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Montreal Gazette
10 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Iconic bike rides: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve route is a favourite for Gazette photographer
By Montreal is a world-class cycling city, but you wouldn't know it by riding on the bike paths on its main streets. In recent years, the city has multiplied the number of reserved lanes and protected paths for people who use bicycles as a form of transportation. However, those paths have become a catch-all for a hodgepodge of travellers on hoverboards, electric scooters, remote-controlled skateboards and fatbikes. That's why Dave Sidaway makes a distinction between bikers and cyclists. A former competitive racing cyclist at the club level, Sidaway, 70, hasn't hung up his biking shorts during his more than 30-year career as a photojournalist at The Gazette. His unique viewpoint of the city makes him the ideal guide to Montreal's best paths, and sometimes to spots located just off those paths. The Gazette has launched a weekly series showing off the best cycling spots in the city. We start the ride at the Atwater Market. It's a spot where Sidaway has taken numerous beauty shots that graced the pages of The Gazette over the years. His standout shots depict the iconic Clock Tower with the backdrop of Mount Royal, pedal boats tied up on a dock in the Lachine Canal and joggers set against an early morning fog. The market is an ideal starting point for group rides. It is central to several neighbourhoods and highways and allows for easy rides to iconic spots like the Champlain Bridge, the Lachine Rapids and the Old Port. Today, however, we are heading to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, located on Île-Notre-Dame in Parc Jean-Drapeau. We follow the dedicated multi-use path along the Lachine Canal and then cross over at the St. Gabriel Locks around des Seigneurs St. History buffs will note that this neighbourhood gave birth to Canada's industrialization. 'As you're riding along here (along the Lachine Canal), you can basically record Montreal in one form or another,' Sidaway said. Rewind the tape 200 years, and about one in five Montrealers worked in this area. Factories lined the canal and workers were holed up in tenements close by. The need for housing created the neighbourhoods in St-Henri, Pointe-St-Charles, Ville-Émard and Griffintown, among others. Left to languish for decades when the St. Lawrence Seaway rendered the canal obsolete, most factories have since been demolished, turned into condos or abandoned and awaiting redevelopment. These days, the area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with joggers and cyclists dominating. On the water below, kayakers, pedal-boat riders and standup paddleboarders are a common site. Pleasure-craft riders use the canal as a link between the port and Lachine's entry point for Lac St-Louis. One particular vestige from Montreal's industrial era is the signature Farine Five Roses sign, which serves as the backdrop of the Peel Basin. Once in danger of being demolished, the sign was designated a historical landmark in 2020 by the city. The basin marks the Lachine Canal's easternmost point, where it links to the Old Port. Often the site of festivals, this spot has been pegged for redevelopment for decades. Among the failed projects floated for this area are a casino/hotel by Loto-Québec, a baseball stadium and an underground/underwater station for the REM light-rail network. The city's latest plans for the area are now being drawn up as part of the Bridge-Bonaventure development project. On summer days, this area is often a spot for people who fish along the canal, and many pictures of these fishers have appeared in The Gazette over the decades. 'I see people fishing here all along the canal and have taken a lot of pictures here,' Sidaway said, standing on the St. Gabriel Lock. 'I took a really nice shot here with the late afternoon light sun. And when it's really hot, people will sit underneath the bridge where the REM tracks are and fish from there.' Sidaway gets back on his bike and rides as the bike path meanders underneath the Bonaventure Expressway and heads east toward the Port of Montreal head office. This is another favourite spot for beauty shots. He uses the effect of the sun bending along the concrete structure to compose photos with complex lighting and subjects set in front of the old flour mill. However, it is that complex lighting that has also resulted in crashes that Sidaway has witnessed. 'You can't see around this corner, especially in the afternoon when the sun is setting, the light will just blind you,' he said. 'One day, I came around here and a guy was holding his bike in his hands. Someone on an electric bike had come around the corner, and they crashed. The guy's carbon bike was garbage. The frame probably cost $3,000.' The path ascends along Pierre-Depuy Ave. as cyclists are confronted with two picturesque views. On their left, there's the entirety of the downtown core and the Old Port with Mount Royal in the background. On the right is Habitat 67, a unique collection of concrete blocks designed by world-famous architect Moishe Safdie as a student project. Sidaway ducks behind Habitat to show his favourite spot on the island to get a beauty shot in the summer. The standing wave at Habitat is a magnet for surfers, kayakers and the occasional swimmer. Minutes later comes the speed portion of the ride as Sidaway heads over the De la Concorde Bridge to Île-Notre-Dame. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is where all the top cyclists in the city come to train on their speed runs. First used in a professional F1 race in 1978, the racetrack was quickly appropriated by elite cyclists. These days, you can see people sporting the latest trends in bikes and cycling gear doing laps on the racetrack. Sidaway says beginners should use caution here, especially as they merge into the lanes of fast-moving cyclists. 