Westmount, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal
, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec
, Canada
; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density
of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km².
Westmount is mostly a wealthy residential area, containing schools, an arena, a pool, a public library and a number of parks, including Westmount Park and King George Park (also known as Murray Hill Park). The city operates its own electricity distribution company Westmount Light & Power (Hydro Westmount). The city is also the location of three Canadian Forces
Primary Reserves : 34 Combat Engineer Regiment
, The Royal Montreal Regiment
and 34th Signals Regiment.
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Westmount was first incorporated as a city in 1874 (as the Village of Côte St-Antoine, and later the Town of Côte St-Antoine) and remained so until January 1, 2002 when it was forced to become a borough
of the City of Montreal
. On June 20, 2004 it voted to "demerge" and became an independent city again on January 1, 2006. However, it has not truly regained its former status since the bulk of its municipal taxes go to the newly created Agglomeration Council, which oversees activities common to all municipalities on the Island of Montreal (e.g. fire protection, public transit) even after the demerger.
Traditionally, the community of Westmount was an enclave of wealthy anglophones of British
ancestry, having been at one point the richest community in Canada; it now competes with West Vancouver
in British Columbia, Forest Hill, Rosedale, and The Bridle Path, in Toronto for the title. This made the city one of several symbolic targets of FLQ terrorist bombings in the 1960s, culminating in the 1970 October Crisis
. However, it is now mostly inhabited by middle
and upper-middle class
families of multiple ethnic and linguistic
backgrounds with the stereotype
only partially existing at the very top of the mountain, around Summit Circle, a road which rings around its summit (one of the three peaks of Mount Royal
), and on which some of Montreal's wealthiest families (including the Bronfmans
and the Molsons
) have built their homes as well as select avenues located off The Boulevard.
There are several small commercial districts on Sherbrooke Street
from the city's western boundary to the intersection of Sherbrooke Street and Victoria Avenue ("Victoria Village"), on Saint Catherine Street
across from Place Alexis Nihon
, on Greene Avenue
and on De Maisonneuve Boulevard
near the Atwater
metro
station.
_2005-11-10.jpg)
, located in between the city of Westmount, the Décarie Expressway, De Maisonneuve Boulevard
and the lands of Villa Maria private Catholic girls school.
, Quebec's largest CEGEP
, and Marianopolis College
; Westmount High School with its sister elementary school Westmount Park School; Place Alexis Nihon and office towers; some of the most prestigious private schools in Quebec, including Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School
, Selwyn House School
, Villa Sainte-Marcelline
and The Study
; and Westmount Square
residential towers and shopping complex, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
and funded largely by Westmount resident Samuel Bronfman
, the founder of the Seagram
liquor empire.
The landscaping design was undertaken in 1912 by M.J. Manning, and comprises large playing fields at the east and south sides, and Westmount Arena and adjacent swimming pool at the southesast corner. The central area contains an extensive playground, foot paths, ponds and wading pools, and tennis courts. Westmount Library, built in 1897, Victoria Hall, and a large greenhouse are located on the north side.
. In addition to the local city council, Westmount is represented by its mayor on the Montreal Agglomeration Council.
riding, both federally and provincially.
On the federal level
, Westmount is represented in the Westmount—Ville-Marie
riding. The riding was won by Marc Garneau
in the 2008 federal election.
Provincially, the city is represented in the riding of Westmount—Saint-Louis
by MNA
Jacques Chagnon
of the Quebec Liberal Party.
of 2001
, there were 19,727 people, 8,460 households, and 5,215 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,907.21/km² . There were 9,333 housing units at an average density of 2,321.64/km².
The median income for a household was $142,660 and the median income for a family was $190,120, one of the highest in Canada. Males had an average income of $112,882 versus $42,245 for females. About 5.0% of the labour force was unemployed. The largest occupation categories were 24.0% employed in management occupations, 18.2% in business, finance, and administration occupations, and 17.4% in social science, education, government service and religion occupations.
There were 8,460 households out of which 26.2% had children living with them, 47.5% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female lone-parent as a householder, and 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average married-couple family size was 3.1.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.7% under the age of 15, 11.9% from 15 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 15 and over, there were 80.2 males.
About 27% of the population is foreign-born, most having immigrated since 1991. Visible minorities constitute 14% of the population (Chinese 3%, Arab 2.8%, Latin American 2.1%, West Asian 1.6%, South Asian 1.3%). Residents declared their religions as Catholic
(31.0%), Protestant
(21.5%), Christian Orthodox
(3.7%), Jewish (3.2%), Muslim
(2.7%) and other Christian (1.9%).
