This story originally appeared on July 30, 2021 in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

A year after the Parisian Olympic spotlight turned elsewhere, and far from the fleeting buzz of international games, it’s worth pausing to reflect on Montreal’s own Olympic legacy. Back in 1976, the city welcomed the five-ring spectacle with exuberant ambition and this athletes' residence. Roger Taillibert’s sweeping stadium and the pyramid-shaped Village by Roger D’Astous and Luc Durand echoed the bold spirit of Expo 67.

Under Mayor Jean Drapeau, Montreal envisioned itself stepping onto the world stage. What followed, of course, was a financial fiasco, highly public, and deeply embarrassing. For those who didn’t live through the 1976 fever, the pride has largely faded, replaced by the lingering weight of a white elephant. And yet, the Olympic Village still stands tall over Sherbrooke Street East. With the Games now a distant backdrop, I returned to this iconic complex to explore what remains and to meet the people who call it home.

"I remember watching the Games on TV. Looking at those buildings… I never would’ve thought I’d end up living there one day," Maurice tells me, a retired social worker. "I’ve spent my whole life in the east end. After passing by so many times, my curiosity got the better of me."

"It’s not as luxurious as the home I shared with my late wife, but as someone who walks a lot, I chose the place for its proximity to Maisonneuve Park, the Botanical Garden, the municipal golf course. From my balcony, it feels like I’m in the forest. It really makes you realize how green Montreal is," he says, gazing out from the ninth floor.

"It’s far from catastrophic, but it’s regrettable. This is beautiful architecture, a heritage jewel that deserves to be protected."

This story originally appeared on July 30, 2021 in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

A year after the Parisian Olympic spotlight turned elsewhere, and far from the fleeting buzz of international games, it’s worth pausing to reflect on Montreal’s own Olympic legacy. Back in 1976, the city welcomed the five-ring spectacle with exuberant ambition and this athletes' residence. Roger Taillibert’s sweeping stadium and the pyramid-shaped Village by Roger D’Astous and Luc Durand echoed the bold spirit of Expo 67.

Under Mayor Jean Drapeau, Montreal envisioned itself stepping onto the world stage. What followed, of course, was a financial fiasco, highly public, and deeply embarrassing. For those who didn’t live through the 1976 fever, the pride has largely faded, replaced by the lingering weight of a white elephant. And yet, the Olympic Village still stands tall over Sherbrooke Street East. With the Games now a distant backdrop, I returned to this iconic complex to explore what remains and to meet the people who call it home.

"I remember watching the Games on TV. Looking at those buildings… I never would’ve thought I’d end up living there one day," Maurice tells me, a retired social worker. "I’ve spent my whole life in the east end. After passing by so many times, my curiosity got the better of me."

"It’s not as luxurious as the home I shared with my late wife, but as someone who walks a lot, I chose the place for its proximity to Maisonneuve Park, the Botanical Garden, the municipal golf course. From my balcony, it feels like I’m in the forest. It really makes you realize how green Montreal is," he says, gazing out from the ninth floor.

"It’s far from catastrophic, but it’s regrettable. This is beautiful architecture, a heritage jewel that deserves to be protected."