Pierrefonds-Roxboro: The Western Tip of the Island With a Beach, Four Nature Parks and a REM on the Way

At the northwestern tip of Montreal Island, bordered by the Des Prairies River for 27 kilometres, the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro is the best-kept secret for families seeking space, nature and a genuine sense of community — while remaining within the boundaries of the City of Montreal.

With over 71,000 residents, four major nature parks (including the L'Anse-à-l'Orme, Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois-de-Liesse and Roxboro nature parks), a beach on Lac Saint-Louis, two commuter train stations, two public outdoor pools, complete English and French school infrastructure, and soon two Réseau express métropolitain (REM) stations — Pierrefonds-Roxboro is Montreal's most complete borough for those who value nature as much as services.

And yet, almost nobody talks about it. This guide is here to change that.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro offers some of the most accessible rents on Montreal Island, particularly for spacious units and houses.

Studio / bachelor (2½): $700 to $950 per month

1 bedroom (3½): $900 to $1,250 per month

2 bedrooms (4½): $1,100 to $1,550 per month

3+ bedrooms (5½+): $1,350 to $1,900 per month

Houses for rent: $1,800 to $3,000 per month depending on size and sector

According to RentCafe, apartments in Pierrefonds-Roxboro are available from $629 per month, with a wide range of units in the $900 to $1,500 range for two-bedroom units. These prices are among the lowest on the island for units that often include outdoor access, parking and greenery — a striking contrast with central neighbourhoods where the same budget buys a studio without a balcony.

The rental market includes a high proportion of single-family homes and semi-detacheds for rent, often with yards, double garages and basement entrances — features impossible to find at these prices elsewhere on the island.

No other Montreal borough can claim four nature parks directly within its territory. These natural spaces managed by the City of Montreal offer exceptional outdoor experiences.

Cap-Saint-Jacques nature park is Montreal's largest nature park, with an ecological farm, a beach, 25 km of forest trails, four-season outdoor activities and views of Lac Saint-Louis. The Cap-Saint-Jacques beach is one of the only public beaches accessible on Montreal Island.

L'Anse-à-l'Orme nature park covers 612 hectares of preserved natural habitat, with wetlands, meadows and trails for hiking and cycling, and exceptional biodiversity steps from residential neighbourhoods.

Bois-de-Liesse nature park encompasses 159 hectares of dense urban forest with trails, a tree house and educational activities for families. The park is accessible from several borough neighbourhoods and connected to the island cycling network.

Roxboro Island and Roxboro woodlands are more intimate green spaces that give the Roxboro sector its wooded, village-like character.

The Cap-Saint-Jacques beach, on the shores of Lac Saint-Louis within the nature park, is one of Montreal Island's most popular public beaches. It offers a supervised swimming area, beach services, water activities and a unique summer atmosphere for neighbourhood residents. For families, it's a recreational infrastructure with no equivalent at this price point in the region.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro is officially the only Montreal borough with a special status under Quebec's French Language Act — it is officially bilingual. This reality translates into an exceptional school infrastructure, with both French and English elementary and secondary schools, public and private, including Pierrefonds Community High School, Clearpoint Elementary, Collège Charlemagne and Collège Beaubois. It is one of the island's best-endowed boroughs for education, for both French and English-speaking families.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro already has two commuter train stations on the exo Vaudreuil-Hudson line: Roxboro-Pierrefonds and Sunnybrooke. These stations allow residents to reach Montreal's Gare Centrale by train. In addition, two future REM stations will be created in the borough as part of the Anse-à-l'Orme branch: Sunnybrooke station and Pierrefonds-Est station. These new REM connections, anticipated to open in 2026, will fundamentally transform borough mobility and connectivity with the rest of Greater Montreal.

Beyond the four nature parks, Pierrefonds-Roxboro has over 80 neighbourhood and community parks, two public outdoor pools, a cultural centre, a main library, active community centres and a renovated marina. Boulevard Gouin Ouest runs along the borough's northern waterfront its entire length, offering riverside properties with direct views of the Des Prairies River.

A little-known fact: Pierrefonds-Roxboro is home to Canada's largest housing cooperative. This unique cooperative, located along the Des Prairies River, offers a distinctive and affordable community housing model and reflects the borough's commitment to residential accessibility.

The opening of the REM's Anse-à-l'Orme branch, expected in 2026, is the most anticipated transit project in Pierrefonds-Roxboro's recent history. This branch will connect the borough to Montreal's Gare Centrale and the full REM network, including connections to the South Shore (Brossard) and Île-des-Sœurs. Sunnybrooke station will integrate with the existing train station, while Pierrefonds-Est station will be a new mobility hub for the borough's central sector.

The borough's marina has been renovated, contributing to the enhancement of the waterfront along the Des Prairies River. Ongoing investments are being made in the riverside infrastructure of the Sunnybrooke sector.

A solidarity fruits and vegetables public market operates in the Sunnybrooke sector, contributing to local food security and community life.

As with all zones around new REM stations, residential development projects are beginning to position themselves around the borough's future stations. Densification will be gradual and governed by municipal regulations.

The borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro has over 71,000 residents in a predominantly residential territory. It is one of Montreal's most family-oriented boroughs, with one of the highest proportions of young families with children in the city.

The borough is genuinely bilingual, with French and English-speaking communities that have coexisted harmoniously for decades.

The neighbourhood appeals primarily to:

- Young families seeking space, parks, good schools and community safety

- Families looking to access homeownership (houses still accessible)

- Outdoor enthusiasts: hikers, cyclists, swimmers, kayakers

- Bilingual professionals working in the West Island or Laval

- Residents seeking suburban quality of life with city services

Two stations serve the borough: Roxboro-Pierrefonds and Sunnybrooke. These stations allow residents to reach Montreal's Gare Centrale by commuter train, with regular departures during peak hours.

Several express bus routes link Pierrefonds-Roxboro's residential sectors to the nearest metro stations on the Orange and Green Lines, as well as to exo stations.

- Highway 40 (south of the borough): east-west link toward downtown (25–35 min) and the West Island

- Highway 13 (east of the borough): access toward Laval (bridge) and Highway 40

- Boulevard Gouin Ouest: local north-south riverside axis

- Montreal-Trudeau Airport: 20 to 25 minutes

The opening of the Anse-à-l'Orme branch in 2026 will be the most significant change for Pierrefonds-Roxboro in decades. It will offer residents a direct, rapid connection to downtown Montreal, the South Shore and Île-des-Sœurs, without requiring a car.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro is the borough families look for without always knowing it exists. A public beach on Lac Saint-Louis, four nature parks, Canada's largest housing cooperative, a complete bilingual school infrastructure, some of the island's most accessible rents and a REM arriving in 2026 — the picture is complete. For families wanting space, nature and a real neighbourhood life without sacrificing Montreal connectivity, Pierrefonds-Roxboro is the island's smartest choice right now.

Sources: Ville de Montréal, REM, exo, RentCafe, REALTOR.ca, Elite Real Estate Group, NextHome, Statistics Canada (2021)

Last updated: May 2026