LaSalle, Quebec

LaSalle is a community in the Greater Montreal Region of Quebec, Canada. Of which, for quite a lengthy time was once a municipality following the town's inaugural foundation in 1912 until the classification as a borough of the city of Montreal during the 2002 amalgamation.All of which was a provincial enforcement requiring many other adjacent municipalities on the Island of Montreal to be become boroughs. The borough is located in the south-west portion of the Island of Montreal, residing along the Saint Lawrence river.

History

Named for the area's first seigneur and French explorer Robert René Cavelier de La Salle (born at Rouen, France in 1643, died in Texas in 1687). LaSalle came into existence as a municipality in 1845 and finally became the City of LaSalle in 1912. In 2002 it was annexed by the city of Montreal along with a number of other cities on the Island of Montreal.

Lachine Rapids are situated inside LaSalle territory. The name Lachine, which is also the name of the neighboring borough, stayed because in the French Regime period, LaSalle was actually part of the Lachine Parish. Before the creation of the Lachine Canal, the rapids had to be portaged on a trail called "Chemin LaSalle" (what is now the LaSalle Boulevard).

It is known for its many public schools, most noticeably l'École secondaire Cavelier-de-LaSalle, known as one of the top talent producing schools in the field of dance, song, and the home of two Montreal Alouettes cheerleaders. The other common public school in LaSalle is LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School, opened many years ago, home to many cultures.

Geography

LaSalle is bounded by five adjacent municipalities and borough's, these being Lachine towards the west, Verdun towards the south, the inner city neighborhood of Ville-Émard in correlation to the east Montreal West and the neighborhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce within the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce towards the north, the latter two being divided by Autoroute 10 as well as the Lachine Canal. All complemented by the shore of the Saint Lawrence River, specifically a portion of the river known as the Lachine Rapids.

Government

Federal and provincial elections

The entire borough is located within the federal riding of LaSalle—Émard. The LaSalle—Émard riding is represented by former city councillor Lise Zarac.

Provincially, most of the borough constitutes the electoral district of Marguerite-Bourgeoys, with the northwest corner being part of Marquette. Marguerite-Bourgeoys was represented by Monique Jérôme-Forget until her 2009 resignation.

Borough government

The borough is divided into two districts.

• Cecil-P.-Newman (North)
• Sault-Saint-Louis (south)

The borough elects a borough mayor, two city councillors, and four borough councillors.

As of the November 1, 2009 Montreal municipal election, the current borough council consists of the following councillors:

Demographics

As per the 2001 census:

As indicated by the 2006 census, the City of Montreal's borough of LaSalle has a population of 74,763.This demonstrates a 1.05% increase from the population indicated by the 2001 census, in which was 73,983. Much like a substantial amount of other communities in the Greater Montreal area,LaSalle remains to be ethnically,racially and linguistically diverse.Visible minorities account for approximately 26% of the population,the largest and most notable groups being Black Canadians and South Asians.Both of these groups representing approximately 10% and 5% of the population respectively.Linguistically according to Language spoken predominantly at home, approximately 42% of LaSalle's residents speak French,37% speak English,18% speak neither French or English and nearly 2% speak both English and French.Belonging to a trend of Most Municipalities and Boroughs located on the island of Montreal, a great number of LaSallian's are fluently bilingual, having 60% of the population possessing the capability to speak both French and English.

The average value of an owned dwelling in LaSalle is $291,221,being a considerable amount higher than the provincial average of $182,399.Due to the high concentration of two-story apartments or duplex's, the majority of LaSalle's residents rent their dwelling rather than own it.Rented dwellings represent 60% of all inhabited dwellings.

Religious distribution

Due to a large number of residents being of European descent, The majority of LaSallian's are highly and homogeneously predominantly loyal to Christian faith.

Education

English Public Elementary Schools

• Orchard Elementary School
• Allion Elementary School
• Children's World Elementary School
• Saint Lawrence academy

Cityscape

Among the LaSalle's attractions are Angrignon Mall, the Lachine Canal and the Canal de l'Aqueduc, with their recreational areas; the Octagone library; the Parc Angrignon; the Île aux Hérons migratory bird refuge; the Saints-Anges archeological site; Des Rapides Park; and the Fleming windmill, which is used as the borough's symbol. Other major installations include the Cégep André-Laurendeau.

Economy

LaSalle's main economic engines include industries and agrifoods:

• Seagram's Distillery
• Fleischmann's Yeast
• Labatt's Brewery
• Angrignon Taxi
• Carrefour Angrignon
• Place Newman
• Place LaSalle

Infrastructure

LaSalle is served by the LaSalle commuter train station on the Delson-Candiac Line. Route 138 passes through the borough before crossing the Honoré Mercier Bridge to Kahnawake. Other important thoroughfares include LaSalle Blvd., Newman Blvd., La Vérendrye Blvd., Bishop Power Blvd., Champlain Blvd, Shevchenko, Lapierre, Centrale and Jean-Brillon.

Sports and recreation

LaSalle also has various sports teams, the football association (Warriors), the hockey association (Cougars),the baseball association (LaSalle Cardinals) and the soccer association (Lasalle Rapids) which remain popular. The Cardinals play their home games at Stade Éloi-Viau.

Notable residents, former and current

Notable People

• Marie-Élaine Thibert, pop singer

Notable Athletes

• Patrick Carpentier, race car driver
• Mike Krushelnyski, retired NHL hockey player
• Jeff Chychrun, retired NHL hockey player
• Miguel Duhamel, motorcycle driver
• Patrick Cote, retired NHL hockey player
• Luca Ciampini, QMJHL Hockey player
• Jacques Lemaire, retired NHL hockey player
• Mike O'Neill, retired NHL hockey player
• Daniel Guerard, retired NHL hockey player
• Emmanuelle Blais, CWHL hockey player
• Anthony Stewart, NHL hockey player

References

http://www.census2006.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=2466040&Geo2=PR&Code2=24&Data=Count&SearchText=lasalle&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=24&B1=All&Custom= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/ETO/Table1.cfm?T=501&Lang=E&GV=4&GID=2466040&Prov=24&S=1&O=D

External links

• Ville de Montreal - Lasalle

See also

• Montreal Merger
• Boroughs of Montreal
• Districts of Montreal
• Municipal reorganization in Quebec