An Exhibition to See, Smell, Hear, Touch, and Taste Montreal

A new sensory experience comes to life at the Palais des Congrès thanks to the collaboration between Stimulation Déjà Vu and MC Lab, offering visitors an unprecedented immersion into the sounds, colors, and textures of the city. This initiative presents a journey where all five senses are engaged to discover the metropolis from innovative and poetic perspectives.

Audrey Bernard, founder of Stimulation Déjà Vu, introduces the concept: “The idea is to visit the city through its seasons and neighborhoods using our five senses. In the first room, participants can hear, taste, smell, and sometimes touch to explore Montreal in a sensory way. We offer a path that begins with a sound walk at Parc Jean-Drapeau, then continues on an interactive bike that tells the story of autumn in Plateau-Mont-Royal, and culminates with a musical stroll through Old Port. The goal is to showcase the city while highlighting local innovations and Montreal entrepreneurs.”

The sound dimension of the experience is entrusted to Saga Stratégie Sonore. Guillaume Morin, founder of the company, explains: “We believe in the empathic and immersive power of sound. Here, we created an immersive sound universe that transports participants through Parc Jean-Drapeau. As soon as you sit down, the sound begins and the experience unfolds: crossing the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, walking along the water, and even immersion in a festival. Sound becomes a vehicle for travel and discovery.”

Meanwhile, the showcase features Aglaé, a Parisian start-up recently established in Montreal. Sophie Aubert, its founder, presents a spectacular innovation: plant-based phosphorescence. “We use a luminous phenomenon inspired by the ocean depths applied to plants. These stabilized plants can remain luminous for five years, without maintenance, thanks to a serum absorbed by the roots that fixes the cells. This allows the creation of cultural exhibitions, events, or poetic landscape designs, where natural light transforms into a nighttime spectacle.”

Eco-responsibility is also highlighted. Anne Pattel, from the company Cubi, emphasizes sustainable promotional materials. “We produce items from recycled cardboard, following the principles of the circular economy, to reduce waste related to events and marketing. Our goal is to offer sustainable and aesthetic solutions for businesses while promoting responsible values.”

Touch and interaction are explored by the company Attractive. Julien Leblond explains: “We recreated autumn in Plateau-Mont-Royal in a tactile and interactive form. Participants can touch the canvases, pedal on a musical bike to activate sounds and falling leaves, or interact with installations like the public piano. It’s a playful way to awaken the city and actively involve visitors in discovering Montreal.”

Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this showcase aims to be accessible to everyone, whether Montrealers or not. It illustrates the vitality and diversity of the metropolis, offering a space where culture, technology, and innovation meet. The experience, which will last a year, also seeks to attract international conferences and companies wishing to collaborate with local talent, while providing an immersive entertainment moment.

With this initiative, Montreal reveals itself as an innovative, multicultural, and sensory city, where local entrepreneurs can display their expertise and the general public can explore the city differently. This showcase thus becomes a bridge between creativity, technology, and sustainable engagement, inviting everyone to rediscover the urban space in a new light.