High school athletes learn the discipline of sport as they practice for regattas. Interested adults can also participate in introductory courses and perhaps even win a race or two themselves. Canals cut through the island's abdomen, flowing past the site of the former International Floralies flower show. In this honeybee's Nirvana, acres blossom in a harmony of vivid petals and cloying scents. Nature's colors compete with the gaudy shells of kayaks and pedal boats that float the reflective waters.
More gardens surround Casino de Montreal.
Its diamond-shaped building was the French pavilion at Expo 67. Reborn as a gambling emporium, it proved so popular that owners soon expanded into the neighboring, gold-windowed Quebec pavilion. They now claim to have enough gaming equipment to make this one of the 10 largest casinos in the world. The shimmering edifice reflects from pools that connect to an island lake. The water is filtered and quality is maintained by restricting the number of users.