Brigil has unveiled plans for a massive $1.3-billion mixed-use redevelopment project in downtown Gatineau, Que.

The proposed Espace Canevas project will transform the former Village Cartier shopping centre into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community, said Brigil.

If all goes according to plan, the project will include 2,600 residential units, 192,000 square feet of commercial space, and 182,000 square feet of office space. Designed to foster local economic growth, human connection, and active transportation, the new neighbourhood will feature green spaces, community areas, varied building heights, and infrastructure that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists.

“What we are proposing with the Espace Canevas community is the redefinition of our urban spaces for the benefit of the Gatineau-Ottawa population,” said Jessy Desjardins, vice-president of development at Brigil. “Reflecting the ambitions of the neighbourhood, the project offers a second life to the Village Cartier shopping centre and demonstrates the immense potential for transforming large commercial spaces to increase the number of available units in the context of a housing crisis.”

The Espace Canevas vision was refined through an immersion trip to Denmark in spring 2025.

“We held working sessions with architects, urban planners, and Canadian and Danish experts to identify concrete ways to improve the quality of life for the population within real estate projects,” Desjardins said. “We return from these visits more motivated than ever, and Brigil intends to continue playing a leading role in redefining the social function of public spaces in the region.”

Brigil, founded in 1985 by philanthropist and Meritorious Service Medal recipient Gilles Desjardins, is a major real estate developer in the National Capital Region. The company has built more than 14,000 homes to date and plans to add 44,000 more over the next 15 years.

Pictured: Depiction of future Espace Canevas project in Gatineau, Que.

Image: CNW Group/Brigil