Former Mile End School Transformed into Vibrant Community Hub
Excitement filled the air as approximately 60 representatives from community organizations, co-ops, and non-profits gathered in a small room at the former Luke Callaghan Memorial School located at 5611 Clark Street. They attended the first of two information sessions organized by the Société de développement Angus, which unveiled plans to transform the iconic building into a four-story community center housing diverse groups serving the public.
From School to Community Center
The project originated several years ago when the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal announced plans to sell the building. Guy Arseneault, director of the Centre de la petite enfance Alexis le Trotteur daycare—which has occupied the building for four decades—contacted borough councillor Marie Plourde in concern. Plourde and then-borough mayor Luc Rabouin reached out to the Société de développement Angus, which developed the community center concept and has committed to purchasing the building, with finalization anticipated this year.
"I'm so enthusiastic," Plourde expressed. "I'm very happy. This kind of project can be transformative for the neighbourhood." She noted that this initiative is part of a broader wave of community-oriented projects in the area, including revitalization plans for the nearby Entrepôt Van Horne and the city's 2022 purchase of the Million Tapis et Tuiles building on Bernard Street for social housing development.
Renovation Plans and Community Involvement
Marilou Hudon-Huot, vice-president of development and leasing for the Société de développement Angus, led the information session and detailed comprehensive renovation plans. The building will undergo significant upgrades, including:
- Complete overhaul of electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems
- Installation of new windows throughout the structure
- Addition of an elevator to ensure universal accessibility
- Dedication of 37,500 square feet to community organizations
"We want to meet you and understand your needs," Hudon-Huot told attendees, "and develop the project in synergy with you by offering services that respond to the real needs of the community." A series of co-creation workshops with group representatives will occur in coming weeks to discuss specific requirements, ensuring renovations—including wall partitions and locale sizes—are optimized for efficiency.
Project Timeline and Tenant Details
Renovation work is scheduled to begin in the fall, with occupancy projected for 2027-28. The only confirmed tenant at this stage is the CPE Alexis le Trotteur daycare, which will remain on the first floor. "This project gave us an opportunity to contribute to saving the daycare, and secure its future in Mile End," Hudon-Huot explained, "and to develop a significant service hub for the community. We hope the community appropriates the project." Long-term plans may include adding off-market housing in the current parking lot area facing St-Laurent Boulevard.
Community Response and Funding
Attendees responded positively to the proposal. Rossana Bruzzone of Montréal la plus heureuse, a non-profit promoting intergenerational and intercultural connections, remarked, "I find it really great, from an ethical point of view, to re-valorize a building that could have been forgotten." Ricky Ng-Adam of Cohabitat.cc, which seeks shared living spaces for cycling enthusiasts, added, "It's super that they're involving organizations from the start. It's a great initiative that breeds energy the same way cohabitation does, through shared values."
Étienne Pagé and Coralie Massey-Cantin of the eco-preservation group Fondation Rivières expressed both inspiration and caution. "It's an interesting project, though maybe we don't correspond to their criteria of groups that serve citizens directly," Massey-Cantin noted. "But I think it could be interesting to have an environmental group involved."
Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan attended the session, and Hudon-Huot confirmed that the project is made possible through substantial federal government funding, with details to be announced in coming months.
