‘A great Montrealer’: Ville-Marie esplanade named after former mayor Jean-Doré
Posted September 2, 2025 12:47 pm.
Last Updated September 2, 2025 5:08 pm.
A former Montreal mayor who passed away a decade ago is being honoured by the city.
The City of Montreal inaugurated the Jean-Doré Esplanade on Tuesday – on Robert-Bourassa Boulevard between Wellington and Notre-Dame streets, just south of downtown Montreal.
Doré, who also has a popular beach named after him on Île Notre-Dame, was the mayor of Montreal from 1986 to 1994.
“Jean Doré left an important legacy to Montrealers, particularly in the areas of urban planning, citizen democracy, and access to culture,” said current outgoing Mayor Valérie Plante. “He made a significant contribution to democratizing political institutions and decentralizing municipal administration, while also providing our city with a Chinese garden and the Biodome, two iconic Montreal facilities.
“The space we find ourselves in today is emblematic. It is one of the gateways to our metropolis, to our downtown. It is no coincidence that we chose this location to pay tribute to Jean Doré, as the transformation of Robert-Bourassa Boulevard is a tangible result of his vision and the Urban Plan adopted in 1992 under his administration. With this gesture, we pay tribute to a great Montrealer.”
Doré was a lawyer and journalist who was a staunch advocate for social issues. He co-founded the National Coalition for the Rights of Canadians (RCM) in 1974.
His political journey began with a defeat to Jean Drapeau in the 1982 mayoral race. He was elected city councillor two years later and eventually became mayor of Montreal with a decisive victory in 1986. He was re-elected in 1990.
