Summary#
On September 21, 2026, Montréal city council repealed its resolution CM26 0628 and set the city’s position that the agglomeration council should repeal its approval of an exhibition agreement with Studio Supply and Demand inc. for L’Odyssée sensorielle at the Biosphère. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the exhibition has been abandoned.
- The planned exhibition was to run from December 5, 2026, to October 11, 2027.
- The earlier approval authorized a total expense of $474,271.88, taxes included. The authorization will be cancelled and the credits released.
- City staff report that no money was paid to the company under the agreement.
What it means for you#
- Biosphère visitors: The planned L’Odyssée sensorielle exhibition will not take place, according to city staff. The Biosphère is discussing other possible programming with Montréal cultural groups.
- Taxpayers: The approved spending commitment is to be cancelled. No payment had been made to the company.
- City and agglomeration: The city council repealed its own related resolution and adopted a position for the agglomeration council on the earlier approval.
Money#
The earlier agreement authorized $474,271.88, taxes included; city staff say no money was paid.
- The authorized commitment will be cancelled and the related credits released.
- No further costs or savings are stated in the materials.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not describe the possible replacement programming, its timing, or its cost.
- They do not say whether cancelling the agreement will lead to any other costs.
Case for#
- City staff say the company could no longer deliver under the agreed terms and sought changes to the finances or the project’s scale or duration.
- Staff say the options considered could have meant prolonged gallery closures, a reduced visitor experience, or added costs they considered difficult to justify.
- Cancelling avoids proceeding with the previously authorized expense; staff report that no payment had been made.
Case against#
- The decision means visitors will not get the planned exhibition, and the materials do not identify what will replace it.
- A possible trade-off is losing the planned experience rather than accepting a shorter or smaller version; city staff say those alternatives would have had drawbacks.