The 2006 census
found that over 54% of residents spoke English
, and over 21% spoke French
, as their mother tongue.
and city council asserted that the city was a designated anglophone institution and should not be merged into francophone
greater Montreal. In response to this opposition, Municipal Affairs Minister Louise Harel
said that Westmount's resistance "reeked of colonialism" and that the opposition was an "ethnic project", statements for which she would refuse to apologize. When asked for comment, Quebec Premier Bernard Landry
said the minister had his full support and that the opposition was little more than Quebec bashing. Several federalist public figures criticized Landry's statement: Jean Charest
called it insulting to the intelligence of the citizens of Quebec; Joseph Gabary, president of the Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Jewish Congress
, called the language "crude"; Alliance Quebec
also criticized the premier for singling out the city for special criticism.
. After the city of Montreal changed the name, Westmount retained the name of Dorchester on their portion, as did Montréal-Est
.
banners. It is to be renovated from the summer of 2011 to the fall late fall of 2011 or early winter of 2012. It is home to the Westmount Wings and the Westmount Predators (soon to be "Westmount Wild").
Westmount is also home of the oldest active rugby
club in North America, the Westmount Rugby Club
.
In addition, the city's swim team, the Westmount Dolphins, won the 2007 Section B Alps finals.
and the birthplace of:
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....
, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern 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...
; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km².
Westmount is mostly a wealthy residential area, containing schools, an arena, a pool, a public library and a number of parks, including Westmount Park and King George Park (also known as Murray Hill Park). The city operates its own electricity distribution company Westmount Light & Power (Hydro Westmount). The city is also the location of three Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
Primary Reserves : 34 Combat Engineer Regiment
34 Combat Engineer Regiment
34 Combat Engineer Regiment is a Reserve unit of the Canadian Military Engineers in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is part of the 34 Canadian Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area....
, The Royal Montreal Regiment
The Royal Montreal Regiment
The Royal Montreal Regiment is a Primary Reserve Infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in Westmount, Montréal, Québec.-History:The Royal Montreal Regiment traces its origins to the creation of the 14th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on August 27, 1914...
and 34th Signals Regiment.
History
Municipal reorganization in Quebec
The 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....
of the City of 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...
. On June 20, 2004 it voted to "demerge" and became an independent city again on January 1, 2006. However, it has not truly regained its former status since the bulk of its municipal taxes go to the newly created Agglomeration Council, which oversees activities common to all municipalities on the Island of Montreal (e.g. fire protection, public transit) even after the demerger.
Traditionally, the community of Westmount was an enclave of wealthy anglophones of British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
ancestry, having been at one point the richest community in Canada; it now competes with West Vancouver
West Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the municipality is northwest of the city of Vancouver on the northern side of English Bay and the...
in British Columbia, Forest Hill, Rosedale, and The Bridle Path, in Toronto for the title. This made the city one of several symbolic targets of FLQ terrorist bombings in the 1960s, culminating in the 1970 October Crisis
October Crisis
The October Crisis was a series of events triggered by two kidnappings of government officials by members of the Front de libération du Québec during October 1970 in the province of Quebec, mainly in the Montreal metropolitan area.The circumstances ultimately culminated in the only peacetime use...
. However, it is now mostly inhabited by middle
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
and upper-middle class
Upper middle class
The upper middle class is a sociological concept referring to the social group constituted by higher-status members of the middle class. This is in contrast to the term "lower middle class", which is used for the group at the opposite end of the middle class stratum, and to the broader term "middle...
families of multiple ethnic and linguistic
Natural language
In the philosophy of language, a natural language is any language which arises in an unpremeditated fashion as the result of the innate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A natural language is typically used for communication, and may be spoken, signed, or written...
backgrounds with the stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
only partially existing at the very top of the mountain, around Summit Circle, a road which rings around its summit (one of the three peaks of Mount Royal
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name.The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentians and the Appalachians...
), and on which some of Montreal's wealthiest families (including the Bronfmans
Bronfman family
The Bronfman family is a Canadian Jewish family. It owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman , who made a fortune in the alcoholic distilled beverage business during the 20th century through the family's Seagram Company. The family is of Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish ancestry...
and the Molsons
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was founded by John Molson who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England....
