Verdun, Quebec

Verdun is a borough ("arrondissement") of the City of Montreal, situated along the St. Lawrence River. Population (2001): 60,564. It consists of the former city of Verdun, Quebec, which was merged with the city of Montreal on January 1, 2002; Verdun did not hold a demerger referendum on June 20, 2004. Verdun was founded in 1671, making it one of Canada's oldest cities. In 1956, Île des Soeurs (Nuns' Island) was amalgamated with Verdun, which is on the Island of Montreal.

Although very close to downtown Montreal, it is separated from it by the Canal de l'Aqueduc. It is also located next to the Champlain Bridge, the main bridge from Montreal to the suburbs on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. On September 3rd, 1978, the Montreal Metro expanded to include Verdun.

Verdun is a predominantly working-class neighbourbood, the exception being Nun's Island. In the early part of the 20th century, it had a majority English-speaking population. It is now predominantly French-speaking. It is one of the few areas in Quebec to ban drinking establishments within its borders, although restaurants with bars are allowed.

Geography

Verdun is situated on the Island of Montreal southwest of downtown Montreal, south of Le Sud-Ouest (from which it is divided by the Canal de l'Aqueduc and Autoroute 15) and east of LaSalle. It includes the adjacent Nuns' Island (Île des Soeurs).

Infrastructure

Roads

Verdun is served by Quebec Autoroutes 15 and 20, which skirt the northern and eastern edges of its mainland portion and merge with Autoroute 10 on Nuns' Island. The island is connected to the Island of Montreal and the South Shore via the Champlain Bridge. The borough is served by the green line of the Montreal metro: Verdun, De L'Église, and LaSalle stations along with Jolicoeur station across the canal in Ville-Émard.

Wellington Street is a significant commercial avenue with a wide range of shops and boutiques. Other commercial streets include De L'Église Street and Verdun Street.

Health

Significant medical facilities in the borough include the Douglas Hospital, a McGill University research hospital in mental health, and the Verdun pavilion of the Centre hospitalier Angrignon.(The 2 hospitals that made up the Centre hospitalier Angrignon were separated back to individual hospitals a few years ago. Verdun General & Lasalle General.)

Parks and Recreation

Recreational facilities include the Verdun Auditorium, a hockey arena and concert hall, and the Verdun Natatorium. Verdun features parks with bicycle paths along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River and Canal de l'Aqueduc and through the wilderness area on the western end of Nuns' Island, and bicyclists can use the Champlain Bridge ice structure to access the South Shore and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

On January 25th, 2008 the QMJHL approved the sale of the St. John's Fog Devils to Montreal businessman Farrel Miller, who moved the team to Verdun. The Junior de Montreal will begin playing at the Verdun Auditorium, which is undergoing renovations, at the start of the 2008-09 season.

Government

Municipal

The current borough mayor is Claude Trudel.

The borough is divided into two districts:
* Champlain—L'Île-des-Soeurs
* Desmarchais-Crawford

Federal and provincial

The borough is in the following federal riding:

*Jeanne-Le Ber

And in this following provincial electoral district:

*Verdun

ee also

* Boroughs of Montreal
* Districts of Montreal
* Municipal reorganization in Quebec

External links

* [http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/url/page/arr_ver_en/accueil Borough website]

Canadian City Geographic Location
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Center= Borough of Verdun
East="Saint Lawrence River, "Brossard, Quebec"'
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South="Saint Lawrence River"