Montreal DistrictsSaint LaurentThe DistrictSaint Laurent is among the villages whose origins go way back to the Nouvelle France. The territory became a municipality in 1893 and has experienced a continuous growth ever since. At the beginning of the 20th century, the area was still a small community gathered around an institutional centre. Today it's a dynamic multi-ethnic borough and the largest in Montreal. Unlike other Montreal boroughs, Saint Laurent grew in the middle of the island of Montreal instead of near the water. The Rivière des Prairies (E) also called the Back River in English and its channel the St-Lawrence River (E) are somewhat far away.
As early as the end of the 19th century, Saint Laurent started its urbanization. Urban growth results from a growing attraction of industrial activities and modern technologies, as well as from an increase of the residential sectors. Urbanization starts with the construction of in row homes that are less expensive. The 20th century is characterized by the remarkable growth of the suburbs that originates from the economic post-war euphoria and from the high purchasing power of a great number of households. With the suburbs, bungalows and cottages became very popular. They were the true symbol of a new life style. During the 1950’s and the 1960’s, the North and the West of the Centre of the borough were developed. It resulted in broad peaceful lands, curved avenues planted with trees and spacious one-family houses equipped with a garage. The increasingly stronger demographic pressure brought another form of modern habitat. In the middle of the 1970’s, large apartment buildings were built along the highways that border the territory. This type of habitat is an architectural response to a new way of life. The concrete is king. The architectural language is rather basic and the design is simple. The series of units create a repetitive design. Interior garages are linked to apartment buildings, to small communities and to commercial centres. The dwellings offer an interesting autonomy. Several domiciliary projects are presently under development in the area. Bois Franc (MBK) is one of the most valued residential areas because of the quality of life found on the territory and because of its close proximity with nature. Starting in the 1940’s, the development of its industrial sector gave a phenomenal rise to Saint Laurent. Because of the benefits brought by the highways and the airport, all the western part of the borough was eventually assigned to industrial activities. Industrials found many available sites at very accessible prices and the era marked the beginning of the industrialization of the western part of the city of Montreal. Today, the territory is an industrial area, with more than 400 companies established on its territory. The Technoparc (E) of Saint Laurent is one of the largest industrial parks of Quebec. The 25 million square foot Technoparc (2.5 million square metres) is located close to Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (F&E;), Downtown Montreal (MBK) and the city’s major arteries. The borough is the largest territory north of the island of Montreal. Its industrial park is regarded as one of the most important aeronautic poles. More than 100.000 people work in the area every day. The pharmaceutical sector is also well developed, as well as the communication sector. At the turning of the 20th century, the small village that it once was, benefited from the radiance of its college, now called the Cégep (F) de Saint Laurent. The popularity of the College has always been exceptional. The first owners of the College, the Congregation des Pères de Sainte Croix (F&E;) came to Canada in 1847. In 1952, the Fathers constructed the first building on the actual site of the College. Even if the construction of the College spread over more than a century, the architectural component is rather harmonious. The College became a Cégep in 1968. Among other cultural institutions you may visit the Vanier College (E), the Musée d’Art de Saint Laurent (F), opened to the public since 1979 and the École primaire Henri Beaulieu (F), the most multiethnic school of Montreal. 
The traffic generated by the tramway eventually transformed Décarie into a main street. Because of the opening of many commercial centres in the neighborhood, Décarie progressively became an important commercial zone. During the 20th century boulevards like Côte Vertu were widened. The city adapted itself to the car traffic. Altough there are still some commercial activities along Sainte Croix, the institutional vocation of the Boulevard now prevails. The borough is served by two Metro Stations, du Collège (F&E;) and Côte Vertu (F&E;). In this borough, curved streets alternate with rectilinear streets between which small parks (F) have been inserted. The curved streets aim at reducing the speed of the cars in the residential areas. Broad streets bordered by trees and the monumental perspective from de l’Église and du College reveal an aesthetic design that falls into the City Beautiful (F&E;) style, an urban movement that was popular during the beginning of the 20th century. The vicinity offers many green areas, more than 30 parks (F) are scattered on its territory. This residential borough also offers as many as 30 exterior public swimming pools, tennis courts, canine parks, sites with barbecues, a golf course and much more. Unlike what happened to other Montreal boroughs, the highways do not divide Saint Laurent into various sectors, instead they mark its boundaries. At the du Collège (F&E;) Metro Station, the travellers arrive in front of the Parc Beaudet (F&E;), corner of Décarie and du Collège, one of the three protected green parks in the vicinity. The other two being the Boisé du parc Marcel Laurin (F) corner of Cavendish and Poirier and the Parc nature du Bois de Liesse (F&E;) on Douglas B. Floreani Street. Saint Laurent is a multiethnic borough such as Cote des Neiges (MBK) and Parc Extension (MBK). Its socio-demographic structure keeps changing while it continues to be the preferred destination of many newcomers. The arabic language has become the first language spoken in the sector, a reality that can be observed in most primary and elementary schools. Chameran (MBK), an area located at the peak of the borough is now called "Petit Liban" or Little Lebanon by the population. The Henri Beaulieu (F) Elementary School on Bleignier is a school where multi-ethnicity is at its highest level. All those changes are lived in a rather harmonious dynamic even though old and new residents are confronted with many challenges including adaptation to the existing structures and accessibility to the services offered by the community. Thank you for visiting Saint Laurent. Chameran (MBK)
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