Montreal DistrictsLachine District
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Lachine History Quebec |
The Lachine district and borough as we know it today emerged between 1912 and 1916.
The increase in its population and the development of its commercial activity became constant around that time.
The added value of being established in the sector has always been confirmed by the heavy traffic on the Canal Lachine Montreal and by the construction of the Montreal and Lachine Railroad. Both brought industrial rise and residential development to the territory. The structure still intact of the Canadian Car and Foundry once established in Ville Saint-Pierre, a small working town, enables us to seize the colossal scale of the workshops of the old industrial days.
Over the last decade of the 20th century, as Montreal experienced a quiet renaissance, the community of the Lachine district began to re-emerge. The biggest impact of this renaissance having been the restoring of public access to the Canal Lachine Montreal as a wonderful urban amenity.
The comfortable residences built in front of the Lake Saint-Louis at the beginning of the 20th century and the old houses on St-Joseph still offer exceptional sceneries and a privileged neighborhood.
In the same year as the reopening of the Canal, that is in 2002, plans were unveiled to redevelop what remained of the Redpath industrial complex between St-Patrick and the Canal. By October 2007 the last two phases of the Redpath Lofts where completed, having already scored as finalists for the Awards of Excellence 2007 of the Ordre des architectes du Québec.
The Canal gave the Lachine district its particular uniqueness. Since its creation, the Canal has always been the vital centre of the territory.
This is the reason why the old vitality generated by the passage of the ships and the sailors, the industrial development, the demographic rise and the economic and social strength all declined after the closing of the Canal.
In 1959, the Canal with its 150 years old and irremediably obsolete installations was definitely closed and replaced by the St-Lawrence Seaway.
Quickly the Canal became a dark stain across what some called Canada's poverty capital. "Too dirty for recreation, too obsolete for major shipping and too marginalized for industry," wrote journalist Patrick Lejtenvi in 2002, "the Canal became a toxic, open-air ditch". In an equally colourful turn of phrase, Deverteuil reports that by 1991, "abandoned factories lined the Canal like rotting corpses".
The Canal was partially closed to navigation in 1959, completely closed in 1970, and reopened in 2002 for a commemorative and entertaining revitalization. The Canal is now opened to pleasure boating and is embraced by a still expanding linear park. The biggest impact having been the restoring of public access to the Canal Lachine Montreal as a wonderful urban amenity.
The cornerstone for the St-Andrews United Church originally built for a Scots Presbyterian congregation that was started in 1818, was laid in 1832, five years before Victoria became queen and 35 years before the Canadian confederation.
It still stands on St-Joseph, between 15th and 16th Avenues. The St-Andrews United Church is a small church, but a very beautiful one. There's a lot of simplicity about it.
The neo-Gothic building was designed by John Wells, the same architect responsible for the Bank of Montreal on Place d'Armes. John Grant, the agent for the North West Co., the fur-trading concern, donated the land for the church and for its cemetery. In 1930, Ozias Leduc with the touch of his master’s hands decorated the interior of the Église des Saints-Anges Gardiens also on St-Joseph.
In a few months, its creative genius generated tens of angels, archangels and cherubs for the glory of God. After seven months of work, in January 1931, Ozias Leduc signed the decoration of the church. During more than 25 years, the parishioners were able admire this significant testimony of the sacred art of Quebec.
But his work was not to be eternal. In less than three decades regrettable repaints completely transformed the paintings, covering whole surfaces and transforming the aspect of the celestial creatures.
If certain of the religious decors painted by this artist have been protected, it is not the case at the Église des Saints-Anges Gardiens where repaints deteriorated the paintings. The pictures painted by Ozias Leduc had a priceless value.
A Place for Strolling One bus straight to Vendôme.
The Promenade Père Marquette and Parc René Lévesque, and the Canal Bike Path are wonderful Lachine district resources used by cyclists, runners, skaters and walkers for both recreation and serious training.
Lachine district has a lovely boulevard called St-Joseph that meanders along the water. St-Joseph offers many beautiful parks, a bicycle path, places to rent bicycles, pedal boats, canoes and kayaks, a public market - the Marché de Lachine, and several museums.
You can always find a place to eat along St-Joseph. There are several restaurants between 16th and 19th Avenues. They offer Mexican, Japanese or Italian cuisine and, in some of them, you can go for a meal and a drink or for just a drink. Many feature outdoor terraces.
The Path along the canal also offers the Musée plein air in the René Levesque Park. The "Musée" exhibits 50 sculptures, which makes it one of the largest parks of its kind in Canada.
In the winter, from December to March, five parks offer hockey and skating rinks as well as a “chalet” where you can put on your skates and warm up a little when necessary. Also in the Lachine district, the Maison LeBer LeMoyne features historical and archaeological exhibitions as well as contemporary art exhibitions. Some of the activities and workshops are intended for families with young children.
Thank you for visiting Lachine District.
More to come soon.
Lachine Borough / Local Street Map of the Borough (PDF)
Web Sites We Like
Cybermuse
Great Lakes St-Lawrence Seaway System
Histoire Québec
Industrial Architecture of Montreal
La France en Amérique / France in America
Les marchés publics
Les Sulpiciens de la province canadienne
Montreal Neighborhoods: St-Henri
Network of Large Parks
Mysteries of Canada
Ordre des architectes du Québec
Orgues au Québec / Organs in Quebec
Parks Canada
Sherlock - La banque d'information municipale
STM Montreal
Tourismes Montréal
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The North West Company
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