Beaconsfield, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Beaconsfield 2006 Population
19,194) is a municipality on the Island of Montreal
in Quebec
, Canada
. It is located on the north shore of Lake Saint-Louis
and is bordered on the west by Baie-D'Urfé
, on the north by Kirkland
and on the east by Pointe-Claire. It was incorporated in 1910 and is named in honour of Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
in the 1860s and 1870s and close confidant of Queen Victoria. It is part of Greater Montreal locally referred to as the West Island
.
With the amalgamation of the Island's 27 distinct municipalities on January 1, 2002, it was merged with neighbouring Baie-D'Urfé to create the borough of Beaconsfield–Baie-D'Urfé
, in the city of Montreal. On June 20, 2004 both municipalities voted to demerge and were re-established as separate cities on January 1, 2006.
The population of Beaconsfield is mostly English-speaking
. Most buildings in Beaconsfield are single-family home
s, with some townhouses and Montreal
-style apartment buildings. It may be characterized as a bedroom community. Beaconsfield is also home to a recreation centre that contains a pool
, an ice rink
and a gym
.
A wooded area, Angell Woods, occupies much of western Beaconsfield, and is the subject of a campaign to preserve it permanently as a green space.
The last Municipal Election was held on November 1, 2009, to replace mayors and councilors. Before that time, Bob Benedetti was the mayor.
, as well as a network of outdoor parks with numerous soccer fields and ice rinks for hockey
and skating
in the winter. The city also has two private yacht club
s on municipal land, Beaconsfield Yacht Club and Lord Reading Yacht Club.
Beaconsfield houses the Beaconsfield Bluefins, a competitive swim club that has trained athletes from the beginner to the national competition levels, in addition to the Lakeshore Panthers, who are usually among Quebec's top minor hockey league teams.
In 1975 the Beaconsfield Amateur Soccer Association boys' Under 10 soccer team was the first soccer team from the province of Quebec to win a National Championship. They travelled from Montreal to Winnipeg
to play the championship game and won 3–1. As late as the mid-1980s the match ball and poster of the team was on display in the recreation center across from City I and City II soccer fields.
Beaconsfield is also home to Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club (brfc.ca). BRFC is a member of the Fédération de Rugby du Québec (FRQ); they have teams in men's division A, Division A reserves and a junior team (18 and under), and starting this season, a women's senior and junior team.
Recently the club won the Division B championship two years in a row before being moved up to Division A rugby where they made it to the semifinals in their first season at that level.
train system, with two stations, Beaconsfield
and Beaurepaire
, on the Dorion-Hudson Line which ends in downtown Montreal
. The city is also served by Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
bus lines 200, 201, 211, 217, 221 and 261. Beaconsfield is also served directly by one major highway, Highway 20 (Autoroute 20)
with two exits in Beaconsfield, exit 45 at Avenue Woodland, and exit 48 at Boulevard St-Charles. Access to Beaconsfield is also possible from the highway Highway 40 (Autoroute 40)
, exit Boulevard St-Charles - south (Sud).
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
19,194) is a municipality on the Island of Montreal
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located on the north shore of Lake Saint-Louis
Lake Saint-Louis
Lake Saint-Louis, or in French , is a lake in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, adjoining the Island of Montreal at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers.The lake is bounded to the north and east by the Island of Montreal...
and is bordered on the west by Baie-D'Urfé
Baie-d'Urfé, Quebec
Baie-D'Urfé is a suburb located near to the western tip of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. After the amalgamation of the Island's 27 distinct municipalities, it was merged on January 1, 2002 with neighbouring Beaconsfield to create the borough of Beaconsfield–Baie-D'Urfé, in the new...
, on the north by Kirkland
Kirkland, Quebec
Kirkland is a town on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 20,491. It is named after Charles-Aimé Kirkland, a Quebec provincial politician....
and on the east by Pointe-Claire. It was incorporated in 1910 and is named in honour of Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1860s and 1870s and close confidant of Queen Victoria. It is part of Greater Montreal locally referred to as the West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
.
With the amalgamation of the Island's 27 distinct municipalities on January 1, 2002, it was merged with neighbouring Baie-D'Urfé to create the borough of Beaconsfield–Baie-D'Urfé
Beaconsfield–Baie-D'Urfé
Beaconsfield–Baie-D'Urfé is a former borough in the West Island area of Montreal, Quebec. It was composed of the municipalities of Beaconsfield and Baie-D'Urfé.Forced merger: January 1, 2002...
, in the city of Montreal. On June 20, 2004 both municipalities voted to demerge and were re-established as separate cities on January 1, 2006.
The population of Beaconsfield is mostly English-speaking
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Most buildings in Beaconsfield are single-family home
Single-family home
A single-family detached home, also called a single-detached dwelling or separate house is a free-standing residential building. It is defined in opposition to a multi-family dwelling.- Definitions :...
s, with some townhouses and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-style apartment buildings. It may be characterized as a bedroom community. Beaconsfield is also home to a recreation centre that contains a pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, an ice rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
and a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
.
A wooded area, Angell Woods, occupies much of western Beaconsfield, and is the subject of a campaign to preserve it permanently as a green space.
