Chambly, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Chambly is a city in southwestern Quebec
, Canada
, about 25 km (15.5 mi) to the south east of Montreal
.
in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu
, at 45°27′00"N 73°17′27"W.
Samuel de Champlain
passed through the area that came to be the site of the town of Chambly, QC, in 1609., when he wrote the following in his journal:
The College of Chambly was chartered on March 21, 1835 in Lower Canada.
Fort Chambly
Chambly is home to the massive Fort Chambly
, built with local stone between 1709 and 1711 in the style of Vauban
's classic French fortifications. It was built at the mouth of a large basin, on the site of successive wooden forts dating back to 1665. Fort Chambly
was the largest in a series of fortifications on the shores of what was known as the Iroquois River (later known as the Chambly River, finally becoming the Richelieu River
in the nineteenth century). Originally called Fort Saint-Louis, it soon came to be known by the name of its first commanding officer, Jacques de Chambly
, to whom the surrounding seigniory was granted in 1672. It was intended to protect New France
in general (and Montreal
in specific) from attack from hostile natives and the English. Today, the fort is run by Parks Canada
as a National Historic Site, and houses a museum and interpretive center, and hosts historical re-enactments of military drills (as well as a number of contemporary cultural events).
A small local population clustered around the fort, and the entire area eventually became known as Chambly as well.
, a National Historic Site run by Parks Canada
. It was built in 1843 to bypass several kilometers of successive Richelieu River
rapids between the towns of Chambly, QC, and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Part of a series of waterways connecting the Saint Lawrence River
and New York City
, Chambly Canal
was built to facilitate commercial traffic between Canada
and the United States
.
Trade dwindled after World War I
, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels. Today the canal is enjoyed by tourists and more than 7,000 pleasure boats in the summer, and ice skaters in the winter.
The St-Joseph of Chambly church is located at 164 Martel street. It was built between 1880 and 1881. The parish was founded in 1665.
The population as of the Canada 2006 Census
was 22,608. Although mostly populated today by French Canadians, Chambly has long had a vibrant English citizenry.
Population trend
(Source: Town of Chambly website)
A small daily news sheet called Chambly Matin also maintains a journalistic presence on the internet reporting on local issues.
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...
, about 25 km (15.5 mi) to the south east of 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...
.
Geography
It sits on the Richelieu RiverRichelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in the Regional County Municipality of La-Vallée-du-Richelieu
La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec
La Vallée-du-Richelieu is a Regional County Municipality in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It surrounds the Richelieu River as the river makes its way from Lake Champlain in the United States north to the Saint Lawrence River northeast of Montreal at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec...
, at 45°27′00"N 73°17′27"W.
History
People have lived in Chambly since the 17th century, but Chambly was not incorporated as a city until 1965.Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
passed through the area that came to be the site of the town of Chambly, QC, in 1609., when he wrote the following in his journal:
The College of Chambly was chartered on March 21, 1835 in Lower Canada.
Fort ChamblyFort ChamblyFort Chambly is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River....
Chambly is home to the massive Fort ChamblyFort Chambly
Fort Chambly is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River....
, built with local stone between 1709 and 1711 in the style of Vauban
Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
's classic French fortifications. It was built at the mouth of a large basin, on the site of successive wooden forts dating back to 1665. Fort Chambly
Fort Chambly
Fort Chambly is a historic fort in the Canadian La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec. The fort is designated as a National Historic Site. Fort Richelieu was part of a series of five forts built along the Richelieu River. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River....
was the largest in a series of fortifications on the shores of what was known as the Iroquois River (later known as the Chambly River, finally becoming the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in the nineteenth century). Originally called Fort Saint-Louis, it soon came to be known by the name of its first commanding officer, Jacques de Chambly
Jacques de Chambly
Jacques de Chambly was from a French military background and became a seigneur in the New World and a governor of Acadia.Chambly's arrival in New France took place in 1665 when he arrived as a captain in the Carignan-Salières Regiment. He immediately was in charge of the construction of Fort...
, to whom the surrounding seigniory was granted in 1672. It was intended to protect New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in general (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...
in specific) from attack from hostile natives and the English. Today, the fort is run by Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
as a National Historic Site, and houses a museum and interpretive center, and hosts historical re-enactments of military drills (as well as a number of contemporary cultural events).
A small local population clustered around the fort, and the entire area eventually became known as Chambly as well.
Chambly Canal
Chambly is also known for the Chambly CanalChambly Canal
The Chambly Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada in the Province of Quebec, running along the Richelieu River past Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Carignan, and Chambly. Building commenced in 1831 and the canal opened in 1843. It served as a major commercial route during a time of heightened trade...
, a National Historic Site run by Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
. It was built in 1843 to bypass several kilometers of successive Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
rapids between the towns of Chambly, QC, and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Part of a series of waterways connecting the Saint Lawrence River
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...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Chambly Canal
Chambly Canal
The Chambly Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada in the Province of Quebec, running along the Richelieu River past Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Carignan, and Chambly. Building commenced in 1831 and the canal opened in 1843. It served as a major commercial route during a time of heightened trade...
was built to facilitate commercial traffic between 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Trade dwindled after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and as of the 1970s, traffic has been replaced by recreational vessels. Today the canal is enjoyed by tourists and more than 7,000 pleasure boats in the summer, and ice skaters in the winter.
The St-Joseph of Chambly church is located at 164 Martel street. It was built between 1880 and 1881. The parish was founded in 1665.
Population
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 22,608. Although mostly populated today by French Canadians, Chambly has long had a vibrant English citizenry.
Population trend
| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 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... |
22,608 | 11.1% |
| 2001 Canada 2001 Census The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In... |
20,342 | 3.2% |
| 1996 Canada 1996 Census The Canada 1996 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 14, 1996. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 28,846,761... |
19,716 | 24.1% |
| 1991 | 15,893 | N/A |
| 1986 | 12,869 | N/A |
Language
Mother tongue language (2006)| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| French only | 20,605 | 91.82% |
| English only | 1,165 | 5.19% |
| Both English and French | 125 | 0.56% |
| Other languages | 545 | 2.43% |
Economy
Business
In 2004, Chambly's largest local employers were:- Les Aliments Cargill
- Kraft Canada inc.
- Parks CanadaParks CanadaParks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
- Marché Lambert et Frères inc. (IGAIGA (supermarkets)IGA is a brand of grocery stores active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store business model, IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them...
) - Métro Collin inc.
- Centre Jeunesse de la Montérégie
- Les Fibres J.C. inc.
- Bennett Fleet (Chambly) inc.
- Sapporo UnibroueUnibroueUnibroue is a brewery located in Chambly, Quebec, Canada that was started by Quebec native André Dion and Serge Racine. It was purchased by Sleeman Breweries Ltd. in 2004, which itself was taken over by Sapporo in 2006. The company was incorporated in 1993, exporting to the United States in...
inc.
(Source: Town of Chambly website)
- Le Centre Athlétique de Chambly (le CAC)
Media
Chambly is currently served by a local weekly newspaper called the "Journal de Chambly", first published in 1966.A small daily news sheet called Chambly Matin also maintains a journalistic presence on the internet reporting on local issues.
External links
- Town of Chambly website
- Fort Chambly page at Parks Canada website
- Chambly Canal page at Parks Canada website