A bistro, games and meeting rooms, a daycare, rooms for working or playing music, and even a performance hall with stained glass windows by Marcelle Ferron. All this is brought together under the same roof at 4C.
Inaugurated in January 2023, the Cartierville Cultural and Community Center is located at 12 225, rue Grenet. For many people in the neighborhood, “4C” is a second home, whereas before, it was that of the congregation of the Sisters of Providence. “It was a 100% female building with the exception of the concierge,” emphasizes Dominique Taillon, planning advisor for the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district.
The congregation sold the building to the city in 2016 for $4.6 million, or about a quarter of its assessed value. “The Sisters, who did a lot in the neighborhood and who built the hospital [du] Sacré-Cœur, wanted the City to continue their social mission. »
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Covering an area of 8,000 square meters on a large plot of land, the 4C building is made up of four wings.
A living environment
The numerous rooms facilitated the development of multifunctional rooms and offices for community organizations which were previously gathered in a commercial building on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard. “It was not a living environment,” explains Dominique Taillon. There was a great need in the neighborhood for a gathering place that wasn’t the Tim Hortons down the street. »
The Cartierville sector where the 4C is located is in an integrated urban revitalization zone (RUI). In other words, citizens are invited to participate in decision-making to improve their quality of life and fight against poverty.
“There are a lot of apartment buildings with large families. They need a place to go out, especially in winter, without being afraid of disturbing the neighbors, underlines David Sauvé, development agent at the Sports and Recreation Division. Families spend a whole day here. They bring their lunch. »
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The fun space
For parents and their children, the 4C becomes a refuge where you can play, study quietly, or just enjoy the free Wi-Fi. For people who live alone, the place helps break the isolation.
In collaboration with the Maison de Quartier organization, the 4C has five “third places”, or modular “citizen spaces” where people can come and go as they please to appropriate the space according to their needs. One is playful, the other creative. There is also a relaxation room, and the piece de resistance: the Agora.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Julie Duchesne, coordinator of the Neighborhood House, in the creative space
“We offer a gathering point for residents of the neighborhood. We want to facilitate meetings to break the loneliness, but also to offer people from the same family the opportunity to spend a pleasant time together,” says Julie Duchesne, coordinator of the Neighborhood House.
Getting out of the house feels good! “Paint with your children without dirtying the kitchen,” she illustrates.
-
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Isn’t this relaxing room for reading or studying inviting?
-
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Maria Nkusa Alexandre entrusts her seven-month-old baby to the daycare run by the Concertation-Femmes organization. “It helps me a lot, because I’m alone at home. »
-
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
One of the meeting rooms that can be rented.
-
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
A music room
1/4
When we think of a community center, images of a dilapidated church basement may pop into our minds. This is not the case with 4C.
“The fact that it is beautiful and bright adds to the desire to come. It’s not like a community center basement,” illustrates Imene El-Mohri, communications officer at CLIC in Bordeaux-Cartierville.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Imene El-Mohri works for CLIC de Bordeaux-Cartierville, one of the organizations that have taken up residence at 4C. There is also Concertation-Femmes, which offers daycare and French courses.
The latter could not better embody the fact that the 4C is a living environment. In addition to attending it, she works there and her son will soon go to one of the two early childhood centers (CPE) under construction. “I spend a lot of time here. Make sure I sign up for Pilates class! “, she says.
“This is what we wanted for our citizens: for them to have different experiences here,” rejoices Dominique Taillon.
A tempting menu at the bistro
During our visit to the Agora, whose window overlooks a collective garden, two women from the northern suburbs were having a coffee before a knitting class. Others praised chef Widby Previlon’s fusion menu, especially her fried chicken waffle.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Volunteer Édouard Kfoury
In the collective kitchen, volunteer Édouard Kfoury, 95, was refining mushrooms. He lost his wife 12 years ago after 42 “wonderful” years, he told us. Every evening when he comes home, he misses her, he said, taking out a photo of his beloved from his wallet. “I’m better off here than walking around in circles at home. I want to meet people,” says the man who goes swimming at the Cartierville YMCA after his volunteering.
Near the Agora, there is also the Cartier Émilie thrift store, a tool library and an eco-responsible boutique.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The thrift store also has an online store at www.cartieremilie.com.
The most grandiose room is the old chapel, designed by the sculptor and painter Charles Daudelin, which has been transformed into a performance hall. You can admire stained glass windows by Marcelle Ferron. “The room is a work. We wanted to respect the heritage of the building,” emphasizes Dominique Taillon, drawing our attention to the old confessionals.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Dominique Taillon
The 4C has not finished impressing its neighborhood, since the library has not yet been built, while the work for the CPE is finishing. “We can’t wait for the children to arrive,” enthuses Dominique Taillon. It will be even more dynamic. »
Visit the Cartierville Cultural and Community Center page
Consult the program of the Charles-Daudelin room