Verdun (borough)

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This article discusses the present Borough of Verdun. For information on the former city, see Verdun, Quebec.

Verdun is a borough (arrondissement) of the City of Montreal, situated along the St. Lawrence River. Population (2001): 60,564. It consists of the former city of Verdun, Quebec, which was merged with the city of Montreal on January 1, 2002; Verdun did not hold a demerger referendum on June 20, 2004.

1 Geography
2 Features
3 Government
- 3.1 Municipal
- 3.2 Federal and provincial
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Verdun is situated on the Island of Montreal southwest of downtown Montreal, south of Le Sud-Ouest (from which it is divided by the Canal de l'Aqueduc and Quebec Autoroute 15) and east of LaSalle. It includes the adjacent Nuns' Island (Île des Soeurs).

[edit] Features

Verdun is a predominantly middle-working-class neighbourbood, except for the well-to-do residential developments of Nuns' Island. In the early part of the 20th century, it had a majority English-speaking population. It is now predominantly French-speaking. It is one of the very few areas in Quebec to ban bars within its borders, although restaurants with bars are allowed.

Verdun is served by Quebec Autoroutes 15 and 20, which skirt the northern and eastern edges of its mainland portion and merge with Autoroute 10 on Nuns' Island. The island is connected to the Island of Montreal and the South Shore via the Champlain Bridge. The borough is served by the green line of the Montreal metro: Verdun, De L'Église, and LaSalle stations along with Jolicoeur station across the canal in Côte Saint-Paul.

Wellington Street is an significant commercial avenue with a wide range of shops and boutiques. Other commercial streets include De L'Église Street and Verdun Street.

Significant medical facilities in the borough include the Douglas Hospital, a McGill University research hospital in mental health, and the Verdun pavilion of the Centre hospitalier Angrignon. Recreational facilities include the Verdun Auditorium, a hockey arena and concert hall, and the Verdun Natatorium. Verdun features parks with bicycle paths along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River and Canal de l'Aqueduc and through the wilderness area on the western end of Nuns' Island, and bicyclists can use the Champlain Bridge ice structure to access the South Shore and Parc Jean-Drapeau.