Recreatheque a centre of activity in Chomedey

By Joel Goldenberg, October 3rd, 2012

A November 1977 issue of The Suburban features an ad for a rather large regular event in Chomedey, a “super bazaar/flea market” featuring some 185 dealers, as well as appearances by a performer called “The Robot.”
One of the few places in Chomedey that could accommodate such a large gathering was the Recreatheque at Labelle and Notre Dame Blvds. The place was not only one of the largest in mass size-  along with the old Cott company on St. Martin - in the area. But just as Belmont Park - profiled in a previous Suburban 50th retrospective - was a centre of outdoor activity for Laval Suburbanites, the Recreatheque was and has been a centre of indoor activity.
That era is soon coming to an end, at least in part. The Recreatheque will be moving to a still undetermined location next year, and the vast amount of land on which it is situated will be making way for a condo development - one of many such projects taking place in a booming Laval.
In the 1970s, when I was growing up in Chomedey, the Recreatheque was a frequent destination for me and many, many others- it was only five minutes by car from my old place on Du Calvet Street. The fun times I had there began with small and then large-pin bowling (where I developed my now-competent skills), to miniature golf in an adjacent area (where I developed similar skills) to my all-time favourite - roller skating (now roller blading).
At a time when movies like Roller Boogie, with Linda Blair, were all the rage, indoor roller skating was booming. The large roller skating space at the Recreatheque was packed with skaters, moving to the disco beat. The song that was most prevalent at that time was Sugar Daddy by Quebec's Patsy Gallant, who I had the pleasure of meeting at a Dionne Warwick concert not long ago.
I also saw numerous references to Kebekelectrik, but didn't know who or what that was until researching this story - it was a nom de plume of sorts for Montreal disco producer Gino Soccio, who had a big hit with Dancer in 1979. Skating became a nearly weekly activity for a good many months, until I moved to St. Laurent in 1979.
While I hesitate to put on the skates (now blades) again after years of skating inactivity, I consider it a duty of mine to visit the Recreatheque at least one more time - before it move- for a remembrance of one of the most pleasant times of my childhood.