“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. That is a saying that could apply to the District Central, as it continues to experience a rebirth with the emergence of new economic players to the area. To kick things off, here are 5 companies that are taking a gamble on the up-and-coming Ahuntsic-Cartierville area.

We could not have asked for a better ambassador to promote the District Central. Last March, the multi-national brand Canada Goose, renowned for its quality jackets and parkas, inaugurated a second factory in Quebec – after Boisbriand in 2017 – on the 3rd floor of the expansive building located at 333 Chabanel. The size of space the available, coupled with attractive rental rates or its ease of access to infrastructures such as loading docks, contributed to the arrival of this major ready-to-wear clothing brand. The icing on the cake is that this Toronto-based company intends to recruit 650 employees by 2020, mainly in sewing. A boon to a multi-cultural neighbourhood that lacks neither manpower nor willpower.

A precursor to the advent of digital manufacturing workshops in Quebec (Fab Lab), Communautique is committed to ensuring that the District Central benefits from its expertise in technological training and open innovation. The organization, headed by Monique Chartrand, left its Griffintown office to establish itself in a larger space, where exchanges and collaborative efforts continue to drive the endless flow of ideas further. The addition of a bio lab, focused on sustainable development, and a space that can accommodate 30 students, are among the many changes since the move. Good to know: The Fab Lab échoFab is open to the public, every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. Don’t miss out!

If you are looking to expand your audience or increase event revenue, Agence Webdiffusion will be happy to assist you at all stages of your project (before, during and after). Established since March in the District Central, this company – founded 6 years ago by Claudia Baillargeon (a resident of the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough) – relies on a core group of 4 people who collaborate with a network of freelancers to meet various production needs. Advice on video strategy and webcasting are at the heart of this dynamic agency, in tune with a neighbourhood with strong development potential, and located close to highways, which bodes well for Web Diffusion with its many customers between Laval and the Island of Montreal.