In the shadow of the Jacques-Cartier bridge, the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood borders the St. Lawrence, where the river narrows between St. Helen’s Island and Montreal Island. The current was once so strong that sailboats were unable to cross it. This current was baptized “Sainte-Marie”. When the city started to extend east, the neighbourhood naturally took this name.
 

The “Faubourg à m’lasse”

Once bustling with the coming and going of boats unloading their cargo on the banks of the river, the neighbourhood was long nicknamed the “Faubourg à m’lasse” or “Molasses suburb”. At the time, to the east of the present day Bellerive park, the factories would release a sweet odor of molasses which would waft above the residences, built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Nowadays, the molasses is but a memory and the streets of the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood pulsate to a different vibe.

The river is so close by, it’s hard to believe that one is only a few steps away from downtown. From the Papineau metro station, you are just three stations away. On a bike, by one of the region’s numerous bike paths, the trip takes but a few minutes. In the summertime, via the pedestrian-reserved St. Catherine Street, one can get there in less than half an hour by foot.

What was once an industrial working-class neighbourhood has slowly transformed itself. Today, it is a cultural hub where artists and artisans rub shoulders. In just a few years, the number of workshops, coops and groups of creators has risen by almost 50 %, forming a nexus of cultural and creative-enterprise development.

Sainte-Marie’s many parks offer a break from the city,. Royaux park, alone, includes a skate park, a dog park, relaxation and play areas.
  Standing like an immutable ship, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Guadeloupe church thrones at the Jacques-Cartier bridge exit. In front of the huge Parc des Faubourgs, it welcomes motorists who cross the river to arrive in the heart of Montreal.
  The Sainte-Marie neighbourhood attracts as many young professionals as it does emerging artists and families. Discover the new residential projects using the interactive Discovery map on the Habiter Montréal website.
  Thanks to its proximity to the city center and many affordable properties, residents continue to flock to the neighbourhood. Typical Montreal plexes as well as former industrial buidings transformed into condos contribute to the neighbourhood’s residential offerings, many of which may be admissible for the City’s financial aid programs. Don’t miss your chance to discover the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood!