Montréal neighbourhood: Discover the Technopôle Angus
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Rosemont
Montréal has long been noted for its unique mix of worlds old and new, and that blend is on full display in the Technopôle Angus quartier at the border between the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhoods.
A neighbourhood green thumb
A textbook example of urban renewal, Technopôle Angus is developing Quebec’s first LEED ND Platinum certified green neighbourhood, receiving prizes including the National Award for Urban Design of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in the process. With living greenspaces from the ground to the rooftops, this urban village utilizes innovative sustainable practices. Linked directly to the leafy Parc Jean-Duceppe, Parc Saint-Émile and Parc du Pélican, you’re never far from a restful oasis, and the view of Mount Royal to the west is postcard pretty.
An unstoppable forward trajectory
Formerly the home of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s railcar manufacturing and repairing centre the CPR Angus Shops, the site was also a key player in Quebec’s wartime effort, involved in the manufacturing of armaments sent to the front. While the rails and shophouses have since fallen silent, the new Technopôle Angus is a buzzing centre of bustling boutiques and creativity. Besides the groundbreaking tech and startup firms filling the spaces of the Locoshop Angus (Canada’s first green industrial building, awarded a BOMA Best Certification in 2023!), the neighbourhood is also a meeting point for the city’s working cinéastes. Home to the Montréal brach of the IATSE film union, the area’s film connections are echoed in the leafy twin plazas Place Michel-Brault and Place Pierre-Falardeau, two leading figures in Québecois film history. That sweeping view of the mountain isn’t all that’s cinematic in this hood.
Where to eat in the Technopôle Angus
Annette bar à vin
La Chope Angus
Transforming sweeping brick and mortar warehouses into prime shopping and creative space, Technopôle Angus is an architectural feat of open rooftops, high walls, and converted station houses calling back to the world of rail travel.
- Well-stocked with mouthwatering patisseries from local favourite Mamie Clafoutis, pro-barista creations at the stylish Station W and Café Kujira, the farm-to-table minded Boucherie Les Épicurieux and the Bleu & Persillé fromagerie, it’s a gourmand’s mini paradise.
- Satisfy your appetite at the chic Annette bar à vin, the seasonally-focused Hoogan et Beaufort, the “fine diner” locally-sourced hotspot Terroirs, the Vietnamese with a twist local favourite Le Red Tiger, the classic bistro Magnolia MTL, the unique sushi spot Le Blossom, the hearty pub LABARAKE Caserne à Manger, the microbrewery hot spot La Chope Angus Brasserie Artisanale and the old-school wood-fired No. 900 Pizzéria Napolitaine.
- But be sure to save at least some room for afters at Chocolate Favoris! You’ll even cross paths with aspiring chocolatiers in attendance at the Chocolate Academy Montréal, whose campus is right across the road (with classes also available online).
A hot spot of forward-looking creativity
Technopôle Angus isn’t just home to several cutting-edge start-ups, but also provides space for multiple artisans and Québec-made products.
- Eyeglass lovers make the trek for Eye Am Soins oculaires stylish frames, locally-made products take the spotlight at the Toutes les choses parfaites - dépanneur corner store while La Maison Tricotée knitting shop gives you all the supplies you’ll need to make your own creations at home.
- Throughout the year, Locoshop Angus also hosts artisanal markets by Collectif Créatif MTL in the spring, autumn and holiday seasons.
All aboard for Technopôle Angus!
An area packed with tasty delicacies, forward-thinking innovators and a storied history, Technopôle Angus is one of Montréal’s up-and-comers worth exploring. Hop on board because this train’s already on the move!
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, a musician in the projects Woodpigeon, Frontperson and Brittle Dreams and a curator and historian specializing in LGBTQ+ activism and zinemaking. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.