Pierrefonds () is a former city in southwestern
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, Canada. It is located along the
Rivière des Prairies
The Rivière des Prairies (; ), called the Back River in English, is a delta channel of the Ottawa River in southwestern Quebec, Canada. The Kanien'kehá:ka called it ''Skowanoti'', meaning "River behind the island". The river separates the citi ...
on the northwestern part of the
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal (french: Île de Montréal) is a large island in southwestern Quebec, Canada, that is the site of a number of municipalities including most of the city of Montreal and is the most populous island in Canada. It is the main ...
. It was merged into
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
on January 1, 2002, and is today part of the borough of
Pierrefonds-Roxboro
Pierrefonds-Roxboro is a borough of the city of Montreal. It was created January 1, 2006, following the demerger of parts of the city.
Geography
It is composed of the former municipalities of Pierrefonds and Roxboro, spanning the northern par ...
.
History
Its origin dates back to the eighteenth century, and is intimately linked to that of
Sainte-Geneviève Saint Genevieve or Sainte-Geneviève may refer to:
* Saint Genevieve (419/422–512), the patron of Paris
* Saint Geneviève de Loqueffret (10th century), a local saint from Loqueffret, Brittany
Buildings
* Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, a li ...
, which was composed at the time of Pierrefonds,
L'Île-Bizard,
Sainte-Geneviève Saint Genevieve or Sainte-Geneviève may refer to:
* Saint Genevieve (419/422–512), the patron of Paris
* Saint Geneviève de Loqueffret (10th century), a local saint from Loqueffret, Brittany
Buildings
* Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, a li ...
,
Roxboro and
Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Dollard-des-Ormeaux (; commonly referred to as D.D.O. or simply Dollard) is a predominantly English-speaking suburb of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the Island of Montreal. The town was named after French martyr Adam ...
.
In 1904, following several previous divisions, the Town of Sainte-Geneviève was split into two new villages: Sainte-Geneviève and Sainte-Geneviève de Pierrefonds. This was the first appearance of the name Pierrefonds. At the heart of the conflict leading to the separation was the notary and local member of the Legislative Assembly
Joseph-Adolphe Chauret, who, in 1902, had a "seigniorial" residence built for himself reminiscent of the community of Pierrefonds in France’s Department of
Oise
Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,419 ...
. He named his thatched home "Château Pierrefonds", apparently providing the name for the future city.
In 1935 the two villages of Sainte-Geneviève and Sainte-Geneviève de Pierrefonds merged once again into a single village called Sainte-Geneviève. The name Pierrefonds disappeared, resurfacing on December 18, 1958, when the rest of the territory of the old parish became the City of Pierrefonds.
Dissolution
On 2002-01-01, as part of a province-wide
municipal reorganization, Pierrefonds was joined with
Senneville and they became a borough of the city of
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
named Pierrefonds-Senneville. In the demerger referendums of 2004, Senneville demerged from Montreal but Pierrefonds did not. On 2006-01-01, Pierrefonds merged with the former city of
Roxboro to form the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
Origin of the name Pierrefonds
![Joseph-Adolphe Chauret](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Joseph-Adolphe_Chauret.jpg)
One of the leading figures who brought about the 1904 split was a famous (or infamous), fiery notary named Joseph-Adolphe Chauret. Always in the limelight, this colourful fellow was praised by some and criticized by others. His reputation remains controversial to this day, mostly because of his stormy and ostentatious lifestyle.
Inspired by an engraving of the feudal Castle of Pierrefonds in
Oise
Oise ( ; ; pcd, Oése) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,419 ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, in 1902 Chauret built a turreted, gabled residence with the inscription
Château de Pierrefonds on two of its socles. The building only somewhat resembled the much heralded fortress Chauret finally visited in 1911 when he journeyed in Europe. At a time when few people travelled abroad, his trip aroused considerable curiosity among local residents – so much so that crowds greeted him upon his return to Canada.
The name Pierrefonds therefore can be traced to Chauret’s residence.
In 1987, Chauret's property was converted into a residence for the elderly named "Château Pierrefonds".
Demographics
Pre-amalgamation demographics,
Canada 2001 Census.
*Total Population - 54,310
*Visible minority population - 13,995
*Male - 27,285
*Female - 25,020
*Land area -
*Population density per km
2 -
Note: last census figures before annexation by Montreal.
References
{{Authority control
Populated places disestablished in 2002
Neighbourhoods in Montreal
Former municipalities in Quebec
Former cities in Quebec
Pierrefonds-Roxboro
West Island
2002 disestablishments in Quebec