Monkland Village: A unique area of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

There are some little corners of Montreal that are so unique and welcoming that they are almost like little villages within the city; Monkland Village, in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG), is one of these.

Framed by Somerled Street, Sherbrooke Street West, Grand Boulevard and Decarie Boulevard, Monkland Village is an eclectic area with a mix of homeowners and tenants, newcomers and dyed-in-the-wool Montrealers, anglophones and francophones, young and not so young. There are many streets lined with ancient trees, quiet places close to the bustling Monkland Avenue and its shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars that welcome day and night the residents of NDG for a drink with friends or a family meal.

It's not surprising, then, that the borough has the largest number of families with children in Montreal. There is also a large concentration of households with annual incomes of $70,000 or more, and the unemployment rate is very low, less than 5 per cent, according to data from the latest National Household Survey (2011). And it's likely that with the recent opening of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) super-hospital, the area may see its population and number of small shops increase.

A short stroll through Monkland Village is enough to convince anyone: the neighbourhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is one of the nicest places in Montreal. Take a walk on a sunny day and you will see the terraces of cafes and bistros teeming with local residents. Stop at Buzz Jeans for a new outfit, Melk for a coffee or St-Viateur Bagel for breakfast. Lose yourself in its green alleys, stroll through its lush parks; there is something here for everyone.

In addition, the Monkland Merchants Association produces annually several very popular events. For example, the area gets Canadian Grand Prix fever in early June and, in late August, the Flavours of Monkland Festival takes over the streets of Monkland Village.

Photos by: Bonnie Meisels, TripAdvisor, Monkland Merchants Association