Speech by Mayor Peter J. Malouf at the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the REM station, Town of Mount Royal, November 14, 2025.
The inauguration was also attended by Michelle Setlakwe, Member of the National Assembly for Mont-Royal-Outremont, Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament for Mont-Royal, and official representatives of the REM.
Mount Royal councilors Caroline Ducaluwe and Sarah Morgan, as well as Daniel Pilon and François-Patrick Allard, also took part in the official ceremony.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Esteemed dignitaries,
- Ms. Michelle Setlakwe, Member of Parliament,
- Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament,
- Jason Savard Todd, Deputy Project Manager, REM
- David Gédéon, Manager, REM Operator
- Representatives of NouvLR and CDPQ Infra,
- Managers and workers on the REM project, from NouvLR and CDPQ Infra
- Mrs. Ava Couch, Town Director
- Members of the Town of Mount Royal administration,
Hello everyone, and thank you for the invitation.
What a pleasure, and above all, what a source of pride, to be here with you today for a historic moment in the life of our garden city.
Together, we are inaugurating the Ville-de-Mont-Royal Station and discovering the brand-new REM electric train.
This is a symbolic moment, because history is repeating itself here, on these tracks.
Let us remember: Town of Mount Royal was born from a bold idea — a railway tunnel through the mountain connecting directly to downtown Montreal, then Canada’s economic capital.
More than one hundred years later, the REM brings that same spirit of innovation back to life.
The launch of the REM continues our rich railway history and offers Montrealers a more environmentally friendly, faster, and more modern means of transportation, connecting us even more closely to the heart of Greater Montreal.
Residents' peace of mind and concerns
Of course, as with any major project, there are still a few important issues to be resolved.
I am thinking in particular of our residents whose homes border the railroad tracks—families who rightly want to preserve their peace of mind and quality of life.
Rigorous scientific studies are essential, but they never tell the whole story. They do not always reflect the lived experience of those who will face nearly 500 trains a day, with the noise, vibration, and visual presence this brings.
That is why I fully join them in calling on REM officials to continue their efforts, listen carefully, and propose concrete solutions. The peace and quiet of our residents is not just a technical parameter—it is a priority for Mount Royal.
A collective success
But today, let us take a moment to appreciate this collective achievement.
The REM is the result of thousands of hours of work, coordination, and perseverance.
I warmly congratulate and thank all those — engineers, workers, planners, elected officials, and partners — who contributed, directly or indirectly, to making this project possible.
This brand-new station and the train that speeds through the mountain are symbols of future mobility and a nod to the boldness that founded TMR.
Let's embark together
So, dear friends, the time has come to board!
Let’s enjoy this first experience together aboard our new driverless light rail system.
Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the REM’s Ville-de-Mont-Royal Station…and above all, All aboard!