Laval, QC
I’m located between the Laval and Montréal river banks. The current is very strong between the two cities! Built in the 1920s, my architecture is influenced by the Art Deco style and, not that I want to brag, but people usually find me rather pretty!
People are often (pleasantly) surprised by my interior: my floors, beams and equipment are painted blue, red or yellow. Just because I’m a hydropower generating station doesn’t mean I should always wear gray! Colors are so much livelier!
When you come see me, in addition to admiring my appearance, you’ll get to:
Believe me, you’ll love your outing, whether you come alone, as a couple or with your family! And it’s free! By the way, if you’re hooked on fishing, there’s a footbridge nearby where you can cast your line!
Have a look at these pictures for a hint of what your guided tour has in store for you!
First painted dark green, beige and black, my interior got a makeover when it opened to the public in 1977. To brighten it up, Hydro‑Québec decided to add color. My decor was inspired from modernism and the De Stijl movement, which embraced a return to primary colours.
Imagine! Each of my generating units weighs 110 tonnes, as much as 22 elephants! Those are numbers worth trumpeting!
I’m the only generating station to be located in the heart of the largest energy consumption area in Québec, between Montréal and Laval.
There’s a footbridge nearby where you can cast your line in complete safety. People fish there in the hopes of catching an American shad, a lake sturgeon, a northern pike, a yellow perch or even a brown bullhead. Who will catch the biggest?
My construction practically coincides with the beginning of Montréal’s electrification, which means that I’m part of history! But I was once all the rage with my architecture that reflects the trends of my time, the Art Deco style, like the Beauharnois generating station built during the same years as I was.
1914–1918: World War I
With industrialization in full swing, discussions about my construction began between the Montreal Island Company and the Québec government in 1923. Construction to finally began in 1928.
1929: Stock market crash
In 1929, the Montreal Island Company became part of Montreal Light, Heat and Power Consolidated. At the height of the work, 1,500 people were working on the construction site. However, with the stock market crash and the river’s inconstant flow, the number of generating units built at the generating station was reduced from 10 to 6.
1939–1945: World War II
When electricity was nationalized, I was one of the first generating stations to become the property of Hydro‑Québec, which became the owner of Montreal Light, Heat and Power’s assets: one gas system and five generating stations—Chambly, Lachine, Les Cèdres, Beauharnois and me.
1960: Beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Québec
1963: Second phase of electricity nationalization in Québec
1976: The Parti Québécois is elected for the first time
To overcome a bank erosion problem, a new 220‑metre‑long spillway equipped with 13 large gates was built. When the gates are all open, the amount of water that passes through the spillway each second would be enough to fill 50 pools! Each of the spillway’s doors weighs 105 tonnes. The structure also made it possible to expand an existing natural lake sturgeon spawning ground.
2001: September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States
Because I’m part of Québec’s hydropower heritage, Hydro‑Québec restored all the cracked bricks on my building’s surface—50,000 bricks were replaced by clay bricks made in the same way as they were in 1929 in order to preserve my Art Deco style.
Don’t take our word for it: this is what the people who visited the generating station with our guides had to say.
Thank you for offering these tours. Everyone should take advantage of them!
Thank you, Simon, for a great guided tour!
Lots of interaction, very enriching!
Visitors aged 18 and over must present official photo ID.
(Accepted ID: health insurance card, driver’s license or passport)
Reservations are required at all times and must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
About 90 minutes
Tours start at set times. We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes in advance.
From mid-June to the end of August
Tour times
Four tours per day: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
School tours
Reservations required, subject to availability
View all information
Rivière‑des‑Prairies Generating Station – Interpretation Center
3400, rue du Barrage
Laval (Québec) H7E 5A2
Tel. : 1 800 365-5229 (between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
Email: Visites.RDP@hydroquebec.com
The tour of the generating station is on foot and includes some stairs.
KÉROUL CERTIFICATION
The tour of the generating station is accessible or partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
The tour is suitable for adults and school‑age children but is not recommended for children under the age of two, for safety reasons.
Electromagnetic fields may disrupt pacemaker operation. As a precaution, visitors with pacemakers may not participate in the part of the tour that takes place inside the generating station.
Visitors must wear flat, closed‑toe shoes and the safety gear (hard hat, safety glasses and headphones) provided to them to enter the generating station.
Part of the tour takes place outdoors, so dress accordingly!
Free parking
Accessible by public transit
Restrooms
The tour begins at the generating station’s interpretation center. Here’s how to get there:
For additional information
Free admission
Reservations are required at all times and must be made at least
24 hours in advance.
Reserve, to Visit Rivière‑des‑Prairies hydropower generating station!
For any other information, call us at 1 800 365-5229
or write to us at Visites.RDP@hydroquebec.com
