Reflections on Saint-Henri (A community in transition)

Saint-Henri (South-West Montreal) is a neighbourhood in transition. Like many neighbourhoods that have gentrified, Saint-Henri personifies memories, nostalgia, pride, and the differences between these various factors. On one hand, it’s wonderful to see an urban neighbourhood modernizing and becoming more alive; on the other, residents who have called Saint-Henri home through good and bad years are suddenly faced with tax increases and more expensive lives. This reality is imposed on them. Like it or not, their environment is transforming. Local businesses personify the evolving character of Saint-Henri. They have come to represent both the heritage, and the new spirit of a community in transition, and as such, have become the touch-point for protest, often being smashed over night.