Unveiling a transformative, innovative, and bold project: Carré Laval | A carbon-neutral innovation hub on a human scale

Laval, February 3, 2020 — The City of Laval is unveiling today a major revitalization and development project for the area commonly known as “Carré Laval,” a nearly 4-million-square-foot area located in downtown Laval and bounded by the Laurentides Expressway (A15), Souvenir Boulevard, Daniel-Johnson Boulevard, and Saint-Martin West Boulevard.

Ultimately, Carré Laval will become a vibrant, attractive, and carbon-neutral community on a human scale. This large-scale project reflects Laval’s commitment to creating an innovative, distinctive, and inclusive space with the goal of increasing the city’s prosperity and attracting talented people from all walks of life.

The unveiling, along with the announcement of major financial support from Quebec, took place in the presence of Laval Mayor Marc Demers; Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation and Member of the National Assembly for Terrebonne; the Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Laval region and Member of the National Assembly for Groulx, Eric Girard, and the Member for Sainte-Rose, Christopher Skeete.

“Laval is proud to be among the first cities to promote an innovative, carbon-neutral project of this scale that focuses on urban planning for public spaces within a flexible framework. Le Carré Laval is a distinctive urban development. The City aims to create a welcoming, warm, comfortable, safe, and vibrant environment for businesses, workers, students, Laval residents, and visitors—one that inspires them to linger and return.”

Marc Demers, Mayor of Laval

Major Government Support for the Implementation of the “
” Project To lay the groundwork for this project, which is set to begin in 2020, the Government of Quebec has announced that $10 million in financial assistance for the 2020–2024 period has been granted to the City of Laval for the decontamination, redevelopment, revitalization, or upgrading of land in the area, as well as for the development of a multi-year plan. The purpose of this contribution is to promote investment and commercialization by bringing together research, innovation, and entrepreneurship activities within an attractive, high-quality environment.

“This project represents a unique opportunity for economic growth in the Laval region. It will create favorable conditions for private investment and the arrival of cutting-edge companies and research centers, which will coexist in an attractive living environment and generate positive impacts throughout Quebec and internationally. This is the government’s vision for strategically located innovation zones, which is now taking shape and will give Quebec a new boost in the^21st -century economy.”

Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region

“The revitalization of the Carré Laval is an important step in the economic and social development of Laval, a city that is poised for significant growth in the coming years. To ensure its prosperity, the region must, among other things, foster collaboration among Laval residents, the entrepreneurial community, and the research community.”

Eric Girard, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Laval region

A vibrant hub of innovation
Educational institutions, established companies, and startups will coexist within Carré Laval, transforming it into a space for experimentation and collaboration that will drive clean and sustainable economic growth within a mixed-use community. To date, nearly 20 stakeholders from the academic and institutional sectors have expressed interest in actively participating in the project. These stakeholders are particularly active in the fields of sustainable development, the economy, and mobility, as well as in the implementation of innovative practices in the social, scientific, and cultural spheres.

A World-Class Innovation Zone Project
While this is an evolving project within the framework of the Quebec government’s Innovation Zones initiative, the City of Laval is expressing its intention to submit the Carré Laval project to the government. Evolving and ambitious, this project will be planned and carried out in full alignment with the key priorities of the Laval 2035 strategic vision —urban by nature —and the specific urban planning program for the downtown area, which will be developed over the coming year. The development of Carré Laval includes several natural features, with a magnificent body of water and a cliff serving as its signature elements. Particular emphasis will be placed on carbon neutrality, as the area will be a car-free environment where active mobility will be prioritized.

To learn more about this project:
https://www.laval.ca/Pages/Fr/A-propos/carre-laval.aspx
Watch the video about the Carré Laval project:
https://www.laval.ca/Pages/Fr/A-propos/carre-laval.aspx
Read the press release online:
https://www.laval.ca/Pages/Fr/Nouvelles/devoilement-carre-laval.aspx

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Media Relations

City of Laval
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