Park Extension
Encyclopedia
Park Extension is a neighbourhood
in the city of Montreal
, Quebec
. It is located in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
and has a population of 35,000 and an area of 1.6 km². The name derives from the fact that it is situated at the north end of Park Avenue and is literally an "extension" of the artery. The area is known by locals as "Park X."
, to the north; l'Acadie Blvd, to the west; and CPR
railway tracks on the east and south (near Park Avenue and Beaumont Avenue, respectively).
The surrounding neighborhoods are Villeray and Little Italy
to the east, Mile End
and Outremont
to the south, the Town of Mont-Royal
to the west and Ahuntsic-Cartierville
to the north.
Virtually the entire neighborhood is residential, with a small amount of commercial and light manufacturing concentrated in the south. Most of the buildings were built between 1930 and 1980. Over 35,000 people live in only 1.6 square kilometres, more than the average population density in Montreal, but the same density as the Plateau, Villeray, St-Michel and Mile End.
Regarding Park Avenue itself, it should be mentioned that a further three block section of Park Avenue (Ave. du Parc) exists north of Metropolitan Blvd (i.e. beyond Park Extension). This street handles one-way, northbound-only traffic from Cremazie Blvd. and ends at Chabanel, in the city's garment district. In addition, a short section of Park Avenue runs north from the western end of Liege St. just east of the CPR railway tracks. This stretch of road is essentially a driveway serving loading docks of various fruit and vegetable warehouses.
Note: All compass directions above are given in nominal terms. For much of the City of Montreal, nominal "north" is actually to the west-northwest.
Former city councillors
Konstantinos Georgoulis
Stavros Zagakos
Sofoklis Rasoulis
Demetrios Manolakos
The district is part of the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
.
It is part of the following provincial electoral district:
(Fleuve St-Laurent); and expanded north towards the Laurentians. Being at the head of Park Avenue, Park X forms the northern end of Montreal's immigrant corridor. Today Park X is an inexpensive neighborhood which is often the first home for new immigrants with modest means. This explains the low median income. After several years, however, these immigrants, tend to move to more upscale neighborhoods, only to be replaced by the next wave of immigration. And so, all ethnic groups have been represented in Park X through its long history.
Park X was an early 20th century suburb. It was literally the 'sticks' back in the 20's to 50's. From the early 1950s there was rapid housing development in the northern reaches of Park Extension. A significant Jewish population migrated there, mostly from the Plateau Mont Royal area, and established a thriving community. Several hundred families built and maintained a synagogue, Congregation Beth Aaron. By the mid-70's, the Jewish community was diminishing. Congregation Beth Aaron merged with the Beth Israel Congregation in 1986 http://ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1988_7_Canada.pdf, and the building was sold. Despite this, this community still owns property and businesses on Beaumont; the southernmost part of Park X. There is also a mortuary and a kosher bakery in operation to this day.
Many Greek immigrants settled in the neighborhood from the mid-60s through the 80s, both from the Plateau Mont-Royal area and directly from Greece. In the 1970s Park X was almost 70% Greek, and almost all the businesses along Jean Talon Street between L'Acadie and Park Avenue were Greek-owned in 1977 (over 100), whereas today there are only a dozen left. Four Greek churches remain, catering to the predominantly older Greek residents who still live in the area. Other younger Greeks have since moved to suburbs such as Chomedey
, Laval
and the West Island
.
Today, most of the immigrant population is made up of South Asians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as Latin American and Caribbean immigrants, and a dwindling population of Greeks. Accordingly, Park Extension can be seen as one of Canada's more ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.
Recently, more people are moving to Park Extension from areas like the Plateau and Mile End as the housing is similar but much cheaper to rent and to buy. The area, as of 2009, is increasingly home to artists and musicians who wish to make Park Extension their permanent home.
During the "red scare" of the 1950s, according to an article in "On and Off the Record" in the Montreal Gazette dated April 24, 1956, page 4: "The Park Extension district is currently a hot-bed of Communist activity; much or all of which is known to anti-communist authorities and groups, who are keeping it under surveillance." This reflected both the suspicion of new immigrants in general, and the fact that many of these immigrants left their homelands because of political persecution.