) have built their homes as well as select avenues located off The Boulevard.
Geography
The city is roughly 4 km sq., and occupies an area of land on the south face of the southern peak of Mount Royal. The city, most of which is on steep terrain, extends from the summit to the end of the narrow plateau at the foot of the mountain.Districts
Most of the city is residential. Homes increase in size and value toward the top of the mountain, with the largest and most expensive being on or near Summit Circle.There are several small commercial districts on Sherbrooke Street
Sherbrooke Street
Sherbrooke Street is a major east-west artery and at in length, is the second longest street on the Island of Montreal. The street begins in the town of Montreal West and ends on the extreme tip of the island in Pointe-aux-Trembles, intersecting Gouin Boulevard and joining up with Notre-Dame...
from the city's western boundary to the intersection of Sherbrooke Street and Victoria Avenue ("Victoria Village"), on Saint Catherine Street
Saint Catherine Street
This article is about the street in Montreal called the rue Sainte-Catherine in French. For other streets of this name, see Rue Sainte-Catherine ....
across from Place Alexis Nihon
Place Alexis Nihon
Place Alexis Nihon is a complex in Downtown Montreal, Quebec , consisting of a shopping centre, two office towers, and a residential building...
, on Greene Avenue
Greene Avenue
Greene Avenue is a north-south street in Westmount and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It links Sherbrooke Street West in the north and Atwater Avenue, near the Atwater Market and Lachine Canal in the south. North of Sherbrooke, it is known as Mount Pleasant Avenue....
and on De Maisonneuve Boulevard
De Maisonneuve Boulevard
De Maisonneuve Boulevard is a major westbound boulevard located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is named after the founder of Montreal, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. De Maisonneuve Boulevard is about 11 kilometres long and begins on Havre Street in the east end, and ends in the...
near the Atwater
Atwater (Montreal Metro)
Atwater is a station on the Green Line of the Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located on the border between the city of Westmount and the borough of Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
metro
Montreal Metro
The Montreal Metro is a rubber-tired metro system, and the main form of public transportation underground in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
station.
Westmount Adjacent
"Westmount Adjacent" is term applied by realtors to a district in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-GrâceCôte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is a borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-Geography:Located to the north and west of Mount Royal, it was part of the City of Montreal prior to the 2002 municipal mergers...
, located in between the city of Westmount, the Décarie Expressway, De Maisonneuve Boulevard
De Maisonneuve Boulevard
De Maisonneuve Boulevard is a major westbound boulevard located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is named after the founder of Montreal, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. De Maisonneuve Boulevard is about 11 kilometres long and begins on Havre Street in the east end, and ends in the...
and the lands of Villa Maria private Catholic girls school.
Cityscape
The city is home to Dawson CollegeDawson College
Dawson College was the first English CEGEP and is located in Westmount, just west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Dawson College is located near the heart of downtown Montreal in a former nunnery on 4.85 hectares of green space...
, Quebec's largest CEGEP
Cégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
, and Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College is a private, subsidized CEGEP in Montreal nestled against the side of Mount Royal in Westmount, Quebec, Canada. It is one of the smallest anglophone colleges, with a student body of fewer than 2,000...
; Westmount High School with its sister elementary school Westmount Park School; Place Alexis Nihon and office towers; some of the most prestigious private schools in Quebec, including Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School
Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School
Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School is an all girls' school located in Westmount, Quebec. It is near many other QAIS schools such as The Study and Selwyn House. It is commonly abbreviated as ECS. The school teaches grades Kindergarten to 11. Their colours are green and white...
, Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School is a private independent boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. Boys can attend from Kindergarten through to Grade 11. The school was founded in 1908 by Englishman Captain Algernon Lucas...
, Villa Sainte-Marcelline
Villa Sainte-Marcelline
Villa Sainte-Marcelline is a private French school located in Westmount, Quebec. It is an all-girl school from kindergarten up to grade 11. There is also a cegep, named CIM, for girls and boys.-History:...
and The Study
The Study
The Study is a Canadian private education all-girls school in Westmount, Quebec. Girls can attend from Kindergarten through to grade 11. The school was founded in 1915, by a young Englishwoman named Margaret Gascoigne. Today, The Study offers a bilingual education to 360 students from Kindergarten...
