Economic
Economic
Jobs are created near residential neighbourhoods where a skilled workforce lives, close to major transportation routes that facilitate the movement of people and goods.
The idea behind the Lachine Canal Lachine 4.0
It is at once a city district, a revitalization project, and a great opportunity for innovative businesses. Here’s why.
The Vision
The Lachine Canal 4.0 is designed for the businesses of today and tomorrow: a vibrant, connected, and inspiring area. A place where people produce, innovate, but also move around easily, breathe freely, and where talent wants to stay.
Key words: industrial innovation hub, ZIM, active mobility, green spaces, local shops, industries of the future, fast connections to the rest of the city.
A mission: to attract ambitious businesses, and to attract and retain the talent that helps them grow. To make the Lachine Canal 4.0 a destination recognized for its quality of life—a place where people want to settle, work… and build a future.
A commitment: The Lachine Canal 4.0 is the result of a collaboration between eight partners united by a common vision: the City of Montreal, PME MTL Grand Sud-Ouest, PME MTL Ouest-de-l’Île, the boroughs of Lachine, LaSalle, Sud-Ouest, and Verdun, and Parks Canada.
A ZIM
The Lachine Canal 4.0 is a Metropolitan Innovation Zone (ZIM), meaning it is a priority economic area identified by the City of Montreal to accelerate innovation, attract businesses, and guide public and private investment.
In practical terms, a ZIM serves to:
- concentrate investments and infrastructure projects
- attract and retain innovative companies
- modernize or redevelop strategic industrial sectors
- develop an innovation ecosystem around targeted sectors (light manufacturing, creative and cultural industries, clean technologies, the circular economy, sustainable mobility, etc.).
The Pillars of Revitalization
Environmental
Green spaces and recreational areas are developed to maximize quality of life at work. Numerous buildings have been renovated to reduce their environmental impact.
Heritage and culture
Heritage and culture
Former industrial spaces are being reimagined to meet the needs of today’s businesses. Architectural heritage is highlighted through unique remnants, intentionally left in place.
Social
Social
Synergy benefits everyone. A network of local shops and services simplifies your daily life. The architectural heritage, the cozy neighbourhood café, the large green spaces—all of this attracts your best employees. In fact, many are considering moving nearby. The area is vibrant.
200 years of history
It all began with a canal and locks to allow ships to bypass the Lachine Rapids. Goods flowed more freely, and so did ideas. Industries took root here, and their employees settled nearby.
Times have changed, but the same entrepreneurial spirit remains: tackling today’s challenges and anticipating tomorrow’s. We’re building the future by drawing on history. It’s not a break with the past—it’s continuity.
Archives nationales à Montréal,photo prise par conrad Poirier
Canal Lachine, 7 août 1948
A Sector Undergoing Transformation
Various sections of the Lachine Canal 4.0 are currently being redeveloped and revitalized to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
For Industry 4.0 and all the rest
Industry 4.0 is the current phase of the industrial revolution, following robotization and automation.
- Connectivity and real-time data
- Advanced automation
- Rapid adaptation to market demands
- Increased efficiency at every stage
- Reduced environmental impact
The idea: to remain competitive in an ever-changing market while staying true to our values.
This idea applies to tech companies, of course, but also to all those that want to adapt and thrive, regardless of their business model.
This is the vision guiding the City of Montreal in revitalizing the sector. Setting up your business at Lachine Canal 4.0 means establishing it in one of the most dynamic and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The Area
The Lachine Canal encompasses the entire industrial and commercial zone surrounding the canal. The area is located near downtown, primarily in the Sud-Ouest and LaSalle boroughs, but it also extends into Lachine, Verdun, and even, at the tip of Expo 67, Ville-Marie.
The map below will give you a clearer picture.
It is a central sector, currently undergoing revitalization, where former heavy industry has left an exceptional architectural legacy and is now giving way to approximately 900 small and medium-sized businesses where more than 18,000 people work.
A territory for business and humans
For your business?
Discover why the Lachine Canal is the ideal area to establish an innovative business. See what particularly appeals to the cultural and creative industries, light manufacturing, and clean technologies.