Verdun's new beach draws crowds on opening day

If the first day is anything to go by, the people of Verdun really wanted a beach.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and other officials cut the ribbon for the borough's new beach on the St. Lawrence River in the rain on Thursday, but Saturday was the first day beachgoers were allowed into the water.

This was around two years after the intended opening date — which was planned for Montreal's 375th birthday — and the turnout suggests the wait was difficult for some.

The stretch of sand along the shore in Arthur-Therrien Park, just off Gaétan-Laberge Boulevard, was full of people. Children, families, sunbathers — even some swimmers.

Opinions about the water quality were mixed.

"The water is nice and it's at the perfect temperature," said Richard Zhong.

But Tasha Dias said she went swimming last year and described the water as follows: "It was kind of stinky, but it was still fun."

"It can be compared to the Amazon river — because of its colour!" laughed David Doyon.

In the opinion of Coun. Sterling Downey, there will be fewer reluctant swimmers when the temperature goes up.

"People have to slowly gel with the project and get used to it," Downey said. 

"When it's plus 35 out, I think a lot of people are going to go in the water. They aren't going to be thinking about the water quality, they'll be thinking: 'It's too bloody hot here, I want to go in the water and cool off.'"

Officials say the water will be continuously monitored, and if the quality falls below acceptable standards, the beach will be closed to swimming.

The delays in opening the beach were a result of years of arguments over its location and cost, as well as a holdup in getting federal and provincial authorizations.