Love it or hate it, Montreal is full of character.
But beyond its European vibes and cobblestone streets, the city is also home to a few design choices that have sparked debate for decades. So we recently asked MTL Blog readers on Facebook: “What’s the ugliest landmark in Montreal?”
The answers came in hot, and not everyone held back.
With that in mind, here’s what locals think our skyline can do without.
Olympic Stadium
This was by far the most common response we got. Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, the stadium is infamous for its ballooning budget, years of delays, and a retractable roof that still doesn’t work properly.
Among the top comments were descriptions like “toilet bowl,” “money-sucking,” and “ugly as hell.”
The infamous “Big Owe” nickname was also thrown around quite a bit.
The Montreal Forum
This Sainte-Catherine Street building was once the heart of hockey in Canada. The Canadiens played here from 1924 to 1996 and won most of their 24 Stanley Cups on its ice. Today, the old Forum is a movie theatre and entertainment complex, which some feel is a disrespectful downgrade.
One user wrote:
“The old Montreal Forum! It’s a shame how much history and nostalgia is now a big black box that plays movies, offers comedy and pub fare. It should be the home of the NHL Hall of Fame. It looks depressing from the outside.”
Habitat 67
Designed by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67, this brutalist housing complex was envisioned as a model for urban living. Its Lego-block design is famous around the world, and it’s home to some of the city’s most unique condos.
But not everyone is sold on the look, with several users dropping its name in the comments.
Orange cones
While not officially a landmark, Montreal’s sea of orange cones have become an enduring symbol of the city’s never-ending construction projects.
As a result, multiple users were quick to angrily call them out.
Ferris wheel scultpure
Officially known as “La vélocité des lieux,” this non-moving Ferris wheel sculpture in Montreal North is meant to be public art, but several locals called it out as more confusing than inspiring.
“It doesn’t light up half the time!” one person noted.
Meanwhile, others pointed out its million-dollar price tag. Perhaps if it were actually functional, people wouldn’t be so upset.
The Farine Five Roses sign
An iconic neon relic above the Lachine Canal, this vintage flour mill sign has long been a favourite of photographers. But even though the Farine Five Roses sign has been a part of the Montreal skyline since 1948, not everyone’s convinced.
“Hot take, but the Five Roses sign,” said one user. “I worked in a photo lab and you would not believe the amount of people who photograph it and get it printed, thinking they’re being original.”
The Ring (Place Ville Marie)
Installed in 2022 at a cost of roughly $5 million, The Ring is a giant steel loop floating above PVM. Meant to symbolize unity, it became meme material almost instantly.
That sentiment remains.
“That big useless circle at Place Ville Marie,” one user said. A few even referred to it as a giant “c*ck ring.”
