the Olympics and Montreal is looking marvellous, says reporter Linda Hasler. "Is it not like having a pizza, all-dressed, just when you're real hungry?" Hasler uses this odd comparison because she believes Montreal is "all dressed" tonight. "But are its citizens hungry?" she questions. "And is this what they want?" In this clip from CBC's Five Nights, Hasler speaks to Montrealers to find out their opinions on the impending Games.

Hasler interviews several people who are very excited about the Queen coming to open the Games. "We all love the Queen," says one man. But many Montrealers will be happy when the Olympics are over. Some complain about the heavy security across the city, while others are just negative about the whole thing. "The city is crowded with people, the metros are crammed, and it's just one big jock strap as far as I'm concerned," says one woman.

Montreal, the eve of the Games

• Olympic tradition called for the Queen, as head of state for Canada, to officially open the Games. But in Montreal there was some opposition to her coming since many French Canadians saw her as "an outsider." Victor Goldbloom, Quebec minister of environmental and municipal affairs, called the Queen "a very nice person" but said "it is not necessary to have persons from outside open the Olympics."
• The Queen opened the Games on July 17, 1976, without incident.

• Taxi drivers in Montreal were extremely unhappy about the disappointing number of fares during the Olympics. The Olympic organizing committee (COJO) supplied 1,200 courtesy cars, many of which were being driven by Canadian military personnel, to shuttle people (such as journalists and officials) around for free. These cars often occupied regular taxi stands. According to cab drivers, this took a lot of business away from them. As a protest measure, taxi drivers were even threatening "violent action" at one point.

• Despite the countless pre-Game annoyances, the spirit of the Games won over many Montrealers — and Canadians in general — during the 16-day event. At the end of the Games, one Toronto Star headline read "Montreal, we have fallen in love with you again." The article went on to say, "For two weeks, there was something special in our lives and it made many of us younger again, believing."

Montreal, the eve of the Games

Medium: Radio

Program: Five Nights

Broadcast Date: July 16, 1976

Reporter: Linda Hasler

Duration: 7:59

Photo: City of Montreal

Last updated:
May 31, 2004