Montreal West, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Montreal West is a town in southwestern Quebec
, Canada
on the Island of Montreal
. On January 1, 2002 it, along with its neighboring suburbs of Côte Saint-Luc
and Hampstead
, was merged into a borough of the City of Montreal
to be known as Côte-Saint-Luc—Hampstead—Montréal-Ouest, though 97% of the town population voted against the merger. The population voted on June 20, 2004 to demerge and Montreal West was re-established as a town on January 1, 2006.
Montreal West is a small, close-knit suburban community made up primarily of single family dwellings. The town is largely composed of young families, and has a total population of 5,184, as of the 2006 census
. The town's area is 1.6 km². About 66% of the population of Montreal West speak English
as their first language
.
The core business area of Montreal West is located on Westminster Avenue between Milner and Curzon. It consists exclusively of small, non-franchised businesses.
It terms of services, the town has its own public works division, a fire station, a community centre (named after former town mayor John A. Simms), and a Town Hall.
1898 - Charles McClatchie
1899 - B.W. Grigg
1900 - J.J. Kirkpatrick
1901 - Walter C. Flyfe
1902 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1903 - C.C. Ballantyne
1904 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1905 - William Smithson Lingley
1906 - J.J. Kirkpatrick
1908 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1909–1910 - C.J. Davies
1911–1927 - James Ballantyne
1927–1935 - Harry Aird
1935–1943 - James R. Pearson
1943–1948 - Robert Hope Ross
1948–1954 - George W. Hodgson
1954–1963 - Forest Norman Wiggins
1963–1965 - Everett Charles Kirkpatrick
1965–1973 - Robert Arthur McQueen
1973–1977 - Alistair Reekie
1977–1989 - Roy D. Locke
1989–2001 - John A. Simms
2002–2005 - Part of the city of Montreal
2006–2009 - Campbell Stuart
2009-Present- Beny Masella
and Lachine
. The riding is known as Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine
and its Member of Parliament is New Democrat
Isabelle Morin
.
Provincially, Montreal West again shares a riding with Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The riding is known as Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
and its Member of National Assembly
is Liberal Kathleen Weil
.
language used at work (2006)
(ranked 39th overall in 2005 by the Fraser Institute
). It also has two Anglophone elementary schools, Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School and Edinburgh Elementary School which offers French immersion
. These schools are part of the English Montreal School Board
.
In terms of libraries, the town has a children's library located in each of the above-mentioned elementary schools. Another is located in Royal West Academy. A library for all age groups is located on Westminster Avenue.
bus lines. Each of these connects to a corresponding Montreal Metro
(subway) station. The Montreal West Train Station
also services the area. Trains that run through this station connect passengers to downtown Montreal on one end, and three different routes heading away from the city at the other end.
(Montreal West United Church http://www.mwuc.org), one is Anglican
(St. Philip's Church), and the final is Presbyterian
(Montreal West Presbyterian Church). The Montreal West United Church also rents space to a Pentecostal
service (Overcomers Assembly).
In some years, there have been water fights between sidelined residents and members of the parade (mainly the swimming pool float). Water fights during these years have seen water balloon
s and super soaker
water guns, as well as the odd hose drawn from a house. Organizers have tried to minimize these activities in recent years so as not to detract from the parade itself, with varying success.
Following the parade, residents converge on Strathern Park for a giant picnic/BBQ. Many children's games and activities go on at the park, as well as in the nearby Percival park. The final event of the evening is the fireworks, which take place around 10pm at Hodgson Field.
musicians. In the late evening, a large bonfire is held in the centre of the park.
head coach Toe Blake
. The town also has an indoor ice skating rink, clay tennis courts, and a public swimming pool.
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...
on the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
. On January 1, 2002 it, along with its neighboring suburbs of Côte Saint-Luc
Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec
Côte Saint-Luc is a mostly residential city in Quebec, Canada, located on the Island of Montreal. The English version of this toponym is "Saint Luke's Slope".-History:...
and Hampstead
Hampstead, Quebec
-History:The Town of Hampstead was founded in 1914. It was designed to be an exclusive garden city. There are no retail shops within municipal boundaries. Houses were assigned relatively large lots to allow space for trees and shrubbery. The town's roads were designed with curves in order to slow...
, was merged into a borough of the City 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...
to be known as Côte-Saint-Luc—Hampstead—Montréal-Ouest, though 97% of the town population voted against the merger. The population voted on June 20, 2004 to demerge and Montreal West was re-established as a town on January 1, 2006.
Montreal West is a small, close-knit suburban community made up primarily of single family dwellings. The town is largely composed of young families, and has a total population of 5,184, as of the 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...
. The town's area is 1.6 km². About 66% of the population of Montreal West speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as their first language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
.
