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Published on : December 13 2018
Last modified on : July 09 2025
Alert submitted by: Frances Foster and Patricia Lucas
The Gair Company Canada was the original owner of this former munitions factory located at 6530 – 6574B Waverly Street, at the corner of Beaubien. It is a unique example of a structure featuring sawtooth roofs, a clerestory, and massive wooden beams. The architecture of this building reflects a bygone era, and this heritage must be preserved.
The former Gair building is also significant due to its connection to the vital contribution of women who worked there in support of Canada’s war effort. It is part of the distinctive industrial heritage of the Marconi-Alexandra sector, which is now under threat from gentrification. This rare building should become an integral part of our community and collective heritage. A full assessment of its historical value must be undertaken as soon as possible.
Édifice Gair
According to the property assessment roll, the buildings on Waverly are associated with 153–155 Beaubien West and are believed to have been constructed in 1911. Until the 1920s, the site was occupied by Canadian Explosives Limited. It later became home to several companies involved in the manufacturing of cardboard packaging boxes.
A 1941 article in La Presse described Shipping Containers Limited as a very modern facility:
“The production system in use is of the so-called ‘straight-line’ type, all on one floor, and is specially designed to handle both large and small orders with minimal time loss, as there is a complete production line for each type of order. Of particular interest is the paper warehouse, the only one of its kind in Canada; incidentally, there are only three others in the world using this new method of handling paper rolls—two in the United States and one in England, the latter being a copy of the one at Shipping Containers Limited. A giant crane moves along the entire 185-foot length of the warehouse, carrying one-ton paper rolls. The company specializes in the use of Kraft paper for box manufacturing. There are between 150 and 200 employees, who, notably, contributed 100% to the War Savings campaign.”
Gair Company Canada Limited acquired the building in 1955, before being absorbed by Continental Can in 1959.
In more recent years, the section of the factory on Waverly was transformed into artist studios known as Ateliers de Belleville L.A.B. Like many artists in the Mile End and Rosemont neighborhoods—such as those formerly located in the old Catelli factory—they have been affected by real estate speculation.
The Belleville Studios were located in an area undergoing revitalization and greening, particularly with the planned creation of Parc des Gorilles in 2021. This initiative is part of the PDUES (Urban Development Plan for Employment Areas) for the Marconi-Alexandra, Atlantic, Beaumont, and De Castelnau sectors.
In 2023, Ateliers Belleville relocated to the District Central on Legendre Street, having successfully acquired a new building. The Gair building is now leased to various businesses.
Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie
Urban Development
Private
Demolition
Company
Industrial
1915?
How do you see this Montreal site? What legacy has it left us? What future can we create for it? Where to start to get there? Who wants to participate in the project?
You have questions? Want to do more, but lack the information? Consult our toolkit to learn more about the heritage of the Montreal metropolitan area, the preservation mechanisms in place and possible actions.