; and Westmount Square
Westmount Square
Westmount Square is a complex of four buildings located in Westmount, Quebec. Canada. The four buildings, two of which are residential, were designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The complex opened on December 13, 1967...
residential towers and shopping complex, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect. He is commonly referred to and addressed as Mies, his surname....
and funded largely by Westmount resident Samuel Bronfman
Samuel Bronfman
Samuel Bronfman, was a Canadian business magnate and philanthropist. He founded Distillers Corporation Limited, and is a member of the Canadian Jewish family dynasty, the Bronfman family.-Early life:...
, the founder of the Seagram
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
liquor empire.
Parks
There are two main parks within the city: Murray Park and Westmount Park. A forest area is located at the summit, within Summit Circle.Westmount Park
Located between Sherbrooke Street and de Maisonneuve Avenue to the north and south, and Melville and Lansdowne Avenue to the east and west, this 1141002 sq ft (106,002.6 m²) park is the second largest in Westmount.The landscaping design was undertaken in 1912 by M.J. Manning, and comprises large playing fields at the east and south sides, and Westmount Arena and adjacent swimming pool at the southesast corner. The central area contains an extensive playground, foot paths, ponds and wading pools, and tennis courts. Westmount Library, built in 1897, Victoria Hall, and a large greenhouse are located on the north side.
Municipal
Since regaining its status as a city, Westmount is governed by a City Council made up of a mayor and eight "district" councillors. The current mayor of Westmount is Peter TrentPeter Trent
Peter F. Trent is an English Canadian businessman and politician. He is the current mayor of Westmount, Quebec. He was named Mayor of Westmount by acclamation on the November 1, 2009 municipal election. He plans to use his profile to debate reorganization of the Montreal region...
. In addition to the local city council, Westmount is represented by its mayor on the Montreal Agglomeration Council.
| District number | Councillor |
|---|---|
| District 1 | Patrick Martin |
| District 2 | Timothy Price |
| District 3 | Victor M. Drury |
| District 4 | Kathleen Warner Duncan |
| District 5 | Gary Ikeman |
| District 6 | Nicole Forbes |
| District 7 | Cynthia Lulham |
| District 8 | Theodora Samiotis |
Provincial and Federal
Throughout Quebec, Westmount is known as an overwhelmingly LiberalLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
riding, both federally and provincially.
On the federal level
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
, Westmount is represented in the Westmount—Ville-Marie
Westmount—Ville-Marie
Westmount—Ville-Marie is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 97,226.-Geography:...
riding. The riding was won by Marc Garneau
Marc Garneau
Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
in the 2008 federal election.
Provincially, the city is represented in the riding of Westmount—Saint-Louis
Westmount—Saint-Louis
Westmount—Saint-Louis is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1992 from parts of Saint-Louis, Westmount and Sainte-Anne...
by MNA
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
Jacques Chagnon
Jacques Chagnon
Jacques Chagnon is a politician in Quebec, Canada. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Concordia University and graduate degrees in political science and in Law from the Université de Montréal...
of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2001
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
, there were 19,727 people, 8,460 households, and 5,215 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,907.21/km² . There were 9,333 housing units at an average density of 2,321.64/km².
The median income for a household was $142,660 and the median income for a family was $190,120, one of the highest in Canada. Males had an average income of $112,882 versus $42,245 for females. About 5.0% of the labour force was unemployed. The largest occupation categories were 24.0% employed in management occupations, 18.2% in business, finance, and administration occupations, and 17.4% in social science, education, government service and religion occupations.
There were 8,460 households out of which 26.2% had children living with them, 47.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.7% had a female lone-parent as a householder, and 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average married-couple family size was 3.1.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.7% under the age of 15, 11.9% from 15 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 15 and over, there were 80.2 males.
About 27% of the population is foreign-born, most having immigrated since 1991. Visible minorities constitute 14% of the population (Chinese 3%, Arab 2.8%, Latin American 2.1%, West Asian 1.6%, South Asian 1.3%). Residents declared their religions as Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
(31.0%), Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
(21.5%), Christian Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
(3.7%), Jewish (3.2%), Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
(2.7%) and other Christian (1.9%).
Language
Westmount's residents are predominantly bilingual: 75% speak English as their first official language; 76.3% can speak both English and French, 20.5% of the population can speak only English, 3.1% can speak only French.The 2006 census
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...
found that over 54% of residents spoke 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...
, and over 21% spoke 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...
