Two Cominar Centres Celebrate 50 Years of History
Galeries Rive Nord and Mail Champlain both celebrated a significant milestone this year—their 50th anniversary. Since their openings, these two centres have evolved in tandem with their communities. Generation after generation, they’ve remained true landmarks and favourite gathering places for residents.
This authentic connection inspired every aspect of the anniversary celebrations. It also explains why these centres continue to play such a key role in their surroundings, as both convenient everyday destinations and essential economic drivers for their cities and trade areas.
Galeries Rive Nord—Since April 16, 1975
For France Drolet, Property Director of Galeries Rive Nord, the centre represents “the heart of the community. It’s a true city within the city — a place where people come together, share special moments, and create lasting memories. Their presence brings our shopping centre to life every day.” It’s in that very spirit that the immersive celebrations were designed.
Two exclusive exhibitions were produced:
- Evolution of the last 50 years, comparing everyday objects from the past and present—from rotary phones to smartphones—creating fun moments of discovery for families and across generations.
- Galeries Rive Nord—from 1975 to today, a timeline highlighting the centre’s key milestones and memorable anecdotes, such as Santa’s helicopter arrival in 1988 and the car giveaway celebrating a logo change in 2003!
The celebrations kicked off with a White Party, where approximately a hundred community guests gathered in a chic, festive atmosphere to share a convivial meal, enjoy prize draws, and relive musical hits from the 1970s to the present day.
Mail Champlain—since October 30, 1975
For Mélanie Auger, Senior Director of Mail Champlain, the centre is synonymous with comfort: “It’s a place where generations meet, where memories multiply, and where I’ve had the chance to carve my own path.” Every day, she sees regulars coming to walk, chat, or simply enjoy the atmosphere—it’s these living stories that the festivities aimed to celebrate.
To mark the occasion, the Emblème exhibition was created, bringing together archival photos, symbolic objects, and community-sourced memories. In parallel, the stories of ten ambassadors—tenants, employees, and business partners—were collected and will be showcased throughout the centre and on its digital platforms through 2026.
The celebrations officially launched on November 12, during an evening that brought together tenants, business partners, members of Cominar’s leadership team, and representatives from the City of Brossard.
Beyond the Celebrations
More than just anniversaries, these 50th milestones were opportunities to create meaningful moments for our customers and retailers. Each initiative celebrated the unique history and personality of every centre, strengthening community connection and driving traffic.
They also highlighted the essential role of our retailers—true ambassadors of our centres’ vitality—while offering visitors a memorable experience that keeps them coming back, time and time again.