The core business area of Montreal West is located on Westminster Avenue between Milner and Curzon. It consists exclusively of small, non-franchised businesses.
Politics and government
Municipal
The Town of Montreal West is served by its mayor, Beny Masella and four city councillors.- Julie Tasker-Brown (Public Security)
- Dino Mazzone (Finance and Administration)
- Joe Mckenzie (Public Works)
- Elizabeth Ulin (Recreation and Cultural Services)
It terms of services, the town has its own public works division, a fire station, a community centre (named after former town mayor John A. Simms), and a Town Hall.
List of mayors
1897 - William Smithson Lingley1898 - Charles McClatchie
1899 - B.W. Grigg
1900 - J.J. Kirkpatrick
1901 - Walter C. Flyfe
1902 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1903 - C.C. Ballantyne
1904 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1905 - William Smithson Lingley
1906 - J.J. Kirkpatrick
1908 - Edward J. Bedbrook
1909–1910 - C.J. Davies
1911–1927 - James Ballantyne
1927–1935 - Harry Aird
1935–1943 - James R. Pearson
1943–1948 - Robert Hope Ross
1948–1954 - George W. Hodgson
1954–1963 - Forest Norman Wiggins
1963–1965 - Everett Charles Kirkpatrick
1965–1973 - Robert Arthur McQueen
1973–1977 - Alistair Reekie
1977–1989 - Roy D. Locke
1989–2001 - John A. Simms
2002–2005 - Part of the city 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...
2006–2009 - Campbell Stuart
2009-Present- Beny Masella
Federal and provincial politics
The Town of Montreal West shares a federal riding with the Montreal neighbourhoods of Notre-Dame-de-GrâceNotre-Dame-de-Grâce
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce , also nicknamed NDG, is a residential neighbourhood of Montreal located in the city's west-end. It is one of five districts of the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce...
and Lachine
Lachine, Quebec
Lachine was a city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now a borough within the city of Montreal.-History:...
. The riding is known as Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997...
and its Member of Parliament is New Democrat
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
Isabelle Morin
Isabelle Morin
Isabelle Morin is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2011 election. She represents the electoral district of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine as a member of the New Democratic Party....
.
Provincially, Montreal West again shares a riding with Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The riding is known as Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (provincial electoral district)
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec.The riding was created in 1939 from parts of the former Westmount provincial electoral district. The riding was called Montreal-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce from 1939 to 1965 and...
and its Member of National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The 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...
is Liberal Kathleen Weil
Kathleen Weil
Kathleen Weil is a politician in the Canadian province of Quebec, who was elected to represent the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2008 provincial election...
.
Demographics
| Mother Tongue | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
3,430 | 66.3% |
| French French language French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts... |
745 | 14.4% |
| English and French | 45 | 0.9% |
| English and a non-official language | ~ | ~ |
| French and a non-official language | 20 | 0.4% |
| English, French and a non-official language | 10 | 0.2% |
| Italian Italian language Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia... |
330 | 6.4% |
| Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... |
60 | 1.2% |
| German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... |
50 | 1.0% |
| Mother Tongue | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Polish Polish language Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries... |
50 | 1.0% |
| Chinese | 45 | 0.9% |
| Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
45 | 0.9% |
| Arabic | 35 | 0.7% |
| Hebrew | 25 | 0.5% |
| Ukrainian Ukrainian language Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet.... |
25 | 0.5% |
| Yiddish | 25 | 0.5% |
| Greek Greek language Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;... |
20 | 0.4% |
| Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
20 | 0.4% |
language used at work (2006)
| Language | Population | Pct (%) | Anglo. | Franco. | Allo. | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 2,280 | 72.73% | 1,845 | 195 | 440 | 45 |
| French | 595 | 18.98% | 295 | 315 | 185 | 55 |
| Non official language | 15 | 0.48% | 0 | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| English and French | 250 | 7.97% | ||||
| Language | Population | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
4,080 | 78.92% |
| French French language French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts... |
645 | 12.47% |
| Both English and French | 85 | 1.64% |
| Other languages | 355 | 6.87% |
Education
Montreal West is notable for having Quebec's highest rated Anglophone public high school, Royal West AcademyRoyal West Academy
Royal West Academy is a public anglophone secondary school in Montreal, Quebec. Royal West has limited enrollment, and prospective students are only admitted after an entrance examination and interview. It is situated on Easton Avenue in Montreal West, but its students come from all parts of the...
(ranked 39th overall in 2005 by the Fraser Institute
Fraser Institute
The Fraser Institute is a Canadian think tank. It has been described as politically conservative and right-wing libertarian and espouses free market principles...