The Province wide QBHA (Quebec Ball Hockey Association) has three Parc-Extension area teams. "The Hellenic Republic of Parc-Ex]" (HRoPX) and the "Park X Streets", are the two main teams who rival for success and bring a huge following to their games at Howie Morenz arena during the summer months. The third and most successful team, in the Park-Ex area, is A.A.Hellas.
2008's "Battle of Park Ex" was met with a huge upset as the Hellenic Republic of Parc-Ex, in their first season as a QBHA team, were able to defeat the heavily favored Park X Streets by a score of 1-0.
Most of the parks and arenas are filled with kids and adults who contest in a variety of sports year round. Also of note, the city wide soccer league has a strong connection to Park Extension as the local "Panellinios" soccer team has been dominant in recent years.
Efrim Menuck
's recent album High Gospel opens with the track Our Lady of Parc Extension
The north-south streets of Parc Extension have the same names as those in line with them in Outremont, south of the railway tracks, from Hutchison Street in the east to Birnam in the west. McEachran Street was renamed L'Acadie Boulevard when the street was widened in the late '50s. The area covered by the residences in the Town of Mount Royal from L'Acadie in the east to Rockland in the west and between Lockhart in the south to Cremazie in the north was once an 9 hole golf course. The golf course was sub-divided during the 1950s and the fence was erected after all the houses covered the golf course land.
This fence originally had several gates built into it, which then became a subject of controversy when they were locked one year at Halloween, preventing children from Park Extension from trick-or-treating in TMR. The Mount Royal
town council responded by removing the gates. As of 2007, the gates were restored, with signs stating that this is for the safety of children and pedestrians.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
in the city of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. It is located in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is a borough in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It has a population of 145,485 and an area of 16,05 km².-Location:...
and has a population of 35,000 and an area of 1.6 km². The name derives from the fact that it is situated at the north end of Park Avenue and is literally an "extension" of the artery. The area is known by locals as "Park X."
Geography
The area is bounded by the Metropolitan Expressway Autoroute 40Quebec Autoroute 40
Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
, to the north; l'Acadie Blvd, to the west; and CPR
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
railway tracks on the east and south (near Park Avenue and Beaumont Avenue, respectively).
The surrounding neighborhoods are Villeray and Little Italy
Little Italy, Montreal
Montreal's Little Italy is located on Saint Laurent Boulevard between Jean-Talon and St. Zotique Streets and is home to one of Montreal's original Italian Canadian communities...
to the east, Mile End
Mile End (Montreal)
Mile End is a neighbourhood and municipal electoral district in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Mile End is part of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough in terms of Montreal's municipal politics...
and Outremont
Outremont (borough)
Outremont is a borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It consists entirely of the former city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada...
to the south, the Town of Mont-Royal
Mount Royal, Quebec
Mount Royal is a town located on the northwest side of Mount Royal, north of downtown Montreal, on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The town is completely surrounded by Montreal. The population was 18,933 at the 2006 census...
to the west and Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Ahuntsic-Cartierville is a borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Geography:The borough is located in the northern part of Montreal along the banks of the Rivière des Prairies, and includes some islands in the river such as Île aux Chats, Île Perry, and Île de la Visitation...
to the north.
Virtually the entire neighborhood is residential, with a small amount of commercial and light manufacturing concentrated in the south. Most of the buildings were built between 1930 and 1980. Over 35,000 people live in only 1.6 square kilometres, more than the average population density in Montreal, but the same density as the Plateau, Villeray, St-Michel and Mile End.
Regarding Park Avenue itself, it should be mentioned that a further three block section of Park Avenue (Ave. du Parc) exists north of Metropolitan Blvd (i.e. beyond Park Extension). This street handles one-way, northbound-only traffic from Cremazie Blvd. and ends at Chabanel, in the city's garment district. In addition, a short section of Park Avenue runs north from the western end of Liege St. just east of the CPR railway tracks. This stretch of road is essentially a driveway serving loading docks of various fruit and vegetable warehouses.
Note: All compass directions above are given in nominal terms. For much of the City of Montreal, nominal "north" is actually to the west-northwest.
Municipal
Mary Deros, City Councillor for Park Extension under the Union Montreal banner, has been a very active resident of Park Extension since 1970. She was elected city councillor under Vision Montreal for Park Extension in 1998 and re-elected in November 2001.Former city councillors
Konstantinos Georgoulis
Stavros Zagakos
Sofoklis Rasoulis
Demetrios Manolakos
The district is part of the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is a borough in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It has a population of 145,485 and an area of 16,05 km².-Location:...
