LaSalle, Quebec

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LaSalle is a former city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now the Borough of LaSalle.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Italians
4 Features
5 Economy
6 Federal and provincial elections
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Image:Stlawrenceriver.jpg

The borough is located at the southwestern corner of the island. It was a separate city until the 2002 municipal mergers.

It is bordered on the north by Lachine (largely along the Lachine Canal), to the northeast by Le Sud-Ouest, and to the east by Verdun.

The southern and western limit of the borough is the Saint Lawrence River; several islands in the river belong to the borough, including the Île aux Hérons migratory bird reserve. The Lachine Rapids pass by the borough.

It has an area of 16.4 km² and a population of 73,457.

[edit] History

Named for the area's first seigneur and French explorer Robert René Cavelier de La Salle (born at Rouen, France in 1643, died in Texas in 1687). LaSalle came into existence as a municipality in 1845 and finally became the City of LaSalle in 1912. In 2002 it was annexed by the city of Montreal along with a number of other cities on the Island of Montreal.

Lachine Rapids are situated inside LaSalle territory. The name Lachine, which is also the name of the neighboring borough, stayed because in the French Regime period, LaSalle was actually part of the Lachine Parish. Before the creation of the Lachine Canal, the rapids had to be portaged on a trail called "Chemin LaSalle" (what is now the LaSalle Boulevard).

[edit] Italians

LaSalle is home to a large number of Canadians with Italian ancestry. Newman Street in LaSalle was closed as fans took to the street celebrating Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup win.

[edit] Features

LaSalle is served by the LaSalle commuter train station on the Delson-Candiac Line. Quebec Route 138 passes through the borough before crossing the Honoré Mercier Bridge to Kahnawake. Other important thoroughfares include LaSalle Blvd., Newman Blvd., La Vérendrye Blvd., Bishop Power Blvd., Champlain Blvd, Shevchenko and Thierry street.

Among the LaSalle's attractions are Chows, the Lachine Canal and the Canal de l'Aqueduc, with their recreational areas; the Octagone cultural centre; the Parc Angrignon; the Île aux Hérons migratory bird refuge; the Saints-Anges archeological site; Des Rapides Park; and the Fleming windmill, which is used as the borough's symbol. Other major installations include the Cégep André-Laurendeau.