Parc des Îles

Parc Jean-Drapeau
Location of Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal
Type	Public park
Location	Ville-Marie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates	45°30′34″N 73°31′39″W / 45.509505°N 73.527417°W / 45.509505; -73.527417Coordinates: 45°30′34″N 73°31′39″W / 45.509505°N 73.527417°W / 45.509505; -73.527417
Area	209 hectares (520 acres)
Created	1874
Operated by	Société du parc Jean-Drapeau
Status	Open all year

Parc Jean-Drapeau (formerly called Parc des Îles) is situated to the east of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the Saint Lawrence River. It comprises two islands, Saint Helen's Island and the artificial island Notre Dame Island.

The islands were the site of the Expo 67 World's Fair. Notre Dame Island was constructed for the exposition, and Saint Helen's Island artificially extended at its north and south ends. The park was renamed in honour of Jean Drapeau, the late mayor of Montreal and initiator of Expo 67.

Saint Helen's Island was discovered by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1611, who named it in honour of his wife, Hélène de Champlain, née Boullé. It also bears the name of Helena, mother of Roman emperor Constantine the Great.

The island belonged to the family of Le Moyne de Longueuil from 1665 until 1818, when it was sold to the British government. The British built a fort, a magazine and a bunker after the War of 1812. The new Canadian government acquired it in 1870, and it was converted into a park in 1874.

The islands of the archipelago were chosen as the site of Man and His World (Expo 67). To prepare for this role, Mayor Jean Drapeau expanded Saint Helen's Island and consolidated it with several neighboring islands (including Round Island) and created Notre Dame Island using the fill excavated during the construction of the Montreal Metro in the early 1960s. 28 million tons of fill were needed for this massive undertaking. When the work was completed, Notre-Dame Island and St. Helen's Island hosted Expo 67, which featured pavilions from over sixty countries.