'There's a spot where people were crossing, and they didn't realize how fast the riders were going,' he said. 'There was a crash, and one of the riders fell and ended up in hospital and later died of his injuries. I came by one day and there was a group putting up flowers. The girlfriend of the rider was drawing something on the wall in his memory.' Sidaway's shot captures Sarah drawing a heart on the track's wall. On that day, Aug. 8, 2021, friends and family got together at the track to ride 30 laps in honour of Philippe St-Hilaire's 30th birthday the previous March. While Sidaway has taken a lot of photographs both of cyclists and elite racers here over the years, this is his favourite place to ride, and he's at this spot several days a week during the warm months. It was on one of those rides in May 2020 that Sidaway spotted a whale while returning on the De la Concorde Bridge. He had seen a crowd of people looking in the water and asked what had them so mesmerized. Sidaway wasn't working that day but called the tip into the news desk, and a photographer was dispatched. Sidaway said it was both awe-inspiring and sad to see the whale. 'To some extent, I'm somewhat jaded when I see things people think are really spectacular because of my job — that's all I ever do,' Sidaway said. 'But in this case, it was a little alarming because you knew that short of sheer luck, it wasn't going to end well for that whale.' After several laps of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Sidaway retraces his route back to the Atwater Market where the ride began. Having started at 7 a.m., the ride ends in the mid-morning, just as the crowds begin to pack the Lachine Canal route. We love where we live, and throughout the summer, we are running a series of stories that highlight what makes our community unique and special within Canada. You can find Part 1 of the series here.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Singapore Botanic Gardens is having its first-ever light show from now till August 10
Singapore's oldest garden is putting on a brand-new kind of show – and it's lit. For the first time in its 166-year history, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is setting the scene for a nightly light show, from now till 10 August 2025. From 7.30pm to 10pm, EnlighTEN @ Singapore Botanic Gardens turns the UNESCO World Heritage Site into an after-dark wonderland. Expect dreamy light installations dotted across the park's most iconic corners, from a glowing Tanglin Gate and a twinkling Bandstand, to a softly lit Swan Lake that looks straight out of a fairytale. Even the Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza and Palm Court near Nassim Visitor Services Centre are getting their time to shine. A treat for the senses, the light show is also set to orchestral pieces by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), making it the perfect backdrop for post-dinner strolls and photo ops. The light show is part of a huge milestone year for the Gardens, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of its UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription, 150 years of the Singapore Herbarium and Botany Library, 30 years of the National Orchid Garden, and – no biggie – Singapore's 60th year of independence. And as part of the nationwide SG60 festivities, the Gardens is pulling out all the stops, including the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival and the SGF Orchid Show, both running from July 19 to 27. Apart from the stunning orchid displays, the festival lineup also includes live music performances, outdoor movie screenings, guided tours and hands-on workshops. Whether you're out with mates, bringing the kids along, or just fancy a solo wander under the stars, Singapore Botanic Gardens is worth the detour. .
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Students throng Lyallpur Museum
The Lyallpur Museum Faisalabad has remained a hub of activity throughout the summer vacations, drawing in students and faculty from various educational institutions as part of their summer camp programs. According to Field Officer Shahnaz Mahmood, the museum is witnessing a surge in educational visits, which are transforming the space into a vibrant centre of cultural engagement and historical learning. Recently, a group of students and teachers from a private university in Madina Town visited the museum, where they were taken on an interactive tour across ten thematic galleries. The students were guided by gallery attendants who provided detailed explanations, covering the city's historical transformation from its ancient Stone Age roots to its present-day identity. Visitors explored artifacts and exhibits spanning the Hindu, Sikh, Mughal, and Muslim periods, deepening their understanding of the region's rich cultural and political evolution. The group also viewed historic photographs of colonial-era landmarks, including the Gumti Fountain, Qaisery Gate, and the iconic Clock Tower — all central to Faisalabad's heritage.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Clock Tower stops ticking again; original patron's kin raise concern
