Saint-Michel, Montreal
Encyclopedia
Saint-Michel is a neighborhood in the Montreal
borough
of
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
. Its boundaries corresponds to the former city of Ville Saint Michel, which was annexed to Montreal in 1968. This former independent city was known as Saint-Michel-de-Laval from its inception in 1912 to 1914 and Ville Saint Michel from 1914 to 1968. This was one of the last cities to be merged into Montreal until the 2002 municipal reorganization
.
Saint-Michel is home to the headquarters of the world renowned Cirque Du Soleil
as well as the Tohu, la Cité des Arts du Cirque and the Complexe environmental Saint-Michel. The former Miron and Francon quarries are also located here. Autoroute 40
runs through the area.
The 1990s saw Saint-Michel's reputation tarnished by its severe street gang problems and the negative coverage surrounding this situation. In consequence, Saint-Michel has been long viewed as one of Montreal's most dangerous inner city neighbourhoods. Although this problem persist to this day, the phenomenon seems controlled and has to an extent been relocalised in adjacent neighbourhoods.
Saint-Michel is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Montreal and in the province of Québec. Italians, Haiti
ans, Arabs, Asians, Hispanics as well as people of French Canadian descent (Québécois
) represent the major ethnic groups of this inner-city area. French
remains the first language spoken at home, by 51% of the population. But most people have a working knowledge of both of Canada's main languages. The area is also home to many university students because of the relatively low rent and cheap housing and its proximity to the University of Montreal.
The presence of The Cirque Du Soleil
since the late 1990s (along with recent real estate development) has begun to change the public perception of the area. Several condominium projects are currently in the works and signs of urban renewal are clearly evident. The neighbourhood has a dense conglomerate of residential architecture unique to Montreal, notably row houses featuring outdoor spiralling metal staircases (mostly present in the Villeray part of the borough, but also present in Saint-Michel.).
Saint-Michel is mainly served by the blue line
of the Montreal Metro
, although some metro station
s from the green
and orange
lines do have buses that pass through the neighbourhood. Metro stations that are physically located within the neighborhood are Saint-Michel
station and the north entrance of D'Iberville
station.
Two municipal electoral districts (François-Perreault and Saint-Michel) are in the neighborhood. The Saint-Michel civic district is currently held by Soraya Martinez of Vision Montreal
party. François-Perreault district is currently held by Frank Venneri of Union Montreal
. Justin Trudeau
, son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre-Eliott Trudeau, is the liberal incumbent, in this part of Montreal. Trudeau defeated incumbent Bloc Québécois
MP Vivian Barbot.
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...
borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
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:...
. Its boundaries corresponds to the former city of Ville Saint Michel, which was annexed to Montreal in 1968. This former independent city was known as Saint-Michel-de-Laval from its inception in 1912 to 1914 and Ville Saint Michel from 1914 to 1968. This was one of the last cities to be merged into Montreal until the 2002 municipal reorganization
Municipal reorganization in Quebec
The most recent episode of municipal reorganization in Quebec, Canada, was undertaken in 2002 by the Parti Québécois Government of Quebec, headed by Premier Lucien Bouchard and his successor Bernard Landry....
.
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
as well as the Tohu, la Cité des Arts du Cirque and the Complexe environmental Saint-Michel. The former Miron and Francon quarries are also located here. Autoroute 40
Quebec 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...
runs through the area.The 1990s saw Saint-Michel's reputation tarnished by its severe street gang problems and the negative coverage surrounding this situation. In consequence, Saint-Michel has been long viewed as one of Montreal's most dangerous inner city neighbourhoods. Although this problem persist to this day, the phenomenon seems controlled and has to an extent been relocalised in adjacent neighbourhoods.
Saint-Michel is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Montreal and in the province of Québec. Italians, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
ans, Arabs, Asians, Hispanics as well as people of French Canadian descent (Québécois
French-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
) represent the major ethnic groups of this inner-city area. French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
remains the first language spoken at home, by 51% of the population. But most people have a working knowledge of both of Canada's main languages. The area is also home to many university students because of the relatively low rent and cheap housing and its proximity to the University of Montreal.
The presence of The Cirque Du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
since the late 1990s (along with recent real estate development) has begun to change the public perception of the area. Several condominium projects are currently in the works and signs of urban renewal are clearly evident. The neighbourhood has a dense conglomerate of residential architecture unique to Montreal, notably row houses featuring outdoor spiralling metal staircases (mostly present in the Villeray part of the borough, but also present in Saint-Michel.).
Saint-Michel is mainly served by the blue line
Line 5 Blue (Montreal Metro)
The Blue line is one of the four lines of the metro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was the fourth to be built, notwithstanding its name. Line 3 was planned, but never built...
of the Montreal Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
, although some metro station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
s from the green
Line 1 Green (Montreal Metro)
The Green line is one of the four lines of the metro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The line runs through the commercial section of downtown Montreal underneath Boulevard de Maisonneuve, formerly Rue de Montigny...
and orange
Line 2 Orange (Montreal Metro)
The Orange line is the longest, most congested, and first-planned of the four lines of the Montreal Metro, in Montreal, Canada. It formed part of the initial network, and was extended between 1980 and 1986...
lines do have buses that pass through the neighbourhood. Metro stations that are physically located within the neighborhood are Saint-Michel
Saint-Michel (Montreal Metro)
Saint-Michel is a station at the eastern terminus Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Overview :...
station and the north entrance of D'Iberville
D'Iberville (Montreal Metro)
D'Iberville 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 Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Overview :...
station.
Two municipal electoral districts (François-Perreault and Saint-Michel) are in the neighborhood. The Saint-Michel civic district is currently held by Soraya Martinez of Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal
Vision Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has been in existence since 1994 and presently forms the Official opposition on Montreal City Council under leader Louise Harel.-Origins:...
party. François-Perreault district is currently held by Frank Venneri of Union Montreal
Union Montreal
Union Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It currently governs Montreal's city government.-Origins:It was established as the Montreal Island Citizens Union in the aftermath of the province-wide municipal merger of 2001 and not long before the municipal election...
. Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
, son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre-Eliott Trudeau, is the liberal incumbent, in this part of Montreal. Trudeau defeated incumbent Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
MP Vivian Barbot.