Pointe-Claire


Pointe-Claire is a suburb of Greater Montreal in Quebec, Canada. Pointe-Claire is largely residential in character, but is also the site of much economic activity, such as retail activity, light manufacturing, various corporate offices, and a hospital. The population is about 31,000 and about 7,000 people are employed there.

History

Pointe-Claire was first described by Nicolas Perrot in his account of 1669, and the name Pointe-Claire appeared on a map as early as 1686. Although Samuel de Champlain canoed through the area in 1613, he reported no village or dwelling visible. The toponym Pointe-Claire refers to the peninsula, or point, where the windmill, convent, and the Saint-Joachim de Pointe-Claire Church are sited. The point extends into Lake Saint-Louis and has a clear view of its surroundings.
The first grant of land under the seigneurial system was in 1684 to Pierre Cabassier, for a lot just east of Pointe Charlebois. Under the seigneurial system, the Sulpicians had to build a mill for the colonists, who in turn had to grind their grain there at a set fee.
In 1707, after the Great Peace of Montreal was signed in 1701, the Chemin du Roy from Dorval to the western tip of Montreal Island was opened having been ordered by intendant Jacques Raudot, and the parish was subdivided in three côtes: St. Rémy, St. Jean and St. Charles. Between côtes St. Rémy and St. Charles lay 33 lots. These were generally three arpents wide by 20 or 30 deep. Up to this time Pointe-Claire had only been accessible by boat.
In 1713 the seminary formed a parish on the land that now includes Pointe-Claire and much of the West Island, and in 1714 a church was built at the point, at the site of the present-day church. Up to that time the area was served by an itinerant missionary priest. Initially the church was called Saint-Francois-de-Sales, but it was renamed six months later to Saint-Joachim de la pointe claire. The church and presbytery, both built of stone, formed a fort about two arpents in area, surrounded by stakes. The construction was ordered by Governor Beauharnois out of fear of the Iroquois. The point was used as a stopover by voyageurs en route for the back country.
In 1728-9 the first lots were granted, near the fort, to a blacksmith and to a carpenter. By 1765 there were 783 residents, 74 lots owned by 35 individuals, and 19 houses, some built of stone, but most of wood.
In 1854 the municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire was defined, and the name eventually shortened to Pointe-Claire.
The Grand Trunk Railway built a line in 1855, linking Pointe-Claire to Montreal. This brought people, and with them property development in an area that up to then had been largely agricultural. It also improved the welfare of farmers by providing a ready market for their goods. Suburban development began in 1893 when Otto Frederick Lilly acquired land spanning Boulevard Saint Jean. He used his influence with the Canadian Pacific Railway to have a station added to the line at the end of Cedar avenue, which he also paved from there down to Lakeshore Road. Both sides of Cedar Avenue were built up by 1920. Provincial highway number 2 was built alongside the railway in 1940, following expropriation of property. This led to a move of much of the town from the south to the north of the highway, namely the town hall, recreation centre, police station, and fire station.
After the British North America Act of 1867 Pointe-Claire was included in the new federal riding of Jacques Cartier. In the election of the 7th of August, the men of Pointe-Claire elected the Conservative Guillaume Gamelin Gaucher.
In 1900 a major fire destroyed much of village. It was discovered in an uninhabited building around 02:00 on the morning of 22 May. The wind caused the fire to spread to surrounding houses. The only water supply was from village wells or carried in buckets from the river. A small two-wheeled hose reel and hand pump was the only village fire protection. Locals failed to put out the fire and asked for help from Montreal. Equipment was sent by train but did not arrive in time to help. The worst of the damage was on the rue de l'église. In all about 30 buildings were destroyed, including the post office, the town hall, and the residences of about 200 people.
From 2002-2006 there were municipal reorganizations across the province, which included a reorganization of Montreal, Pointe-Claire was merged into Montreal and became a borough. However, after political changes it was re-constituted as an independent city in 2006, along with a number of other boroughs.

