Bedford, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Bedford is a town located in the Montérégie
region of southern Quebec
, Canada
. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census
was 2,612. This small community is just a half hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington
and Montreal
, and is the home to southern Quebec's largest boy scout troop.
who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies
. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell
, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710-1771), an English politician and Secretary of State (1748-1751), and governor general of Ireland
from 1756 to 1761.
regional county municipality
, in the administrative region of Montérégie
.
The town, located 86 kilometres (53.4 mi) southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford
. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence
lowlands, at the beginning of the steep leading to the Appalachian Mountains
, the Rivière aux Brochets (Pike River) flows through the middle of the town, separating it into south and north parts.
About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776.
, curling
or figure skate
at the Centre sportif.
Montérégie
Montérégie is an administrative region in southwest Québec. It includes the cities of Boucherville, Brossard, Granby, Longueuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy, and Vaudreuil-Dorion....
region of southern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
was 2,612. This small community is just a half hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and is the home to southern Quebec's largest boy scout troop.
Origin of the name
The name "Bedford" could have been given by LoyalistsUnited Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, FRS was an 18th century British statesman. He was the fourth son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Howland of Streatham, Surrey...
, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710-1771), an English politician and Secretary of State (1748-1751), and governor general of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
from 1756 to 1761.
Geography
Bedford is part of Brome-MissisquoiBrome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, Quebec
- External links :* * *...
regional county municipality
Regional county municipality
The term regional county municipality or RCM is used in Quebec to designate one of 86 county-like political and geographic units. In most cases, they are also census divisions. Regional County Municipalities are a supralocal type of "Regional Municipality" and are still commonly referred to as...
, in the administrative region of Montérégie
Montérégie
Montérégie is an administrative region in southwest Québec. It includes the cities of Boucherville, Brossard, Granby, Longueuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy, and Vaudreuil-Dorion....
.
The town, located 86 kilometres (53.4 mi) southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford
Bedford (township), Quebec
Bedford is a township in the Canadian province of Quebec, located within the Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 736.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
lowlands, at the beginning of the steep leading to the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
, the Rivière aux Brochets (Pike River) flows through the middle of the town, separating it into south and north parts.
Population
Population trend| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,612 | 2.1% |
| 2001 | 2,667 | 2.9% |
| 1996 | 2,748 | 3.1% |
| 1991 | 2,665 | N/A |
Language
Mother tongue language (2006)| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 1,865 | 75.81% |
| English only | 495 | 20.12% |
| Both English and French | 45 | 1.83% |
| Other languages | 55 | 2.24% |
About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776.
Parishes
- Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Mitchels Parish
- Le frontere Perish
- The Anglican Parish of Bedford, Philipsburg and Farnham
Activities
Every year since 1828, at the beginning of August, the town holds its annual fair, the oldest of its kind in Quebec and the second oldest in Canada. One can play hockeyHockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
or figure skate
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
at the Centre sportif.
Schools
- École primaire et secondaire Monseigneur-Desranleau (French)
- École primaire du Premier Envol (French)
- Butler Elementary (English 1-7)
Notable people from Bedford
- Eric Henry Kemp (1908-1975) Mayor of Bedford in the 1950s.
- Rob Kemp (1972-), Radio Host. Weekdays 1-4pm. CHOM 977 FM Montreal
- Georges ThurstonGeorges ThurstonGeorge Thurston was a Quebec singer, author and composer and radio show host. He was known as Boule Noire since 1975 and worked in the music industry as a solo artist for nearly 30 years and as part of musical groups for 5 years.-Early years:Born in Bedford, Quebec, Thurston later moved to...
(1951-2007) a.k.a Boule Noire, R&B singer for 30 years. - Pierre ParadisPierre ParadisPierre Paradis is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec. He has represented Brome—Missisquoi in the National Assembly of Quebec since 1980 as a member of the Liberal Party...
(1950-), Member of National Assembly of QuebecNational Assembly of QuebecThe National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
for 25 years and former Cabinet Minister - Niamh Leonard (1992-) Official spokeswoman for Lychee Canada Inc.
- Dominic Messier (1974-), Toronto-based National Freelance Film Critic