Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a district of Montreal, Quebec, situated on the eastern half of the island, generally to the south and south-west of the city's Olympic Stadium. A part of the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, its borders are roughly rue Moreau to the west, rue Sherbrooke to the north, rue Viau to the east, and the Saint Lawrence River to the south. Its population of 129 110 persons is a mix of working class Québécois, welfare recipients, students and recent immigrants. Locally, it is abbreviated as 'HoMa' or 'Chlag'.
Named after the First Nations village of Hochelaga encountered in 1535-1536 by the explorer Jacques Cartier, this neighborhood at one time was believed to be the location of the prehistoric village. Historians and anthropologists have not reached agreement on the location of Hochelaga, a village of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, who spoke a Laurentian language and were distinct from the Iroquois nations of the Haudenosaunee.[1] Nevertheless, it is generally agreed that the village of Hochelaga was in the general area of what is downtown Montreal, near Mount Royal. Ironically, the village was not located in the vicinity of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Despite being one of the poorest areas of the city, the district of 25,2 square kilometers is considered an up and coming one, with immigrants' creating new businesses. . It is a densely populated residential neighbourhood, with some industry. The Marché Maisonneuve and rue Ontario are affordable shopping areas for locals.
Olympic Park, containing the Stadium, Olympic Tower, Saputo Stadium, Biodome, Olympic Pool, Maurice Richard Arena, and Parc Maisonneuve (located just across the border in the Rosemont La Petite Patrie borough) offer recreation for locals and tourists. The district also enjoys an advantageous view of the International Fireworks Festival during the summer months.
The neighbourhood has a dense collection of residential architecture unique to Montreal, notably featuring outdoor spiraling metal staircases. The district's relatively cheap land prices and proximity to downtown Montreal have attracted developers. They have taken down some older buildings and replaced them with modern condominiums.
Unofficial anthem by local Black Metal band Death de Drogue [2]:
We are standing at the gates of the Promenade Ontario,
We are the evil warriors of the vente trottoir,
Where the triporteur pour obeses forever reigns!!!
And as the smell of the levure de melasse wanders in the night,
The sign of the mighty DOLLARAMA is rising in the stormy sky...
We are waiting for our cheque de B.S. to come, eternally...