Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking city in the western world, after Paris.
The Montreal Canadiens, the city’s professional hockey team, have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times.
Montreal’s metro system is the third busiest in North America, after New York City and Mexico City.
The city is home to several major universities, including McGill University, Concordia University, and the Université de Montréal.
Montreal’s annual Jazz Festival is the largest jazz festival in the world, attracting over 2 million visitors each year
“The city of Montreal also gave birth to the world’s first public bike-sharing system, called BIXI.”
“Montreal has contributed to the world of aviation with the invention of the flight simulator, which revolutionized pilot training.”
“Montreal is home to the first voice recognition software, created by the company Nuance Communications.”
Montreal played a major role in the development of artificial intelligence with the creation of the world’s first chatbot, Eliza.”
“The city’s engineering ingenuity has also led to the creation of the world’s first retractable roof stadium, the Olympic Stadium.”
“Montreal-based company Matrox Electronic Systems developed the world’s first graphics card for personal computers.”
“The first ever TV broadcast in Canada was made in Montreal by the Canadian National Railway in 1952.”
Canadarm – The Canadarm was developed in the 1980s by the Canadian company SPAR Aerospace in Montreal, and has been used on every NASA space shuttle mission since then.
MECano – Erector sets had been around for years before Frank Hornby created MECano in 1901, but it was the Montreal version that became a household name across North America.
The Snow Blower – Invented in 1927 by Arthur Sicard, a Montreal native, the snow blower revolutionized the way people dealt with snow removal.
Walkie-Talkie – Invented in 1942 by Donald L. Hings and Alfred J. Gross, both of whom were working for the Canadian National Research Council in Montreal, the walkie-talkie played a vital role in military communications during World War II.
Electric Wheelchair – Invented in 1928 by George Klein, a Canadian engineer based in Montreal, the electric wheelchair has helped millions of people with mobility issues gain greater independence and mobility.
The Ski-Doo – Invented in 1959 by Joseph-Armand Bombardier, a Quebecois inventor and entrepreneur based in Montreal, the Ski-Doo was a revolutionary snowmobile that made winter travel much easier and more accessible.
The Snowmobile Suit – Invented in the 1950s by Montreal-based company Moto-Ski, the snowmobile suit revolutionized winter sports by keeping riders warm and dry in even the harshest of conditions.
Smart Garbage Can – Invented in 2014 by a Montreal-based company called Effenco, the Smart Garbage Can uses machine learning algorithms to optimize garbage collection and reduce carbon emissions.
These inventions represent just a small sample of the many contributions that Montreal has made to the world of science and technology
Java Programming Language: James Gosling, a computer scientist who studied at McGill University in Montreal, created the Java programming language, which is now widely used in software development.
Instant Replay – The technology used in sports broadcasting to replay action was invented by Montrealer, Georges Retzlaff in 1955.
Power Windows – General Motors engineer, D. J. Scissons, invented power windows in the early 20th century at the company’s Montreal plant.
Canadarm – The Canadarm was invented by the Canadian company SPAR Aerospace, which was headquartered in Montreal. It was used on the Space Shuttle to perform various tasks.
Biodome – Built for the 1976 Olympics, the Montreal Biodome is an indoor zoo and botanical garden that was the first of its kind in the world.
Walkie-Talkie – The first handheld walkie-talkie was invented in Montreal in 1942 by Donald L. Hings and Alfred J. Gross.
Swivel Chair – Although there is some debate about its origins, many credit the swivel
K-Cups – In 1992, John Sylvan and Peter Dragone, two Montreal entrepreneurs, invented the Keurig coffee machine and the single-serve K-Cup, which revolutionized the coffee industry.
Jolly Jumper – In 1957, Olivia Poole, a Montreal nurse and mother of three, invented the Jolly Jumper, a baby exercise seat that hangs from a door frame.
Swivel Chair – Although there is some debate about its origins, many credit the swivel chair to Montreal native Thomas Jefferson.
Paint Roller – In 1940, Canadian Norman Breakey invented the paint roller, which quickly became a staple in the painting industry.
Foghorn – Robert Foulis, a Scotsman living in Montreal, invented the foghorn in 1854, which helped to prevent many shipwrecks.
CAE Flight Simulator – Montreal-based CAE is the world’s largest supplier of flight simulators, which are used to train pilots around the globe.
Smart Garbage Bin – In 2015, Montreal-based company Effenco developed a smart garbage bin that can detect when it is full and alert waste management services, reducing the need for unnecessary pickups.
The snowmobile: Originally known as the “Ski-Doo,” the snowmobile was invented by Joseph-Armand Bombardier in Quebec in the late 1930s. The first models were designed for use by doctors, who needed a reliable way to travel through snowy, rural areas to see patients.
The pacemaker: Invented by Canadian electrical engineer John Hopps in 1950, the pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the heartbeat of patients with irregular heart rhythms. It is a lifesaving invention that has helped millions of people around the world.
The foghorn: Developed by Robert Foulis in the mid-19th century, the foghorn is a device used to warn ships of potential danger in poor visibility conditions. The first foghorn was installed in the Montreal harbor in 1854.
Hockey helmet – In 1974, Jacques Plante, a Montreal Canadiens goalie, introduced the first fiberglass hockey mask to protect his face from injury during games. This innovation has since become a standard piece of equipment in hockey.
Electric wheelchair – In the 1920s, engineer George Klein developed the first electric wheelchair in Montreal to help injured veterans of World War I.
Wireless radio transmission – Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor and radio pioneer, successfully broadcast the first wireless radio transmission in history from Brant Rock, Massachusetts to a receiving station in Montreal in 1906.
Trivial Pursuit – The popular board game was invented in 1979 by Montreal-based journalists Chris Haney and Scott Abbott. It quickly became a cultural phenomenon and has been translated into over 20 languages.
The snow plow: Invented by J.W. Elliot in 1862, the snow plow was an important innovation in winter maintenance, making it possible to clear snow from roads and railways more efficiently and effectively.
The McGill pain questionnaire: Developed by Dr. Ronald Melzack and Dr. Warren Torgerson at McGill University in the 1970s, the McGill pain questionnaire is a tool used to
Plexiglas – Montreal chemist William Chalmers invented Plexiglas in 1931, a durable and transparent plastic that is still widely used today.
