More than a half a century ago, the West Island was just beginning the transformation from sleepy borough to thriving community. Tucked away in the heart of Beaurepaire Village, The Hub has been a fixture of the West Island landscape since 1948. Local historians credit original owner and entrepreneur Mel Carter for the postwar development of the village shopping area. It was 1948 when he and his associate, Bill Boxell, bought the land and built the store from the ground up, even digging their own well.