The SDA Gets Involved to Address Inequalities in the East of Montreal

Beginning at Iberville St, the east of Montreal covers a large area of about 130 km², which is more than 25% of the entire island’s surface area. Around 500,000 people live there, which represents about a quarter of the island’s population.

The east of Montreal is clearly at a disadvantage compared to the centre and west of the island

The east of Montreal has been home to heavy industries and manufacturing companies for over a century, which has contributed to the economic boom in Montreal and Quebec. However, these industries have left the area ravaged, contaminated and desolate.

All of these socio-economic factors confirm that the east of Montreal is clearly at a disadvantage compared to the centre and west of the island:

• Higher unemployment rates
• Higher number of low-income workers
• Shorter life expectancy
• Inadequate educational buildings
• Substantial delays in mobility for workers
• Noticeably more disadvantaged, according to common criteria (health, low income, education, immigration, living conditions, housing, crime rates, etc.)

Inequalities at a risk of getting worse

In addition to these unfavourable factors, there are also infrastructure projects that are continually being delayed: extending the blue line, repairing Notre-Dame St., updating the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital facilities, etc.

Territorial inequalities are at a risk of getting worse over the next few years with major infrastructure projects in the west and centre of the island taking place, in particular with the Réseau express métropolitain, the Turcot interchange and the Champlain Bridge.

The SDA wants to contribute to the economic and social boom in the east of Montreal

On September 6, at a meeting in front of around 500 citizens, elected officials and representatives of all backgrounds, the Société de développement Angus (SDA) announced a major turning point in its activities: expanding its service area to requalify other potential sites in the east of Montreal.

“We would like to make the best use of the expertise that we have developed in requalifying areas and our ability to mobilize partners to contribute to the economic and social boom in the east of Montreal, a sector with pressing needs,” said Christian Yaccarini, CEO of SDA.

Instilling BEAUTY and PRIDE with urban revitalization

As the CEO of SDA, Christian Yaccarini, explained, “The east has a strong negative image attached to it, but it has strong potential for development, which is an extraordinary opportunity to reduce the urban sprawl of the metropolitan area. It is essential that we requalify these areas and fill them with beauty and pride.”

The SDA’s projects in the east will focus on the following aspects, amongst others:

• Social innovation
• Quality job creation
• Green infrastructures
• Affordable social housing for families

In order to generate this structuring and lasting impact in local communities, the SDA will give preference to developing partnerships that will allow for all parties to be involved at the same time on multiple levels, so that the residents of the east of Montreal will also be able to enjoy infrastructures and quality jobs, state-of-the-art services, green spaces and a better quality of life.

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About the Société de développement Angus

Société de développement Angus (SDA) is a social economy enterprise behind urban renewal projects that deliver significant spinoffs for the local community and embrace sustainable development. Through the successful development of Technopôle Angus, SDA honed the expertise it is now putting to work on a wealth of projects. In Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles SDA developed Le 2-22, the entertainment district’s flagship building, next to Carré Saint-Laurent. SDA also acts as primary contractor on exciting projects such as Théâtre La Licorne and Maison d’Haïti in Montreal, and the Native Friendship Centre in Val-d’Or.