.
Federal and provincial
The district is part of the following federal riding:- PapineauPapineau (electoral district)Papineau is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1948 to 1988 and since 2004. Its population in 2006 was 101,019....
It is part of the following provincial electoral district:
- Laurier-DorionLaurier-DorionLaurier-Dorion is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The district is located in Montreal and includes the neighbourhoods of Villeray and Parc-Extension...
History
The area has always been a working class neighborhood, and understanding Park X's place in Montreal is to know how Montreal developed. Montreal started from a small fortified city by the Saint Lawrence RiverSaint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
(Fleuve St-Laurent); and expanded north towards the Laurentians. Being at the head of Park Avenue, Park X forms the northern end of Montreal's immigrant corridor. Today Park X is an inexpensive neighborhood which is often the first home for new immigrants with modest means. This explains the low median income. After several years, however, these immigrants, tend to move to more upscale neighborhoods, only to be replaced by the next wave of immigration. And so, all ethnic groups have been represented in Park X through its long history.
Park X was an early 20th century suburb. It was literally the 'sticks' back in the 20's to 50's. From the early 1950s there was rapid housing development in the northern reaches of Park Extension. A significant Jewish population migrated there, mostly from the Plateau Mont Royal area, and established a thriving community. Several hundred families built and maintained a synagogue, Congregation Beth Aaron. By the mid-70's, the Jewish community was diminishing. Congregation Beth Aaron merged with the Beth Israel Congregation in 1986 http://ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1988_7_Canada.pdf, and the building was sold. Despite this, this community still owns property and businesses on Beaumont; the southernmost part of Park X. There is also a mortuary and a kosher bakery in operation to this day.
Many Greek immigrants settled in the neighborhood from the mid-60s through the 80s, both from the Plateau Mont-Royal area and directly from Greece. In the 1970s Park X was almost 70% Greek, and almost all the businesses along Jean Talon Street between L'Acadie and Park Avenue were Greek-owned in 1977 (over 100), whereas today there are only a dozen left. Four Greek churches remain, catering to the predominantly older Greek residents who still live in the area. Other younger Greeks have since moved to suburbs such as Chomedey
Chomedey, Quebec
Chomedey is a neighbourhood in the southwest of the city of Laval and was a separate municipality until the municipal mergers on August 6, 1965. Named after Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, part of the neighbourhood had previously been known as L'Abord à Plouffe, and was once part of the seigneurie...
, Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
and the West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
.
Today, most of the immigrant population is made up of South Asians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as Latin American and Caribbean immigrants, and a dwindling population of Greeks. Accordingly, Park Extension can be seen as one of Canada's more ethnically diverse neighbourhoods.
Recently, more people are moving to Park Extension from areas like the Plateau and Mile End as the housing is similar but much cheaper to rent and to buy. The area, as of 2009, is increasingly home to artists and musicians who wish to make Park Extension their permanent home.
During the "red scare" of the 1950s, according to an article in "On and Off the Record" in the Montreal Gazette dated April 24, 1956, page 4: "The Park Extension district is currently a hot-bed of Communist activity; much or all of which is known to anti-communist authorities and groups, who are keeping it under surveillance." This reflected both the suspicion of new immigrants in general, and the fact that many of these immigrants left their homelands because of political persecution.
Points of interest
- AcadieAcadie (Montreal Metro)Acadie is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Parc-Extension district of the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada .- Overview : It is a normal side platform...
metro station. - ParcParc (Montreal Metro)Parc is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Park Extension district of the Villeray–Saint Michel–Park Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
metro station. - ParcParc (AMT)Parc is an Agence métropolitaine de transport commuter rail station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.It is served by commuter trains of the AMT and is part of the Blainville-Saint-Jérôme Line....
commuter train station. - The Park Extension library in the William Hingston community centre.
- The old Park Avenue train stationJean-Talon railway stationJean-Talon railway station, also known as Park Avenue Station is a former railway station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located at the northern end of Park Avenue and its main entrance faces Jean-Talon Street...