Dehradun: The iconic Clock Tower in Dehradun—one of the city's oldest landmarks—has stopped functioning once again amid ongoing beautification work. For the family that originally commissioned the structure in the 1940s, the sight of malfunctioning clocks and repeated alterations is disheartening. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The maintenance work led to the clocks stopping several weeks ago. Spot visits this week revealed inconsistent functioning—while five of the tower's six clocks showed the correct time on Thursday evening, one remained out of sync. "The state to which this iconic landmark has been reduced is disappointing and disheartening," said Vijay Singh, grandson of Lala Balbir Singh, in whose memory the structure was commissioned. Completed in 1953, the tower stands at one of Dehradun's busiest intersections. It was commissioned by Lala Sher Singh, a prominent landlord, in memory of his father, at a cost of nearly ₹1.5 lakh. Originally, six clocks were imported from Switzerland, contributing to its rare hexagonal design. The structure also bears the names of freedom fighters, adding to its historical significance. Over time, however, the original Swiss clocks were replaced—though authorities are unaware of when or how the change occurred. "Sometimes we regret handing the tower over to the city council. This was a historic landmark; it still is. It meant so much to our family and the whole city. Now it has become a prop that undergoes a facelift every few months, it seems. Authorities should be focused on maintaining the existing structure. Instead, they keep revamping the whole thing, adding new embellishments that don't last long," Singh told TOI. The family also said they only learn about changes through news reports. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We are never informed or involved in this process. Not even historians are. Authorities keep experimenting with this iconic landmark. At the time of its commission, it created history for its hexagonal structure. Now it is being lost," he added. In Sept last year, the tower fell silent for two days after unidentified individuals stole its wiring. In Dec, it suffered further damage when a truck rammed into its boundary wall. Over the years, TOI has reported multiple such incidents that have left the landmark defaced. Authorities have stated that the current restoration will offer long-term protection, with a double boundary to prevent vehicle collisions and a green belt around the main structure. While the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has jurisdiction over the tower, the ongoing beautification is being executed by Dehradun Smart City Limited.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Look: Did you know there was once a Dh1 banknote? Here's what it looked like
The first one-dirham coin began circulating on May 19, 1973. It was issued 534 days after the birth of the UAE, and we're today commemorating its 52nd anniversary release. Dirham is derived from the Greek word drachma, meaning 'handful'. The term 'dirham' persisted through the Ottoman Empire after centuries of trade and currency usage. Now, the UAE dirham could rival your smartphone as the one thing almost always in your pocket or purse. Whether it's for paying for parking or getting a cup of chai, the Dh1 coin has become part of our daily lives. But did you know there was once a Dh1 banknote? It was released right after the first Dh1 coin. The Dh1 banknote featured UAE landmarks and icons, including palm trees, an oil-drilling structure, camels, pearls and a boat sailing in water shaped as the UAE's silhouette. Today, it's a valuable collector's item, often found in auctions and museums. Meanwhile, one distinct feature of the Dh1 coin is that it bears the same reverse side since it was first introduced in 1973. The dallah (the traditional Arabic coffee pot used for centuries to brew and serve Arabic coffee gahwa) represents Arabian identity and Gulf hospitality. It is also a constant reminder that all are welcome in the UAE. The Dh1 coins were first produced at the Royal Mint, UK, and the designs were the work of Geoffrey Colley, an English artist, engraver and sculptor, who designed more than 150 coins for countries like the UAE, Nigeria, Bahrain, Iceland and Iraq. In 1981, the UAE introduced its first-ever commemorative coin, a 5-dirham piece, to mark the 15th century of the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. The obverse side features a falcon, the UAE's national bird. This coin remains the largest and heaviest ever circulated in the country. As the UAE dirham completes its 52 years, the currency celebrates its unified form representing the seven emirates. The 1973-born banknotes began their journey in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100, displaying the watermark of an Arabian horse - which was later changed to falcon, the national bird of the UAE. The earlier denominations were imprinted with landmarks that represented each emirate separately with the name of emirate on the banknote. For example, Dh1 carried the picture of the Clock Tower and Police Fort in Sharjah, while Dh5 note had Fujairah's Old Fort on it. The Dh10 note showed an aerial view of Umm Al Quwain and the Dh50 note displayed the palace of Ruler of Ajman. The Dh100 was imprinted with a picture of Al Rams area in Ras Al Khaimah. Representations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi were introduced with Dh1,000 notes in 1976, which featured Al Jahili Fort of Abu Dhabi and an old fort of Dubai. Before the dirham, Gulf rupee was used Another interesting fact that many people might not be aware of today is that long before the UAE dirham even existed, the currency that was used in the UAE was the Gulf rupee. As reported by Khaleej Times in previous stories, Prior to the introduction of UAE dirham, the region used several currencies including the Indian rupee, the Gulf rupee, the Qatari riyal, Dubai riyal and Bahraini dinar (used in Abu Dhabi) during different phases. A lot of different currencies were used in the Trucial States before the dirham was born. In 1957, special notes called the 'external rupees' or 'Gulf rupees' were printed in India for circulation in the Gulf. Other GCC countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar also used them. The Gulf rupees were in circulation from 1957 to 1966. In 1966, India devalued its currency, and by that time oil had been discovered in the Trucial States. From 1966 to 1973, the currency used in the Trucial States was the Qatar-Dubai riyal.
