Pointe-Claire
Pointe -Claire is a city in the southwest of the Canadian province of Quebec. It is located on the Île de Montréal west of Montreal, has an area of 18.88 km ² and has 30,790 inhabitants ( 2011).
Geography
Pointe -Claire is located in the west of the Île de Montréal on the north shore of Lake Saint- Louis, in the region of West Iceland. The municipality is bordered to the west by Beaconsfield, in the northwest of Kirkland, on the north by Dollard -Des Ormeaux and on the east by Dorval. The city center of Montreal is about 18 kilometers away.
History
The development of Pointe -Claire began in 1698 with the clearing of the forest for agricultural purposes. 1713 followed by the establishment of a parish after smaller settlements had arisen. 1854, the autonomous municipality of Saint -Joachim -de- la- Pointe -Claire was established that the shorter term Pointe -Claire introduced in 1911. After the opening of a railway line of the Grand Trunk Railway began a noticeable growth, with the majority of the population was mostly in English soon. Around the turn of the century was Pointe -Claire is a popular destination for weekend getaways and short breaks; the then established hotels no longer exist, however. Extensions of the township were made in the years 1889, 1911 and 1958.
On 1 January 2002 27 municipalities were merged on the island of Montreal. Especially in communities with a high proportion of English speakers was stirring resistance, since this measure was ordered by the provincial government of the separatist Parti Québécois. As of 2003, the Parti libéral du Québec, the government and promised to make the municipal mergers reversed. On 20 July 2004 referendums were held in 22 former municipalities. In Pointe- Claire 90.0 % of eligible participants were in favor of the separation. The community was re-established on 1 January 2006, but was forced to cede to the Association of Municipalities numerous competencies.
Population
According to the 2011 census counted 30,790 inhabitants Pointe -Claire, which corresponds to a population density of 1630.8 inh. / Km ². 52.8 % of the population reported English as the main language, the proportion of French was 22.1 %. As a bilingual ( French and English) is designated 2.1%, to other languages and multiple responses accounted for 23.0 %. Among the most important non-official main languages were Chinese (3.4% ), Italian ( 2.1%), Spanish ( 1.7%) and Arab ( 1.5%). Only 25.5% spoke English, only French 4.1%. In 2001, 51.2 % of the population were Roman Catholic, 28.5 % Protestant, 2.9 % Orthodox and 11.8 % no religious affiliation.
Transport and the economy
Two highways intersect the city area at a distance of about two kilometers, the Autoroute 20 between Montreal and Toronto, as well as the Autoroute 40 toward Ottawa. Important cross connections are the Boulevard Saint -Jean and the Boulevard des Sources in Pierrefonds - Roxboro direction. The city has three railway stations on the main railway line Montreal - Toronto ( Valois, Pointe -Claire, Cedar Park ); it operate AMT commuter trains from Montreal station Lucien- Vaudreuil - Dorion L'Allier after. Several bus lines of the Société de transport de Montréal establish connections with neighboring communities.
On both sides of the Autoroute 40 extends a broad industrial and commercial zone with dozens of companies. Also there, Fairview Pointe -Claire, one of the largest shopping centers located on the Île de Montréal with over 200 shops.
Personalities
- Louis Leblanc (* 1991), ice hockey player
- Britta Knöller (* 1975), a film producer
- Bryan Moody (born 1972 ), badminton player
- Krista Sutton (born 1970 ), actress
- Rhian Wilkinson ( b. 1982 ), football player