In the past, the Square des Epinettes and the surrounding streets were covered in vines. White spruce (épinette blanche in French) was grown there, a pinot blanc grape variety from which the area may have taken its name. The establishment of the Gouin factories meant that the future Guy Môquet district would be a working class community until the early 1970s. The district became more middle class in the 1980s. It is still fairly lively thanks to the population of young, active executives.