Futur Montréal candidate Gulnar Mousa proposes transforming the abandoned Empress Theatre into a women's shelter and empowerment center

Montreal (Quebec), October 16, 2025 - After more than three decades of neglect, one of NDG's most iconic landmarks could be reborn—not as a performance venue, but as a sanctuary for women and children in need. Gulnar Mousa, Futur Montréal's candidate for borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN–NDG), has unveiled a bold and compassionate proposal to transform the Empress Theatre, located at 5560 Sherbrooke Street West, into a women's shelter and empowerment center—a new symbol of safety, dignity, and renewal for the borough.

From abandonment to empowerment
For over thirty years, the Empress Theatre, a rare Egyptian-style architectural gem, has stood as a silent witness to municipal neglect. Once a gathering place for arts and culture, it now stands abandoned, its boarded-up doors and dilapidated facade symbolizing inaction in the face of community needs.
“Enough is enough,” said Gulnar Mousa, candidate for CDN–NDG borough mayor. “For too long, this building has been deteriorating while hundreds of women in Montreal struggle to find safe refuge. We have the opportunity to transform an urban blight into a safe haven, a place where women can heal, rebuild, and regain their independence.”

A monument for a new cause
As part of the Imperial Reinvented project, Futur Montréal proposes to restore and redevelop the theatre into a modern, sustainable, and inclusive women's shelter and empowerment centre. This centre would offer: safe transitional housing for up to 40 women and children at a time; mental health, trauma support, and rehabilitation services provided by qualified professionals; training and professional integration programs to help women regain stability and autonomy; legal and immigration support for those facing complex situations; as well as community spaces such as a café, a therapeutic garden, and an art studio, reconnecting the Empress Theatre with the NDG community.
This project embodies a perfect balance between heritage preservation and social progress, giving this historic building a profoundly human mission.

Rebuilding hope from the foundations
Futur Montréal plans to make this project a reality through a partnership between the provincial government, private foundations, and community organizations. The party believes that a combination of civic leadership and philanthropic support can make this transformation possible. To engage residents, the campaign will launch an initiative called "Adopt a Brick – Build Its Future," allowing Montrealers to contribute directly to the restoration by symbolically sponsoring portions of the project.
“This isn’t just about a building,” Mousa said. “It’s about our collective values: compassion, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves safety and hope. If elected, I will work directly with City Hall and the Quebec government to make this project a priority. Building this shelter isn’t an option; it’s a necessity.”
More than a refuge, a vision statement
The Reinvented Imperial is not just a social project; it is a statement about the city Montreal aspires to be: a city that puts its heritage at the service of progress.

“This initiative perfectly reflects what Futur Montréal stands for: action, inclusion, and renewal,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Futur Montréal. “Gulnar’s proposal is a shining example of leadership rooted in empathy and concrete results. We believe NDG deserves this transformation, and with the necessary political will, it can become a reality.”
Futur Montréal party leader Jean-François Kacou added: “I am proud to see candidates like Gulnar proposing projects that directly touch the heart of our communities. This is exactly the type of initiative that demonstrates the difference Futur Montréal can make, transforming forgotten places into spaces of hope, dignity, and belonging. Her proposal embodies the compassion and courage our city needs.”
A future of compassion and solidarity
Once completed, the Empress Women's Shelter and Empowerment Centre could accommodate up to 40 women and children at a time and provide support to more than 500 people per year through its housing, psychological support, and social reintegration programs. This project would create local jobs in construction, social services, and management, while revitalizing a historic heritage site into a living monument of resilience and hope. It could also serve as a model for other Montreal boroughs looking to breathe new life into their underutilized buildings by transforming them into centers of social progress.
About Futur Montréal
Futur Montréal is a municipal political movement dedicated to building a modern, inclusive, and forward-looking city. Through pragmatic solutions and community-centered leadership, Futur Montréal aims to empower citizens and deliver concrete results in the areas of housing, infrastructure, equity, innovation, and social justice. Media Contact
Email: info@futurmontreal.com
Phone: 1 800 868-6118
www.futurmontreal.com