A nod to last month’s opening of the 2000 time capsule, this conference, entitled “Saint-Laurent, vision 150,” was intended as a prelude to preparations for the borough’s 150th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2043. The Mayor invited business people to reflect together on the future of their community, building on the achievements of the past 25 years and the vision components he presented.

The three realms of Saint-Laurent’s development since 2025

According to Alan DeSousa, the major achievements that have guided Saint-Laurent’s development over the past 25 years can be divided into three realms and two hopes that are still waiting to be fulfilled:

Public transit

Since the early 2010s, Saint-Laurent has actively supported the electric light rail transit project. This vision has materialized with the arrival of five REM stations on borough territory, placing Saint-Laurent at the heart of the Greater Montréal transit network.

Facilities serving residents

Two iconic projects illustrate this commitment to provide residents with modern, accessible facilities: 

• The Bibliothèque du Boisé, the first library in Canada to obtain LEED Platinum certification
• The Complexe sportif de Saint-Laurent, certified LEED Gold

These achievements, stemming from architectural competitions, along with other major construction and restoration projects, demonstrate the borough’s commitment to quality of life, health and heritage.

Sustainable development

Saint-Laurent has integrated sustainable development into all its municipal decisions:

• Adoption of the first three-year plan in 2004
• Implementation of an ISO 14001-certified environmental management system in 2012
• Creation of the Biodiversity Corridor, a long-term 20-year project
• Development of the 2021-2030 Climate emergency plan and the 2026-2029 Strategic plan
• Promotion of urban agriculture by now allowing it in all residential yards and on industrial rooftops

Two hopes still waiting to be fulfilled

Despite all the efforts and progress made, some visions have yet to be achieved:

• The extension of the Orange metro line, which has been supported for a long time and even more so since 2019, to connect to the REM’s Bois-Franc station.
• The Boulevard Cavendish extension, which has been awaited for more than 70 years, despite a consensus reached between the four jurisdictions concerned on its concept a few years ago.

Three major objectives for Saint-Laurent in 2043

Mayor DeSousa has structured his “Vision 150” around the following objectives:

A carbon-neutral, circular territory

Saint-Laurent aims to become a model of circular economy, where resources are valued and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced as much as possible. To achieve this objective, the borough will rely not only on its business community, but also on its many environmental initiatives, such as the Biodiversity Corridor, its strategic and climate plans, and its collective energy loop project, which is progressing well.

A key hub for innovation

Saint-Laurent has developed a culture of innovation throughout its history across various sectors that have grown there: aerospace, pharmaceuticals and information technology. The area is home to world-class prime contractors and equipment manufacturers, which have attracted hundreds of SMEs with a wide range of expertise. This led to the creation of the Centre d’expertise industrielle in 2020 and the launch of the Zone d’innovation aérospatiale in 2024, which will soon enable Saint-Laurent to welcome the Centre collaboratif et d’innovation en aérospatiale et en mobilité du Québec. The borough aims to strengthen its role as a leader in innovation, particularly in its areas of expertise, but also in the field of artificial intelligence.

A living environment in high demand

The borough wants to continue providing an attractive, accessible and diversified living environment, for example through the development of TOD (Transit Oriented Development) neighbourhoods around metro and REM stations, two of which are dedicated to employment and business services: the Côte-de-Liesse TOD (Hodge-Lebeau) and the Technoparc TOD with the aerospace innovation zone. The involvement of the business community will be of the utmost importance to develop the local commercial establishments and services needed by businesses in these sectors.

Artificial intelligence: a revolution in progress

The Mayor also highlighted the major impact of artificial intelligence, which he describes as a “New World.” This technology, set to become an essential infrastructure, will profoundly transform the way we live, work and plan our territory, while offering new opportunities for local businesses.

A call for residents to get involved

As part of preparations for a new time capsule, Mayor DeSousa invited members of the audience to share their predictions and wishes for Saint-Laurent in 2043. These testimonials will be sealed and rediscovered during the 150th anniversary celebrations.

A promising future

In conclusion, the Mayor predicted the dawning of a new era for Saint-Laurent, with beneficial developments in both infrastructure and innovation, whether through the dizzying possibilities of artificial intelligence or the new avenues opened up by current geopolitical changes, such as the new defence sector. 

He then ended by reaffirming his determination to pursue his commitment to achieving this ambitious vision and supporting Saint-Laurent businesses so they can keep making the borough shine.