This summer, bring the whole family to one of Hydro-Québec’s generating stations and interpretation centres for a free tour that will spark curiosity and answer all your hydropower questions.

How does the water turn to electricity and light up our homes? What’s a turbine? What happens to the water after it goes through a dam? With friendly and informative guides who can explain scientific concepts in clear and simple ways, the interactive tours will help kids and adults understand how electricity is generated and discover what Québec engineering has accomplished.

Open to the public throughout the summer, the tours are offered at locations around Montreal and can be tailored to your group’s ages and interests.

Laurentides

Carillon generating station

The most powerful hydroelectric generating station on the Ottawa River, Carillon generating station lies at the heart of a major recreation and tourism hub, adjacent to the Carillon Canal National Historic Site. Commissioned in 1963, it was a groundbreaking facility. In addition to being the first generating station in Québec built under the supervision of French-speaking engineers, it is also the first to be entirely constructed by Hydro-Québec employees.

Schedule:
June 7 to June 23, 2021
Daily tours in French: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
June 24 to August 29, 2021
Wednesday to Sunday: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Reservations required. Call 1-800-365-5229

Laval

Rivière-des-Prairies generating station

Known for its colorful interior design, Rivière-des-Prairies generating station dates back to 1929. Before they opened to the public in June 1977, the indoor facilities were repainted in primary colors, which were all the rage at the time but weren’t often seen in generating stations. On the tour, take in the arrangement and symmetrical composition of the architectural elements and the generating station’s vertical lines (characteristics of the Art Deco style), then go down into a turbine pit and up onto the spillway to see the water’s impressive power.

Schedule:
June 7 to June 23, 2021
Daily tours in French: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m
June 24 to August 29, 2021
Wednesday to Sunday: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m
Reservations required. Call 1-800-365-5229

Montérégie

Beauharnois generating station

Located in the Montérégie town of Beauharnois, this facility was built in 1932. A designated national historic site, Beauharnois generating station is Hydro-Québec’s most powerful run-of-river station and one of the biggest in the world. Every second, enough water flows through Beauharnois generating station to fill three Olympic-sized pools. With its 36 generating units spread over nearly a kilometre, it plays a key role in Hydro-Québec’s grid.

Schedule:
June 7 to August 29, 2021
Daily tours in French: 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Limited space, tours in English might be available upon request.
Reservations required. Call 1-800-365-5229

Special COVID-19 instructions are in place at each location, make sure to read them before making reservations. While tours are conducted in French, English might be available upon request. For safety reasons, tours are not recommended for children younger than two.

Électrium electricity interpretation centre

A tour of the Électrium electricity interpretation centre is a must for visitors of all ages who want to learn all about electricity. Discover how electricity shows up in physical and magnetic phenomena in nature and how it’s generated in Québec.

Schedule:
June 7 to August 29, 2021
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Reservations are required and tours are with family bubbles. Call 1-800-267-4558

For more information, reservation details, and to see other activities and nearby attractions,  go to hydroquebec.com/visit. You can also download the Tour Rallies app, available on the App Store and Google Play for a sneak peek of some of the tours.