ÃŽle Bizard
The Ile Bizard is an island in the southwest of the Canadian province of Quebec. It lies at the mouth of the Ottawa River in Lac des Deux Montagnes. From the southeast, Île de Montréal, it is separated by the Rivière des Prairies. The island is 22.77 km ² large and thus the fourth largest in the Hochelaga Archipelago. Since 2002 she is part of the metropolitan area of Montreal.
Description
Located on the Ile Bizard home to around 14,000 inhabitants. The covered area is focused on the eastern shore. Smaller settlements exist on the northern and north-western shore. Otherwise mint green spaces, forests and small lakes the landscape. There are three golf courses: Royal Montreal Golf Club, Golf Saint- Raphaël and Elm Ridge Country Club. In the north of the island lies the nature park, Bois -de- l'Île - Bizard, in the south shore area, a part of the Natural Park of Cap -Saint -Jacques. The Pont Jacques- Bizard leads over the Rivière des Prairies to the district of Sainte-Geneviève, a ferry connects with Laval. The main attraction is the church Built in 1843, Saint- Raphaël - Archange.
History
In the first decades of French colonial rule, the island still Île Bonaventure said. 1678 was Jacques Bizard, a Swiss officer from Bevaix in Neuchatel, awarded the basic rule of the island. The colonization of previously uninhabited island began in the first half of the 18th century, then, the term Ile Bizard prevailed.
The basic rule that the influential politician Denis- Benjamin Viger was last after several changes of ownership, was dissolved in 1855. It was replaced by the new self-governing commune of Saint -Raphaël -de- l'Île - Bizard. Until well into the 20th century, the island was dominated by agriculture, a highway near cared but boost their development. In 1995, the community received the city status and changed its name to L'Île- Bizard.
On 1 January 2002 merged L'Île- Bizard with the city of Montreal. Against the disposal of the provincial government merger came about a referendum. Although agreed on 20 June 2004, a majority for independence, but the necessary quorum (agreement of 35 % of all voters ) was not reached. Since 1 January 2006, L'Île- Bizard and Sainte -Geneviève together form the Arrondissement L' Ile Bizard -Sainte - Geneviève.