NEWS FROM RIGHT HERE

September 30, 2026

Recap of the 2027 BGA – Highlights and Outlook

On September 23, the SDC held its annual Budget General Assembly (BGA), an important gathering for the business community. It was an opportunity to look back on the work carried out over the past year, discuss the issues affecting businesses across the territory, and present the proposed priorities and budget for 2027.

As Gabriel Tupula, Chair of the SDC’s Board of Directors and CEO of Big Bang, pointed out, the Board’s decisions are guided by a reality shared by its members: they are entrepreneurs and business leaders navigating the same challenging economic environment as the businesses they represent.

AGB - 23 septembre 2026 - Crédit Branden Desormeau (6)

BUDGET 2027

The SDC’s Treasurer, Laetitia Bedout, presented the main financial priorities for 2027, along with the variances from the 2026 projections.

Cost-control efforts will help limit the projected deficit to $102,802.91, which will be covered by accumulated surpluses. Membership fees will increase by 3.2%, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), representing an annual increase ranging from $2.82 to $33.87, depending on floor area (minimum fee: $91.02; maximum fee: $1,092.32).

The SDC will also continue its efforts to diversify its funding sources through private contributions, strategic partnerships and support from public-sector stakeholders. Members ultimately adopted an operating budget of $1,699,152.62 for 2027.

A TERRITORY IN TRANSFORMATION

For the past three years, the SDC has been rolling out its Signature Intervention Plan, which aims to enhance and showcase District Central through landscaping, urban, artistic and wayfinding projects.

In 2024, the SDC received a $1 million grant from the Government of Quebec’s Fonds signature métropole to accelerate the implementation of these projects. Thanks to partnerships developed with the private sector, this funding has since been increased by more than 50%.

Once again this year, several projects took shape across the territory:

Inauguration L Escale St-Urbain -12 août 2026 - crédit photo Branden Desormeau (1)

L’ESCALE ST-URBAIN
Inaugurated on August 12 in the presence of Chantal Rouleau, Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region, this new outdoor space was created through a collaboration between the SDC, CIOT, Immobilier Delilah and Matelas Sélection. An underused private lot has been transformed into a space that is open to all, featuring street furniture, landscaping, mural art and repurposed materials.

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LA LISIÈRE
Produced in collaboration with OOKPIK and the Centre d’art CAB, this new outdoor space in the Sauvé sector turns a previously underused alleyway into a lush green pathway with a wild meadow, a public plaza, and a wooded section. Drawing inspiration from District Central’s textile roots, the project focuses on boosting local biodiversity, using native plants, and repurposing materials.

Inauguration Le Lopin - crédit photo Branden Desormeau (21)

LE LOPIN
At the corner of l’Acadie and Sauvé, a former snow dump site has been transformed in collaboration with Simplex Tool Rental. Today, this new gathering space features a pedestrian path, seating areas, fruit trees, edible plants, and interpretive panels showcasing the area's agricultural past. The project also highlights circular economy principles with furniture made from repurposed Simplex materials.

TELLING DISTRICT CENTRAL’S STORY THROUGH ART
The District Central’s urban art trail continues to grow.

At 350 Sauvé Street West, the new mural La première paire pays tribute to the neighbourhood’s textile heritage through the story of the family behind Yves Martin Underwear. The artwork highlights the passing down of expertise from one generation to the next, the contribution of immigration and the pivotal role of the garment industry in the development of District Central.

Produced by the nonprofit organization KOLAB and created by artist Ludovic Marsolais-Viau in collaboration with Florence Mercille Perrault, the mural was made possible through the collaboration of the SDC, Yves Martin Underwear, the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, and the City of Montréal’s Mural Art Program.

A second mural is currently in production and will be unveiled soon.

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SHOWCASING LOCAL TALENT AND EXPERTISE

Showcasing the businesses and expertise that give District Central its unique character remains at the heart of the SDC’s work.

On August 29, the second edition of District Central en mode M.A.D. transformed the loading dock at 433 Chabanel into a true fashion runway. The result: 10 District Central businesses, 60 looks and more than 300 guests gathered to celebrate local creativity.

This kind of showcase is particularly important in a neighbourhood where nearly four in 10 businesses are part of the design business cluster, representing more than 750 businesses, including 630 in the fashion sector.

On September 9, the SDC and PME MTL Centre-Ouest also co-hosted the second edition of the Banquet Fermes en Ville at Esplanade Louvain. Bringing together 320 guests, the event showcased Montréal’s urban agriculture while positioning District Central as a hub for innovation in urban agriculture and a dynamic agri-food hub.

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESSES

Beyond the projects taking shape across the territory, the SDC plays an essential role in representing businesses to different levels of government, ensuring that the realities and concerns of District Central businesses are heard.

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and tariff impacts, the SDC brought together a dozen local businesses with Canada’s Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Mélanie Joly, to share their concerns directly with the federal government.

Mobility and urban logistics remain key priorities, as several issues related to the implementation of the north-south bike path have yet to be resolved. The Board of Directors and the team have continued their advocacy efforts to ensure that the needs of businesses are taken into account in the projects and decisions shaping the territory.

As a major manufacturing, distribution and logistics hub, District Central needs conditions that facilitate the movement of goods, access to industrial sites, the safety of all road users and the efficiency of business operations.

BUILDING A MORE RESILIENT DISTRICT CENTRAL TOGETHER

It was with this goal in mind that the SDC launched the Grande Fabrique de la résilience territoriale last February, a collective initiative aimed at defining the conditions needed to keep District Central productive, competitive and attractive.

Between February and May, 156 local stakeholders contributed to the process through site visits, interviews, workshops and a survey.

The findings were then shared at the District Central Business Summit, which brought together 60 participants last June.

One clear message emerged: preserve what makes District Central strong while adapting to today’s economic and territorial challenges.

Les Assises d affaire 9 juin 2026 WEB _ crédit Branden Desormeau (52)

Four key priorities were identified:

Maintaining local production capacity;
Improving urban logistics and mobility;
Preserving the affordability of industrial spaces;
Strengthening business connections and collaboration across the territory.

This collective effort has already led to concrete commitments from local partners, brought together in the Manifesto of La Grande Fabrique

The next step will be the adoption of the 2027–2030 Territorial Resilience Plan, expected this fall. The plan will guide the priorities, projects and actions of the SDC and its partners over the coming years.

CANDIDATES’ FORUM

As part of the provincial election, three candidates for the Acadie riding presented their vision and commitments for the territory and exchanged views with members.

André A. Morin — candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party
Pierrick Jasmin — candidate for the Parti Québécois
Marie-Laure Nault — candidate for Québec Solidaire

AGB - 23 septembre 2026 - Crédit Branden Desormeau (38)

COMING UP BEFORE YEAR-END

November 25: The SDC’s year-end cocktail for members and partners

AGB - 23 septembre 2026 - Crédit Branden Desormeau (63)

NETWORKING

The BGA was followed by a networking session with the businesses in attendance, offering a valuable opportunity to connect and build relationships within the District Central business community.

THANK YOU!

The Board of Directors thanks you for sharing its ambition to breathe new life into our legendary neighbourhood, showcase all that it has to offer and propel it to the forefront of Montréal’s economic landscape.