Government
The current mayor of Beaconsfield is David Pollock. The city is served by six councilors.- Michael Montagano (District 1)
- Karin Essen (District 2)
- Wade Staddon (District 3)
- Brian Ross (District 4)
- Roy Baird (District 5)
- Rhonda Massad (District 6)
The last Municipal Election was held on November 1, 2009, to replace mayors and councilors. Before that time, Bob Benedetti was the mayor.
Population
Population trend| Census | Population | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 19,194 | 0.6% |
| 2001 | 19,310 | 0.5% |
| 1996 | 19,414 | 1.0% |
| 1991 | 19,616 | N/A |
Language
Home language (2006)| Language | Population | Pct (%) |
|---|---|---|
| English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
10,155 | 67.40% |
| French French language French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts... |
4,460 | 23.39% |
| Both English and French | 555 | 2.88% |
| Other languages | 1,210 | 6.35% |
Sports and recreation
Beaconsfield maintains an indoor recreation complex which includes a swimming pool and hockey rinkHockey rink
An ice hockey rink is an ice rink that is specifically designed for ice hockey, a team sport. It is rectangular with rounded corners and surrounded by a wall approximately 40 inches high called the boards.- Name origins :...
, as well as a network of outdoor parks with numerous soccer fields and ice rinks for hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
in the winter. The city also has two private yacht club
Yacht club
A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to sailing and yachting.-Description:Yacht Clubs are mostly located by the sea, although there are some that have been established at a lake or riverside locations...
s on municipal land, Beaconsfield Yacht Club and Lord Reading Yacht Club.
Beaconsfield houses the Beaconsfield Bluefins, a competitive swim club that has trained athletes from the beginner to the national competition levels, in addition to the Lakeshore Panthers, who are usually among Quebec's top minor hockey league teams.
In 1975 the Beaconsfield Amateur Soccer Association boys' Under 10 soccer team was the first soccer team from the province of Quebec to win a National Championship. They travelled from Montreal to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
to play the championship game and won 3–1. As late as the mid-1980s the match ball and poster of the team was on display in the recreation center across from City I and City II soccer fields.
Beaconsfield is also home to Beaconsfield Rugby Football Club (brfc.ca). BRFC is a member of the Fédération de Rugby du Québec (FRQ); they have teams in men's division A, Division A reserves and a junior team (18 and under), and starting this season, a women's senior and junior team.
Recently the club won the Division B championship two years in a row before being moved up to Division A rugby where they made it to the semifinals in their first season at that level.
Transportation
Beaconsfield is served by the Agence métropolitaine de transportAgence métropolitaine de transport
The Agence métropolitaine de transport is the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transportation services across Canada's Greater Montreal Region, including the Island of Montreal, Laval , and communities along both the North Shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles...
train system, with two stations, Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield (AMT)
Beaconsfield is a commuter rail station on the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson Line in of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada.-Société de transport de Montréal:-External links:*...
and Beaurepaire
Beaurepaire (AMT)
Beaurepaire is a commuter rail station on the AMT Vaudreuil-Hudson Line in the Beaurepaire section of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada.-Société de transport de Montréal:-External links:*...
, on the Dorion-Hudson Line which ends in downtown Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The city is also served by Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
Société de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
bus lines 200, 201, 211, 217, 221 and 261. Beaconsfield is also served directly by one major highway, Highway 20 (Autoroute 20)
Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
with two exits in Beaconsfield, exit 45 at Avenue Woodland, and exit 48 at Boulevard St-Charles. Access to Beaconsfield is also possible from the highway Highway 40 (Autoroute 40)
Quebec Autoroute 40
Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
, exit Boulevard St-Charles - south (Sud).
Notable residents
- Thomas Mulcair, Member of Parliament, official NDP spokesman for QuebecThomas MulcairThomas J. "Tom" Mulcair is a Canadian lawyer, university professor, and politician. He is the federal Member of Parliament for Outremont, Quebec, Canada, and currently holds a seat in the New Democratic Party of Canada...
- David Phillips, co-winner Canadian national squash championships
- Louis Vachon, President of the National Bank of Canada
- Lorne Trottier, President of MatroxLorne TrottierLorne M. Trottier, CM is a co-founder of Matrox, a computer corporation that specializes in computer graphics.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Trottier graduated from Baron Byng High School and thereafter received a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering in 1970 and a Masters of Engineering in...
- Madeline-Ann AksichMadeline-Ann AksichMadeline-Ann Aksich, CM was a Canadian businesswoman, philanthropist, artist and founder of the International Children's Institute. On May 1, 2001 she was appointed to the Order of Canada for her humanitarian work. The Madeline-Ann Aksich Visual Arts Studio at Marianopolis College is named in her...
, philanthropist and Order of Canada recipient
See also
- List of former boroughs of Montreal
- Montreal MergerMontreal MergerAs with other large cities like New York City and Toronto, the legal geographic boundaries of Montreal have been reorganized to incorporate adjacent communities which are integral to its social and economic life.-Merger and demerger:...
- Municipal reorganization in QuebecMunicipal reorganization in QuebecThe most recent episode of municipal reorganization in Quebec, Canada, was undertaken in 2002 by the Parti Québécois Government of Quebec, headed by Premier Lucien Bouchard and his successor Bernard Landry....
- Beaconsfield High School (Beaconsfield)Beaconsfield High School (Beaconsfield)Beaconsfield High School is a secondary school located in Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada. BHS is part of The Lester B. Pearson School Board....