COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
A look at the borough of St-Léonard
To the nearly 80,000 residents who live in St-Léonard, the borough is a safe, green, and family-oriented place to call home. The borough is located northeast of the downtown core, spanning an area of more than 13.5 square kilometres. With an ethnically rich demographic, the community is one of the most culturally diverse parts of Montreal — and proud of it.
With a growing population, the borough has seen an influx of young families from all over Montreal – and the world — in recent years.
“The borough is ideal for families because the residential neighbourhoods are peaceful, and dotted with parks and schools,” said Michel Bissonnet, the borough mayor. “In fact, the 2016 statistics show that out of the 21,150 families here, nearly 70 per cent of them are families with children — and children from zero to 14 years of age account for 19.7 per cent of the population of St-Léonard.”
In response to the growing population, the community offers numerous services and facilities geared toward folks of every age. The borough also has nine large parks, all of which are well distributed throughout its territory. In addition to having a chalet, each of these large parks has a variety of sports and recreational facilities including soccer and football fields, baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, as well as outdoor pools, water features, bocce courts, playgrounds for children, ice rinks, and more. The community also has a network of bicycle paths that grows larger almost every year.
“The borough of St-Léonard also has a diverse range of recreation, sports and cultural services,” said Nathalie Hébert, director of recreation, culture and communications. “Many of these activities are offered for free or at very affordable prices for families.”
As part of these services, the borough offers its citizens modern and functional facilities. For instance, the Martin-Brodeur and Roberto-Luongo arenas and the Hébert stadium, which is equipped with a dome for the winter season, have been renovated in recent years. Moreover, the Saint-Léonard Aquatic Complex, in which the main pool was redone in 2015, will be undergoing more improvements in the coming year.
“The borough is also recognized for the quality of its local services, particularly in terms of roads and snow removal,” Mayor Bissonnet said. “We take care of our local road network by investing significant amounts every year to keep it in good condition and we are still among the first in Montreal to complete snow removal and loading operations.”
(Jean Talon St., the main commercial artery) will soon be redeveloped to make it more welcoming, greener, more accessible, and safer.
MAYOR BISSONNET
The borough of St-Léonard also has a large library, which is one of the busiest in the entire city of Montreal.
The library is slated for a massive renovation and expansion project in the coming years.
Another exciting development planned for the borough in the near future is the transformation of its main commercial artery: Jean-Talon Street East.
“It will soon be redeveloped to make it more welcoming, greener, more accessible, and safer,” Bissonnet said. “The work, which will be funded by the city of Montreal, will include the rehabilitation of the roadway, widening of sidewalks, and the redevelopment of 18 intersections. We’ll also be planting 200 new trees and creating two public squares, in Italian style.”
Jean-Talon, as well as the borough’s other main arteries such as Viau, Lacordaire and Langelier Boulevards, are well served by public transit, and offer residents all of the service centres, restaurants, cafés, boutiques, etc. they need to have a comfortable, convenient lifestyle. The borough is accessible via Highway 40, which means travel to and from the community is made that much easier. Moreover, the St-Léonard-Montréal-Nord station of the Train de l’Est, gets you downtown in less than 30 minutes.
In terms of real estate, the range of available properties in St-Léonard means there’s truly something for everyone, regardless of budget and taste. For small families and professionals, there are many condo units to choose from, including a two-bedroom on du Mans Street for $369,000. And a three-bedroom condo on Jean-Talon is available for $299,000.
If you’re looking for more space, St-Léonard is widely regarded for its multiplexes, classic bungalows, and split-level homes, many of which are currently being bought and renovated by young families. A three-bedroom duplex on Jean-Rivard Street is selling for $599,000, and a large three-bedroom bungalow on de la Croix Street is available for $539,000, while a fully renovated three-bedroom home on Couture Street is going for $599,000.
In addition to its varied housing stock, the community is also well known for its cultural diversity.
“The borough’s population is increasingly diverse,” Bissonnet said. “French-speaking Quebecers, whose ancestors founded St-Léonard and cultivated their agricultural lands in another era, still occupy much of the territory. The Italian community, which has settled in St-Léonard dating back to the 1960s, still contributes greatly to its economic and social development. And the Maghrebi community, from which most of the newcomers to St-Léonard over the last decade can trace their origins, is increasingly important.”
Driving through the borough’s streets, it’s easy to feel the cultural and linguistic influences from countries such as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, as well as those from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
“People from all origins complete this beautiful mosaic,” Mayor Bissonnet said. “What’s so great is that all these people live here together in harmony.”