After long restoration, Notre-Dame Basilica back on display

It was hidden behind the dark veil of scaffolding but now after painstaking restoration the façade of Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica has finally been unveiled. I think it's amazing honestly I was here when it was under construction and kind of ruined the pictures but now now the pictures are aesthetic. It's beautiful I'm from Toronto so it's really nice to come see it when it's all done and newly renovated. A concert by the Société Philharmonique du Nouveau Monde marking the end of the decade-long renovations that came by what could be seen as divine intervention. Michel Issa says 10 years ago, they noticed the hand in the statue of the Virgin Mary was on the verge of collapsing. That hand led to an inspection. This is where we discovered that it was a foot and a half, the facade was a foot and a half detached from the structure. Triggering the major work. What began as a project to change 1,800 stones grew and grew. We ended up changing 4,000 and a half. A labor of love well worth its while. When Notre Dame came to life, it was the largest place of worship in North America for any religion. And for the 200 years the basilica has been standing, it has been home and witness to major events. From the funerals of prime ministers like Brian Mulroney to the wedding of Céline Dion and the visit of Pope John Paul II. Despite the grandiosity, Dino Bumbaru from Heritage Montreal says Notre-Dame is for everyone. Although it's a very formal, very official place, it's also a popular place. The work is far from done. The interior needs love too. That's the big masterpiece because there's not one inch inside the basilica that isn't painted. So it will require massive intervention. A call to preserve the past that will be treasured for generations to come.