, now owned by Loblaw's which operates a Joe FreshJoe FreshJoe Fresh is a fashion brand created by designer Joe Mimran for Canadian food retailer Loblaw Companies Limited. "Joe," as the label is often referred to, is promoted as stylish and affordable apparel and accessories that includes adult and children’s wear, shoes, handbags, jewellery, beauty...
outlet there. - The former studios for CFCF-TVCFCF-TVCFCF-DT is a CTV-owned and operated station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
, now the borough's City Hall. - Koimisis tis Theotokou (Greek orthodox church on Saint-Roch).
- Howie Morenz Arena (Also known as Republic Arena).
- Greek Festival on Saint Roch (August 15).
Sports
The neighborhood is known for taking amateur athletics to a whole other level. The locals prefer watching their local athletes fight instead of watching millionaires amuse themselves as is the case with pro sports. Though many sports are played in the Parc-Extension area, dating back to the Montreal Expos Baseball team at Jarry Park. The primary sports of choice for the locals are ball hockey and cricket.The Province wide QBHA (Quebec Ball Hockey Association) has three Parc-Extension area teams. "The Hellenic Republic of Parc-Ex]" (HRoPX) and the "Park X Streets", are the two main teams who rival for success and bring a huge following to their games at Howie Morenz arena during the summer months. The third and most successful team, in the Park-Ex area, is A.A.Hellas.
2008's "Battle of Park Ex" was met with a huge upset as the Hellenic Republic of Parc-Ex, in their first season as a QBHA team, were able to defeat the heavily favored Park X Streets by a score of 1-0.
Most of the parks and arenas are filled with kids and adults who contest in a variety of sports year round. Also of note, the city wide soccer league has a strong connection to Park Extension as the local "Panellinios" soccer team has been dominant in recent years.
Music
The instrumental jazz group Parc-X Trio is named for the borough of Park Extension and there is a well known rapper Akshun Man in Park Extension.Efrim Menuck
Efrim Menuck
Efrim Manuel Menuck is a Canadian musician involved with a number of Montreal-based bands, most notably Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra...
's recent album High Gospel opens with the track Our Lady of Parc Extension
Fence with the Town of Mount Royal (TMR) along L'Acadie
A fence runs along the western border of Park Extension, on the opposite side of L'Acadie Boulevard. While the stated purpose of the fence is to prevent children from running into the busy thoroughfare, some have contended that it was built to keep residents of the working-class Park Extension neighbourhood out of TMR.The north-south streets of Parc Extension have the same names as those in line with them in Outremont, south of the railway tracks, from Hutchison Street in the east to Birnam in the west. McEachran Street was renamed L'Acadie Boulevard when the street was widened in the late '50s. The area covered by the residences in the Town of Mount Royal from L'Acadie in the east to Rockland in the west and between Lockhart in the south to Cremazie in the north was once an 9 hole golf course. The golf course was sub-divided during the 1950s and the fence was erected after all the houses covered the golf course land.
This fence originally had several gates built into it, which then became a subject of controversy when they were locked one year at Halloween, preventing children from Park Extension from trick-or-treating in TMR. The Mount Royal
Mount Royal, Quebec
Mount Royal is a town located on the northwest side of Mount Royal, north of downtown Montreal, on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The town is completely surrounded by Montreal. The population was 18,933 at the 2006 census...
town council responded by removing the gates. As of 2007, the gates were restored, with signs stating that this is for the safety of children and pedestrians.
See also
- Greektown, MontrealGreektown, MontrealMontreal's Greektown is a proposed name for a neighbourhood located on Park Avenue, Montreal between Mount Royal Avenue and Van Horne Avenue. Historically Greek influence has been very strong in this area along with the adjoining Park Extension neighbourhood...
- Jarry ParkJarry ParkJarry Park is an urban park in the Villeray neighbourhood of Montreal. From 1969 to 1976, the former Jarry Park Stadium was the home of the Montreal Expos, Canada's first Major League Baseball team. It also hosted a mass by Pope John Paul II...
- Jarry Park StadiumJarry Park StadiumJarry Park Stadium is a former baseball stadium in Montreal which served as home to the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball's first Canadian franchise, from 1969–1976. It served as a temporary home until the domed Olympic Stadium was finished and made available to the Expos...
- Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-ExtensionVilleray–Saint-Michel–Parc-ExtensionVilleray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension is a borough in the city of Montreal, Quebec. It has a population of 145,485 and an area of 16,05 km².-Location:...
External links
Borough website- http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/1999/040199/cover.html
- http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2003/090403/kristian.html
- http://www.px-news.com/