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Pointe-Claire has undergone several iterations in its evolution—from colonial settlement of New France in the late 17th and 18th centuries to its current life as a suburb of Montreal. Now a city with a population of about 32,000, it boasts a storied history and many architectural remnants that recall its time as a summer vacation destination for wealthy Montrealers (mid-19th to mid-20th centuries). Elegant hotels and quaint cottages once dotted Pointe Claire’s shoreline, swelling the summer population of this mainly agricultural area. Designated as a municipality in 1854, Pointe-Claire’s development kicked into high gear in the years following the Second World War with the creation of veterans’ housing, schools and a raft of municipal services. The city was in the forefront of development during the 1960s when it established one of the country’s earliest industrial parks (creating an excellent tax base) and opened an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool that has spawned several Olympic contenders.
Pointe Claire fast facts:
Schools:
English: St. John Fisher Jr. and Sr. Elementary, John Rennie High School, St. Thomas High School, Clearpoint Elementary.
Francais: École Primaire Pointe-Claire, École Primaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, École Secondaire Félix-Leclerc, École Primaire Saint-Louis.
Recreational and Cultural Facilities: Aquatic Centre (three indoor swimming pools + weight room and gymnasium), arena, cultural centre (Stewart Hall), library (main facility + two branches).
Outdoor Activities: Public boat-launch ramp, Terra Cotta Nature Park (green space with hiking trails), municipal Sailing Base (Grande-Anse Park), Canoe-Kayak Club, seven outdoor community swimming pools + splash pad park, outdoor skating rinks, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Beaconsfield Golf Club, Pointe-Claire Yacht Club.
Houses of Worship: Valois United Church, St. John Fisher Church, Church of St. John the Baptist, Church of the Nazarene, Cedar Park United Church, St. John’s United Church, St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Mission, West Island United Pentecostal Church, Lakeside Heights Baptist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Paroisse Saint-Joachim, Saint Peter and Saint Paul Coptic Orthodox Church, Saint-Columba-by-the-Lake Presbyterian, Bethel Chapel, St. Timothy’s Anglican Bible Church.
