Montreal Districts

Montreal-Nord District

Located near the Rivière des Prairies also called the Back River, Montreal-Nord district is now a residential as well as an industrial territory. As early as the 20th century, real estate developers and townspeople in search of fresh air became interested in this north part of the island of Montreal.

Manufacturers and promoters bought the old farms that were left, subdivided them into lots and sold them to the newcomers. Country houses and houses of all styles were built among the old residences. Where farmers formerly cultivated their lands, factories and shopping centres emerged. New streets and new boulevards appeared on a territory that soon became Montreal-Nord district and borough.

Definition of Population

During the 50 years that followed its foundation, Montreal-Nord district experienced a strong demographic growth.

During those years, the Anglophone community mainly composed of English, Scottish and Irish people evolved. As early as 1921, the small local community showed a multiethnic tendency, a character that has been confirmed since with the arrival of Asian immigrants during the 1950’s.

After the Second World War, the population was again modified with the arrival of the Italian and Haitian communities. Immigrants from the South of Italy arrived because they wanted to escape poverty. They were followed by the Haitians who flee the dictatorship of François and Jean-Claude Duvalier during the 1960’s and the 1970’s. At the beginning of the 1980’s, the community continued to grow with the arrival of immigrants from Latin America, Lebanon and the Maghreb.

Types of Institutions

The Montreal-Nord district is proud of its Maison culturelle et communautaire built in 2006. The “Maison” located on Rolland shelters a library, a computer and Internet room, a theatre and lots of space for various community activities. Montréal-Nord also offers an arena, the Henri Bourassa Arena, several public libraries and many community gardens.

Jobs in my Area

Between the 50's and the 70's, the district took more and more the aspect of a typical suburb.

Thanks to the increase of its population, the establishment of new industries, the increasing number of small retail stores and the emergence of shopping centres, the district and borough is well provided.

During more than 30 years, until the beginning of the 1980’s, Bristol Engines located between des Récollets and Pie IX, close to Mayenne, Bergerac and Sabrevois was one of the most important providers of quality jobs in Montreal-Nord. Nowadays, with thousands of industrial plants and commercial sectors, it can be said that the territory is highly industrialized.

Another important sign of the economic evolution of the area is the establishment of the Forest Shopping Centre, a rather small shopping centre but very resourceful bordered by Dufort, Forest and Hébert, and by Pie IX.

Main Street Canvas

The main commercial roads are Henri-Bourassa, Pie IX, Léger and Gouin East. In most cases, these roads are where you’ll find everything you need. Then again, as it is occasionally reported in the Guide de Montréal-Nord, life on the territory is sometimes difficult, especially around Rolland and Pelletier.

Modern Home Architecture

During the 1940’s, thousands of people moved to the area and its rural character slowly disappeared.

In 1949, with the help of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and to favour the housing of the war veterans, duplex were built on Belleville especially between Prieur and Monselet.

In 1955 several duplex were built between Pie IX and St-Vital and, during the same year, many one-family houses emerged on Hébert, Hôtel-de-Ville and Garon between Forest and Malo.

Duplex were also built on Hébert, between Charleroi and Bayonne and residential areas appeared with the construction of one-family houses on l’Archevêque and in the St-Vital neighborhood. Nowadays, the residential sector is quite varied: one-family houses, duplex, triplex, buildings with multiple family-houses and several condos and apartment towers.

STM Montreal

The Metro doesn’t go to Montreal-Nord district and it represents quite a disadvantage. The fact of having been deprived of a metro service for years, forced the population to make-do with a bus circuit that offers a decent service but that is not appreciated much by the commuters.

Thank you for visiting Montreal-Nord District.
More to come soon.

Îlot Pelletier (MBK)
Montreal-Nord Borough (MBK)
Local Street Map of the Borough (PDF-F)

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