Montreal

Osheaga will be even closer to Saint-Lambert next summer

Evenko explained that the temporary site change is necessary because of the start of construction on a new amphitheatre.

Festivals relocated due to upcoming construction at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Half Moon Run performs at Osheaga in Parc Jean Drapeau. (Pat Beaudry/Evenko)

Montreal's Osheaga music festival, along with Heavy Montréal and Île Soniq, will be relocated to the neighbouring Île Notre-Dame in 2017 due to construction on Île Sainte-Hélène.

That means the festival site will be less than 1 kilometre away from houses in Saint-Lambert.

Residents in the area have complained before and are engaged in an ongoing legal battle over noise levels coming from summer festivals.

Noise levels of 108 decibels have been recorded at the concert site on Île Sainte-Hélène and a level of 68 decibels was recorded at one residence in Saint-Lambert.

The World Health Organization considers noise above 55 dB to be "disturbing to sleep."

Construction to begin on new amphitheatre

Montreal concert promoter Evenko said in a statement that the "temporary" site change is necessary because of the start of construction at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

This is what the new amphitheatre in Parc Jean-Drapeau is supposed to look like once it's complete. (City of Montreal)

Montreal is redeveloping the popular festival site to increase capacity from 45,000 to 65,000 people, as part of the city's 375th anniversary celebrations.

The $70-million project will include construction of a new amphitheatre facing Saint-Lambert across the river. 

Evenko has not yet said where exactly the festivals will be set up on Île Notre-Dame and what transportation options there will be.

Île Notre-Dame is east of Île Sainte-Hélène and is home to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where the Canadian Grand Prix is held, as well as the Casino de Montréal.