Neighbourhood Pointe-Saint-Charles

• discovery
• history
• buildings
• public spaces
• commemorative
  and public art

Discovery

The British, the Irish, and French Canadians among the factories of the Lachine Canal and the railway shops

Tucked away in the south-west corner of Montreal, Pointe-Saint-Charles, known to locals as The Point, is cut off from the city by major transport infrastructures: the Lachine Canal, Highway 15, and the vast rail yards that border it. While it is one of Montreal's poorest neighbourhoods economically, it is one of the richest in terms of community life and the social solidarity of its residents. In addition, the Lachine Canal has recently been revitalized as a recreational area. Originally home to both French and English-speakers, Pointe-Saint-Charles has been more recently enriched by the diversity of its cultural communities of African, Asian, Haitian, Eastern European, and Latin American origins. The recent influx of younger Montrealers has also contributed to the neighbourhood's revitalization. Pointe-Saint-Charles is one of the most eloquent witnesses to Montreal life during the industrial era.

Aerial view of Charlevoix metro station entrance
1982
2.3 cm
3.4 cm
© Fonds de Commission de transport de Montréal, Archives de la STM (Métro C-D), © Héritage Montréal