, as their mother tongue.
| Mother tongue | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
10,720 | 54.13% |
| 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... |
4,220 | 21.31% |
| English and French | 305 | 1.54% |
| English and a non-official language | 155 | 0.78% |
| French and a non-official language | 90 | 0.45% |
| English, French and a non-official language | 50 | 0.25% |
| Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
560 | 2.83% |
| Arabic | 510 | 2.58% |
| Chinese | 425 | 2.15% |
| German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... |
285 | 1.44% |
| Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
280 | 1.41% |
| Italian Italian language Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia... |
265 | 1.33% |
| Mother tongue | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Persian Persian language Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence... |
225 | 1.14% |
| Hungarian Hungarian language Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe.... |
185 | 0.93% |
| Romanian Romanian language Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova... |
165 | 0.83% |
| Greek Greek language Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;... |
150 | 0.76% |
| Polish Polish language Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries... |
140 | 0.71% |
| Tagalog Tagalog language Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila... |
100 | 0.50% |
| Yiddish | 100 | 0.50% |
| Portuguese Portuguese language Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095... |
95 | 0.48% |
| Dutch Dutch language Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second... |
65 | 0.33% |
| Hebrew | 55 | 0.28% |
| Armenian Armenian language The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora... |
50 | 0.25% |
| Ukrainian Ukrainian language Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet.... |
50 | 0.25% |
Merger with Montreal
While trying to prevent Westmount from being amalgamated into greater Montreal, Westmount Mayor Peter TrentPeter Trent
Peter F. Trent is an English Canadian businessman and politician. He is the current mayor of Westmount, Quebec. He was named Mayor of Westmount by acclamation on the November 1, 2009 municipal election. He plans to use his profile to debate reorganization of the Montreal region...
and city council asserted that the city was a designated anglophone institution and should not be merged into francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
greater Montreal. In response to this opposition, Municipal Affairs Minister Louise Harel
Louise Harel
Louise Harel is a Québec politician. In 2005 she served as interim leader of the Parti Québécois following the resignation of Bernard Landry. She was also interim leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec. She represented the riding of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the Montreal region...
said that Westmount's resistance "reeked of colonialism" and that the opposition was an "ethnic project", statements for which she would refuse to apologize. When asked for comment, Quebec Premier Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry
Bernard Landry, is a Quebec lawyer, teacher, politician, who served as the 28th Premier of Quebec , leader of the Opposition and leader of the Parti Québécois .-Personal:...
said the minister had his full support and that the opposition was little more than Quebec bashing. Several federalist public figures criticized Landry's statement: Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
called it insulting to the intelligence of the citizens of Quebec; Joseph Gabary, president of the Quebec Chapter of the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
, called the language "crude"; Alliance Quebec
Alliance Quebec
Alliance Quebec was a group formed in 1982 to lobby on behalf of English-speaking Quebecers in the province of Quebec, Canada. It began as an umbrella group of many English-speaking organizations and institutions in the province, with approximately 15,000 members. At its height in the mid-1980s,...
also criticized the premier for singling out the city for special criticism.
Dorchester Boulevard
Westmount is also known for being one of the two island municipalities that refused to rename their sections of Dorchester to Boulevard René-LévesqueRené Lévesque Boulevard
René Lévesque Boulevard is one of the main streets in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.It is a main east-west thoroughfare passing through the downtown core in the borough of Ville-Marie. The street begins on the west at Atwater Avenue and continues until it merges with Notre Dame Street East just east...
. After the city of Montreal changed the name, Westmount retained the name of Dorchester on their portion, as did Montréal-Est
Montréal-Est, Quebec
Montreal East , is a town in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the island of Montreal, formerly part of the borough of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles–Montréal-Est. Montreal-Est has consistently been the home to many large oil refineries since 1915.Montreal-Est was originally founded in 1910...
.
Sports
Westmount's Westmount Arena is part of a joint arena and pool complex built in 1959. The arena honours early Montreal ice hockey teams with replica Stanley CupStanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
banners. It is to be renovated from the summer of 2011 to the fall late fall of 2011 or early winter of 2012. It is home to the Westmount Wings and the Westmount Predators (soon to be "Westmount Wild").
Westmount is also home of the oldest active rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in North America, the Westmount Rugby Club
Westmount Rugby Club
The Westmount Rugby Club is a rugby club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the oldest active rugby club in North America. The club was founded in 1876 under the title of Montreal Football Club, and played its matches at the McGill University grounds...
.
In addition, the city's swim team, the Westmount Dolphins, won the 2007 Section B Alps finals.
