Sainte-Marie, Montreal Explained

Quartier Sainte-Marie
Settlement Type:Neighbourhood
Pushpin Map:Canada Montreal
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Coordinates:45.525°N -73.5455°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Canada
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Quebec
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:Montreal
Subdivision Type3:Borough
Subdivision Name3:Ville-Marie
Postal Code Type:Postal code(s)
Postal Code:H2K

The Sainte-Marie neighbourhood is located in the eastern edge of the Centre-Sud area, in the borough of Ville-Marie. The Jacques Cartier Bridge and Maison Radio-Canada overlook the neighbourhood.

History

Prior to the construction of the Maison Radio-Canada, the area was part of the working-class neighborhood popularly known as Faubourg à m'lasse, demolished in the 1960s.[1] Sainte-Marie, and the Centre-Sud more broadly, have a long held reputation for poverty, organized crime and prostitution[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] casting the neighbourhood in a negative light.[8] [9] [10] [11]

This has notably changed in recent years, with increased gentrification.[12]

Geography

Sainte-Marie is part of the larger Centre-Sud, its boundaries are roughly De Lorimier Avenue to the west, the CP rails to the east, Sherbrooke Street to the north and the St. Lawrence River to the south.

The Sainte-Marie rapids separate Sainte-Marie from St. Helen's Island.

A notable landmark in the area is the JTI MacDonald tobacco company, which has been located on Ontario Street for many decades.[13]

The Sûreté du Québec have their headquarters in the heart of the neighbourhood on Parthenais Street. The building commonly known as the Prison Parthenais, is prominent in the skyline.[14]

Politics

The neighbourhood is part of the Montreal City Council district of Sainte-Marie and the federal riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie. Provincially it’s part of Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques, with a small eastern corner in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve riding, despite not being part of that neighbourhood.

Transport

The area is served by the Montreal Metro station Frontenac.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Jeanne. Corriveau. Réinventer le "Faubourg à m'lasse". Le Devoir. Montreal. 13 December 2008. 14 December 2008. French.
  2. News: Une nuit avec Capone. La Presse. Montreal. 26 October 2009. 4 January 2021. French.
  3. News: Prostitution dans le quartier Centre-Sud: les citoyens exigent des solutions. TVA Nouvelles. Montreal. 18 September 2002. 22 November 2020. French.
  4. News: Prostitution dans le Centre-Sud de Montréal - Le groupe Stella n'apprécie pas les opérations policières. Le Devoir. Montreal. 21 May 2002. 23 January 2021. French.
  5. Book: Pute de Rue. Éditions des Intouchables. Nadeau, Roxanne. 24 September 2003. 2-89549-119-4. French.
  6. Book: Hôtel Jolicoeur. Self-Publication. Collective authors. January 2013. 978-2-9813755-0-6. French.
  7. Book: L'enfer d'une fille de rue. Béliveau Éditeur. St-Sauveur, Isa-Belle. 2020. 978-2-89793-106-3. French.
  8. News: Dominique. Forget. Mon quartier me rend malade. L'Actualité. Montreal. 8 May 2013. 22 November 2020. French.
  9. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_0csCC1hY| CONTE DU CENTRE-SUD documentary (in French)
  10. News: L'ancien bunker des Rock Machine n'est plus qu'un amas de débris. TVA Nouvelles. Montreal. 18 October 2001. 22 November 2020. French.
  11. Book: Chroniques du Centre-Sud. Editions Pow Pow. Suicide, Richard. March 2014 . 9782924049143. French.
  12. News: Embourgeoisement : que va devenir le quartier Centre-Sud?. Radio Canada. Montreal. 15 January 2019. 6 December 2020. French.
  13. Web site: JTI-Macdonald Grand répertoire du patrimoine bâti de Montréal.
  14. Web site: Registre patrimonial SQI - Édifice Wilfrid-Derome - 1701, rue Parthenais, Montréal.