). It also has two Anglophone elementary schools, Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School and Edinburgh Elementary School which offers French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
. These schools are part of the English Montreal School Board
English Montreal School Board
English Montreal School Board is the largest English-language school board in Quebec. The EMSB is responsible for anglophone public schools in the centre and eastern sectors of Montreal Island. Public education in the western portion of Montreal Island is administered by the Lester B. Pearson...
.
In terms of libraries, the town has a children's library located in each of the above-mentioned elementary schools. Another is located in Royal West Academy. A library for all age groups is located on Westminster Avenue.
Public transportation
Montreal West is serviced by six Société de transport de MontréalSociété de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
bus lines. Each of these connects to a corresponding Montreal Metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
(subway) station. The Montreal West Train Station
Montréal-Ouest (AMT)
Montréal-Ouest is a commuter rail station on the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson, Blainville-Saint-Jérôme, and Candiac lines in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area. Montréal-Ouest is in Fare Zone 1, and this station has 20 parking spaces...
also services the area. Trains that run through this station connect passengers to downtown Montreal on one end, and three different routes heading away from the city at the other end.
Religious sanctuaries
Montreal West includes three medium-sized churches. One is UnitedUnited Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
(Montreal West United Church http://www.mwuc.org), one is Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
(St. Philip's Church), and the final is Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
(Montreal West Presbyterian Church). The Montreal West United Church also rents space to a Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
service (Overcomers Assembly).
Canada Day
Canada Day is the largest community event of the year in Montreal West. Residents organize a parade route that mainly runs down the main street of Westminster and ends at Strathern Park. Floats represented in the parade include organizations and clubs located in town, as well as some created personally by residents.Water balloon
A water balloon or water bomb is a latex rubber balloon filled with water. They are commonly used in water balloon fights and as a practical joke device.-History:...
s and super soaker
Super Soaker
Super Soaker is a brand of recreational water gun, first sold in 1990 by Larami and now produced by Hasbro under the Nerf brand. Invented by Lonnie Johnson on November 13, 1989, the first Super Soaker, the Super Soaker 50, was originally called the Power Drencher...
water guns, as well as the odd hose drawn from a house. Organizers have tried to minimize these activities in recent years so as not to detract from the parade itself, with varying success.
Following the parade, residents converge on Strathern Park for a giant picnic/BBQ. Many children's games and activities go on at the park, as well as in the nearby Percival park. The final event of the evening is the fireworks, which take place around 10pm at Hodgson Field.
Fête Nationale du Québec
Annually on June 23rd (the day before the actual holiday) there is a picnic at Davies Park, featuring music performed by QuébécoisFrench-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
musicians. In the late evening, a large bonfire is held in the centre of the park.
Garbage Bowl
The Garbage Bowl is a yearly tradition held every January 1, where men from Montreal West separate into two teams, the Northern Combines and the Southern Bombers, and play a football game in the frigid weather. Since 1950, the teams have suited up in pajamas with proceeds from donations, food, and commemorative pins going to charity.Parks and recreation
The town of Montreal West has a large number of neighbourhood parks and public spaces. They include: Dave Reid Park, Davies Park, George Booth Park, Hodgson Park, John A. Simms Park, Kirkpatrick Park, Memorial Park, Percival Park, Ronald Park, Roy D. Locke Park, Rugby Park, Sheraton Park, Strathearn Park and Toe Blake Park (which was named after former Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
head coach Toe Blake
Toe Blake
Hector "Toe" Blake, CM was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League .-Nickname:His nickname came out of his childhood for his younger sister was unable to pronounce his name...
. The town also has an indoor ice skating rink, clay tennis courts, and a public swimming pool.
Associations & clubs
- Art Etc.
- Montreal West Scout GroupScouting in QuebecScouting in Quebec has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Anglophone Scouting in Quebec:...
- Montreal West Girl Guides GroupScouting in QuebecScouting in Quebec has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Anglophone Scouting in Quebec:...
- Montreal West 50 Plus Travel Club
- Montreal West Horticultural Society
- Montreal West Operatic Society
- Montreal West Curling Club (MWCC)
- Founded in 1912, it is one of the oldest clubs in Quebec. It has over 300 members and has four sheets of curling ice.
- Montreal West Tennis Club
- 4 Clay courts
See also
- List of former boroughs
- Montreal MergerMontreal MergerAs with other large cities like New York City and Toronto, the legal geographic boundaries of Montreal have been reorganized to incorporate adjacent communities which are integral to its social and economic life.-Merger and demerger:...
- Municipal reorganization in QuebecMunicipal reorganization in QuebecThe most recent episode of municipal reorganization in Quebec, Canada, was undertaken in 2002 by the Parti Québécois Government of Quebec, headed by Premier Lucien Bouchard and his successor Bernard Landry....