Geography

The shoreline of Pointe-Claire along Lac Saint-Louis is at about 30 metres above sea level and rises along a fault by about 30 metres not far from shore, more steeply in the west. The eastern side has a soil rich in clay, while the western side is stonier with limestone strata. Pointe-Claire is bounded on the north by Dollard-des-Ormeaux, on the east by Dorval, on the south by Lac Saint-Louis, and on the west by Kirkland and Beaconsfield.
Pointe-Claire is entirely urbanised and developed. There are 38 public parks and green spaces with 5 baseball/softball diamonds, 26 playgrounds, 19 soccer pitches, 7 outdoor swimming pools, 24 tennis courts, 10 outdoor skating rinks, and five shoreline areas.
Large green spaces include:
The city has a large business and industrial park spanning both sides of Quebec Autoroute 40. The manufacturing sector is the largest provider of jobs in Pointe-Claire, with 7,005 employees or 23.7 percent of employment. Employment in manufacturing has been declining, while employment has been growing in healthcare and social services. Retail is the second biggest sector with 17.7 percent of the total. Major employers include: Future Electronics, Lakeshore General Hospital, Avon, Hewitt Équipement, City of Pointe-Claire, Lumen, Bell TV, and Epicor. Employers of more than 200 employees include: Réno-Dépôt, El Ran Furniture, Tyco Medical, Hudson's Bay Company, and FPInnovations. Companies headquartered in Pointe-Claire include Bouclair, Novacam Technologies, Odan Laboratories, The Canadian Salt Company Limited and Unidisc Music.

Demographics

The population in the 2011 census is 30,790, an increase of 2.1% from the previous census in 2006. Growth across Canada was 5.9%. The median age is 46.2, compared to 39.2 for Montreal. 84.8% of the population is aged 15 and over, the same as for Montreal. The area of Pointe-Claire covers 18.88 square kilometres giving a population density of 1,631 persons per square kilometre.
Pointe-Claire has 12,067 private dwellings occupied by usual residents. The change in private dwellings occupied by usual residents from 2006 was 0.1%. For Canada as a whole, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents increased 7.1%.
LanguagePop
Pct
Pop
Pct
Pop
Pct
Pop
Pct
Pop
Pct
English16,12557.08%16,47556.69%16 43555.01%16,12552.81%15,65050.71%
French6,65023.54%6,97023.98%6,68022.36%6,74522.09%6,63521.50%
Both English and French4301.525001.72%4801.61%6552.15%6602.14%
Other languages4,78016.92%5,11517.60%6,27521.00%6,52521.37%7,27023.56%

Education

The English-language Lester B. Pearson School Board runs two elementary schools: Clearpoint and St. John Fisher, and four high schools: John Rennie, Lindsay Place, St. Thomas and Horizon. In addition St. Edmund Elementary School and Beacon Hill Elementary School in Beaconsfield as well as Wilder-Penfield Elementary in Dollard-des-Ormeaux serve sections of the city.
The French-language Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys runs three primary schools: Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Pointe-Claire, and Saint-Louis, and one high school, the École secondaire Felix-Leclerc.

Government

The current mayor of Pointe-Claire is John Belvedere. There are eight city councilors.
Provincially, Pointe-Claire is in the Jacques-Cartier electoral district, along with Baie-D'Urfé, Beaconsfield, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, and Senneville. It is the only provincial electoral district in Quebec with an Anglophone majority. From 1973 to 1981 it was in the now-defunct Pointe-Claire electoral district.

Infrastructure

Municipal sports and leisure facilities include the Aquatic Centre, Bob Birnie Arena, Pointe-Claire Public Library, Stewart Hall Cultural Centre, the Sailing Base at Grande-Anse Park, near the Pointe-Claire Canoe Club. Private facilities also exist, such as the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club.
The Pointe-Claire Water Treatment Plant distributes an average of 65,000 m3 of potable water per day to a population of 87,248 people and approximately 1000 business and commercial users spread out in the city of Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Baie-D'Urfé, Kirkland, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Senneville.

Transportation

Pointe-Claire is served by three stations on Exo's Vaudreuil-Hudson line: Pointe-Claire station located at Donegani Ave. and Ashgrove Ave, Valois station located at Av. De-la-Baie-de-Valois and Donegani Ave., and Cedar Park station located on Donegani Ave. between Applebee Ave. and Aurora Ave. The city is also served by several bus routes operated by Société de transport de Montréal with a major terminal located at Fairview Pointe-Claire.
Starting 2023, Pointe-Claire will be served by a station on the Réseau express métropolitain rapid transit network.

Public Safety

Municipal bylaw enforcement and animal control are provided by the city's Public Security force. Police services are provided by the Montreal Police Service. Fire and rescue services are provided by the Montreal Fire Department. Emergency Medical Services are provided by Urgences Sante. Emergency management, such as response to storms and flooding, as well as emergency medical care at public events is provided by the Pointe Claire Volunteer Rescue Unit.