Notable residents
Westmount is or was the residence of:- Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
, former Prime Minister of Canada - Jean CharestJean CharestJohn James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
, Quebec Premier - May CutlerMay CutlerMay Cutler was a Canadian author, journalist and publisher. Cutler founded Tundra Books in her basement in 1967, becoming Canada's first female publisher of children’s books...
, Canadian publisher, founder of Tundra BooksTundra BooksTundra Books is the oldest children's book publisher in Canada.Tundra Books was founded in 1967 by May Cutler, a Montreal-based writer and editor. Cutler established the publishing company in the basement of her home, becoming the first woman to publish children's books in Canada. The U.S...
and the first female publisher of children's books in Canada. Cutler was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Westmount (1987-1991), - Richard HoldenRichard Holden (politician)Richard B. Holden was a lawyer and member of the provincial legislature of Quebec, Canada. An obituary describes him as cynical and self-deprecating, a boulevardier and a maverick.-Personal life:...
, lawyer and politician - Philippe de Gaspé BeaubienPhilippe de Gaspé BeaubienPhilippe de Gaspé Beaubien, OC is a Canadian media proprietor, who was chairman and CEO of Telemedia. He founded the company in 1968, and went on to acquire a number of radio stations in Quebec and Ontario, and launched magazines such as Canadian Living, Harrowsmith and the Canadian editions of...
, Canadian media proprietor - the Molson familyMolson familyThe Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was founded by John Molson who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England....
- the Bronfman familyBronfman familyThe Bronfman family is a Canadian Jewish family. It owes its initial fame to Samuel Bronfman , who made a fortune in the alcoholic distilled beverage business during the 20th century through the family's Seagram Company. The family is of Russian Jewish and Romanian Jewish ancestry...
- Robert MillerRobert Miller (Future Electronics)Robert Miller, born about 1946, is a Canadian businessman who founded Future Electronics in 1968 and built it into the world's third-largest electronics distributor. With an estimated net worth of $US 2.5 billion , Miller was ranked by Forbes as the 10th wealthiest Canadian and 459th in the world....
, founder of Future Electronics, - Maxwell CummingsMaxwell CummingsMaxwell Cummings, was a Canadian real estate builder and philanthropist.Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of David and Beatrice Cummings, he came to Montreal with his family in 1911....
, real estate developer - Rene LepineRene LepineRené G. Lépine, Sr. is a Canadian real estate tycoon, developer, businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Groupe Lépine, a privately owned real estate company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, he is currently the Chairman and President....
, real estate developer - Lara FabianLara FabianLara Fabian is a Belgian-Italian international singer who also holds Canadian citizenship. Multilingual, she sings in French, Italian and English....
, Belgian-Canadian singer - Arthur HoldenArthur HoldenArthur Holden is a Canadian voice actor, born in Montreal, Quebec. He voices Baba-Miao in Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, Mr. Ratburn in Arthur, and Mr...
, voice actor - Marc MysterioMarc MysterioMarc Mysterio is a Canadian DJ and producer with two labels - World Class Records and Amerada Music. He is also signed as an artist to various labels globally, including Sony Music in 2011.-Career:...
, Canadian singer - Jacques VilleneuveJacques VilleneuveJacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
, Canadian F1 racing driver
and the birthplace of:
- Conrad BlackConrad BlackConrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
, former newspaper tycoon, British Baron and convicted white collar felon - James GelfandJames GelfandJames Gelfand, is a Canadian jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. He is best known for his film and television scores.-Early life:...
, jazz pianist, arranger, and composer - Leonard CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, author and musician - Caroline RheaCaroline RheaCaroline Gilchrist Rhea is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actress who was the original host of the reality television show The Biggest Loser on NBC until she was replaced by Alison Sweeney after the end of the third season...
, comedian and actress - Douglas ShearerDouglas ShearerDouglas G. Shearer was a Canadian-born pioneer sound designer and recording director who played a key role in the advancement of sound technology for motion pictures.-Early life and career:...
, multiple Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning film sound engineer - Norma ShearerNorma ShearerEdith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
, motion picture actress - Eugénie BouchardEugénie BouchardEugenie "Genie" Bouchard is a Canadian professional tennis player. On November 21, 2011, she reached her highest WTA singles ranking of 301. She is currently playing on the Junior Circuit and on the ITF Circuit.-Early life:...
, professional tennis player
See also
- List of former boroughs
- 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....
- The Westmount Examiner