Are you looking your own little corner of heaven, where houses are still affordable on the island of Montréal? Go east! Quite far east, in fact, past Highway 25, and discover the small, quiet and green neighbourhood of Mercier-Est, which residents proudly call Tétreaultville.

The well-kept secret of the “Far East” 

This residential area of the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough is bordered to the north by the borough of Anjou, to the south by the St. Lawrence River, to the west by Highway 25 and to the east by rue George V. If it seems far, being at the end of the green line, think again; you are only a 30-minute metro ride from the Berri-UQAM station. And Tétreaultville offers its residents many little extras: a host of community projects, a dynamic cultural centre, schools with innovative initiatives, quality sports facilities and beautiful green spaces to kick back, relax and get some fresh air.

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Rue Notre-Dame | Crédit photo : Géraldine Chanloup 

The lands named for Pierre Tétreault 

With over a century of history, the neighbourhood of Tétreaultville owes its name to Pierre Tétreault, a carpenter by trade who made his fortune in the United States at the end of the 19th century after discovering a zinc mine. When he returned to the country, he bought a large part of the Archambault family’s land and had a huge residence built on the banks of the river, nicknamed the Château Tétreault. This historic building was sold to the Port of Montréal in 1930, and was then demolished around 1945.

Woman and boy in front of 541 rue de Saint-Just, 1927

Photo credit: Courtoisie © Atelier d'histoire Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

In 1902, Mr. Tétreault drew up a development plan to divide his land into 4,000 lots to be built and began to lay the foundations for urban infrastructure: a tramway line on rue des Ormeaux, the development of a public park, the creation of Sainte-Claire parish, and the opening of a school. His efforts gave birth to the village of Tétreaultville in 1907, which was annexed to Montréal in 1910, along with the villages of Longue-Pointe and Beaurivage. Five years later, the new district was renamed Mercier, in honour of Honoré Mercier, former Premier of Quebec.

In 1964 came a great upheaval: the entire historic heart of Longue-Pointe was razed to make way for Highway 25 and the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine bridge-tunnel, inaugurated in 1967. This major new artery split the territory into two and drew the border between the Mercier-Ouest and Mercier-Est (aka Tétreaultville) neighbourhoods that we know today.

Construction of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine bridge-tunnel, 1964

Photo credit: Courtesy © Archives of the Ministère des Transports du Québec

The suburbs in the heart of the island

Rue Tellier | Photo credit : Géraldine Chanloup 

Seen from above, Tétreaultville looks like a perfect suburban town with its grid street plan and its small tree-lined north-south streets that stretch gently to the river. No skyscrapers block the sky, only charming little bungalows, duplexes and real estate projects planned on a human scale.

This American-inspired urban planning model was launched in 1949 by businessman Henri Préfontaine and the company S.D. Miller & Sons, who built 400 bungalows in what was called Village Champlain (PDF document in French only). Bounded by Sherbrooke, Hochelaga, Liébert and Lepailleur streets, the “village” had a shopping centre, a large park and a church at its heart. At the time, it was the largest housing project in Canada and undoubtedly one of the first of its kind in Montréal. If you are passing by, stop in front of 2760 rue Honoré-Beaugrand. This is the most famous house in the area, because was raffled off shortly after the shopping centre opened in 1953!

Faubourg Contrecoeur | Photo credit : Courtoisie Accès Condos

While the neighbourhood continued to grow, it was in the early 2000s that it experienced a real boom when many housing projects, focused on quality of life, were born. One example is the huge Faubourg Contrecœur project, designed entirely for families, which has helped to attract hundreds of new residents to Tétreaultville. Several units of the project are accredited Accès Condos, and are thus sold at affordable prices.

But between us, what makes Tétreaultville so appealing is not its housing projects or its bungalows, but its residents! This is a tight-knit community that never hesitates to help each other out, one that comes together to ensure quality of life, thriving local businesses, the preservation of green spaces and the fostering of social development in the neighbourhood.

Who will your neighbours be?

Unlike many neighbourhoods, this is a place where you’ll actually get to know your neighbours. In fact, when folks move to Tétreaultville, they tend to stay: the majority of residents had not changed address in the five years preceding the last census in 2016.

According to the demographic profile published by the Ville de Montréal in 2017, the neighbourhood has a population of just over 36,000, mostly families with children (64%) and Francophones (82%). Immigrants, half of whom arrived between 1991 and 2010, represent 19% of residents: 14% were born in Haiti, 12% in Algeria and 7% in Italy.

Tétreaultville residents are young and active: 56% are aged 25 to 64 and 40% are under 35, with seniors making up only 17% of the population. Two-thirds of those aged 15 and over work, primarily in sales and service (26%), business, finance and administration (20%) and transportation, machinery and trades (13%). In 2015, the median income of households in Tétreaultville ($55,545) was slightly higher than that of households in the borough ($48,544).

Things to do in Tétreaultville

Start by immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the stunning Parc de la Promenade Bellerive, which runs for more than 2 km along the river. Folks meet up there for picnics, fishing, bird watching, walks along the waterfront, biking, skateboarding or paddle boarding, not to mention cross-country skiing in winter. The whole family can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool and the children's playground or even grab a treat at the welcome centre chalet’s snack bar. A wide range of activities for young and old alike are organized in the park throughout the year by the Société d’animation du parc.

Halte Bellerive | rue Bellerive, between Baldwin and Des Ormeaux streets

Photo: Courtesy  La Pépinière © Charles Olivier Bourque

Every Saturday during the summer, you can stock up on fresh produce at the Halte Bellerive, which houses a public market in the heart of the park. There are also plans to develop a biodiversity zone that will be crossed by an interpretive trail, a great initiative to pedestrianize rue Bellerive.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, climb aboard the river shuttle that connects Promenade Bellerive to Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville. Kilometres of groomed trails and bayou-like channels await hikers, cyclists and canoeists in search of natural beauty and serenity.

Discover cultural activities

Ruelle des découvertes | Photo credit : Géraldine Chanloup 

To get your culture fix, stop by the Atelier d’histoire de la Longue-Pointe or the Maison de la culture Mercier, near Parc Liébert. Nicknamed the “little Place des Arts of the east end”, it offers a great program of activities, concerts, shows and exhibitions, including a circuit of pop-up works of art in the streets and parks of the neighbourhood during the summer season. As you walk, don't miss the Ruelle des découvertes (“Discovery Lane”), between Lebrun-Baldwin and Brouage-Ontario streets. Ranked among the top 20 most beautiful green laneways in Montréal, it offers a colourful place for a stroll, full of flowers, plants, book boxes and children's games, and dotted with benches, each more original than the next, where you can sit, relax and savour the moment.

Tétreaultville

Last update: August 2021