Kirkland is an on-island suburb on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is named after Charles-Aimé Kirkland, a Quebec provincial politician. It was incorporated as a town in 1961.

Kirkland
Town of Kirkland - Ville de Kirkland
"Welcome to Kirkland" sign viewed from St. Charles Blvd (heading north)
"Welcome to Kirkland" sign viewed from St. Charles Blvd (heading north)
Official logo of Kirkland
Location on the Island of Montreal
Location on the Island of Montreal
Kirkland is located in Southern Quebec
Kirkland
Kirkland
Location in southern Quebec
Coordinates: 45°27′N 73°52′W / 45.450°N 73.867°W / 45.450; -73.867[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionMontreal
RCMnone
Settled1722
ConstitutedJanuary 1, 2006
Named forCharles-Aimé Kirkland
Government
 • MayorMichel Gibson
 • Federal ridingLac-Saint-Louis
 • Prov. ridingNelligan
Area
 • Land9.65 km2 (3.73 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
19,413
 • Density2,012.0/km2 (5,211/sq mi)
 • Pop 2016-2021
Decrease −3.7
 • Dwellings
6,790
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code(s)514 and 438
Highways A-40 (TCH)
Websitewww.ville.kirkland.qc.ca Edit this at Wikidata

Kirkland is primarily a residential community, with a commercial core, and an industrial park straddling the Trans-Canada Highway (Autoroute 40). In 1997, that portion of the Autoroute 40 was renamed to Félix-Leclerc Highway. The city is composed of mainly single-family residences, with some multi-unit facilities (apartments, town houses, and condos) available.

History

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Jean-Baptiste-Jamme-Dit-Carrière House, built in 1760 along Boulevard Saint-Charles[5]

In the early 18th century settlement began of farming communities along Côte Saint-Charles (now Boulevard Saint-Charles). By 1731, Côte Saint-Charles had 19 farms, 12 houses, and 17 barns. It was part of the Parish of Saint-Joachim de la Pointe Claire, which included the present territory of the cities of Beaconsfield, Kirkland, and Pointe-Claire. The construction of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1855 brought further development.[6]

In 1845, the Municipality of Pointe-Claire was created, abolished two years later and restored in 1855 as the Parish Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire (or just Pointe-Claire).[1] In 1910, Beaconsfield split off to form a separate town. In 1955, large portions of the parish municipality were annexed by the City of Pointe-Claire (originally the Village Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire) and by the Parish of Sainte-Geneviève. Attempts in the late 1950s by the City of Beaconsfield to annex the municipality started the process to become a town.[6]

In March 1961, it changed status to become a ville (town/city) and took the name Kirkland. That same year, the construction began of the Trans-Canada Highway (Autoroute 40), completed in 1964.[6]

On January 1, 2002, as part of the 2002–2006 municipal reorganization of Montreal, it was merged into the city of Montreal and became a borough. However, after a change of government and a 2004 referendum, it was re-constituted as an independent municipality on January 1, 2006.[1]

Demographics

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Historical populations
YearPop.±%
18711,011—    
1881890−12.0%
1891823−7.5%
1901800−2.8%
1911805+0.6%
1921509−36.8%
1931546+7.3%
1941536−1.8%
1951622+16.0%
1956364−41.5%
1961572+57.1%
1966659+15.2%
19712,917+342.6%
19767,476+156.3%
198110,476+40.1%
198613,376+27.7%
199117,495+30.8%
199618,678+6.8%
200120,434+9.4%
200620,491+0.3%
201121,253+3.7%
201620,151−5.2%
202119,413−3.7%
Source: Statistics Canada

According to the Office québécois de la langue française, Kirkland has been officially recognized as a bilingual municipality[7] since 2005-11-02.[8]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kirkland had a population of 19,413 living in 6,666 of its 6,790 total private dwellings, a change of -3.7% from its 2016 population of 20,151. With a land area of 9.65 km2 (3.73 sq mi), it had a population density of 2,011.7/km2 (5,210.3/sq mi) in 2021.[9]

Canada census – Kirkland, Quebec community profile
20212016
Population19,413 (-3.7% from 2016)20,151 (-5,2% from 2011)
Land area9.65 km2 (3.73 sq mi)9.63 km2 (3.72 sq mi)
Population density2,012.0/km2 (5,211/sq mi)2,092.8/km2 (5,420/sq mi)
Median age46.4 (M: 45.2, F: 47.2)45.5 (M: 44.6, F: 46.2)
Private dwellings6,790 (total)  6,779 (total) 
Median household income$115,381
References: 2021[10] 2016[11] earlier[12][13]
Home Language (2021)[14]
Language Population Percentage (%)
English 11,535 60%
French 2,630 14%
Other 3,595 19%
Mother Tongue (2021)[14]
Language Population Percentage (%)
English 7,540 39%
French 3,270 17%
Other 7,065 36%
Visible Minorities (2021)[14]
Ethnicity Population Percentage (%)
Not a visible minority 13,150 68%
Visible minorities 6,090 32%

Economy

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Targray head office, located in Kirkland, Quebec, Canada

The town of Kirkland has a large business and industrial park spanning both sides of Quebec Autoroute 40. Companies in the area operate in a wide range of industries including aerospace, electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, printed goods, renewable energy, software engineering, telecommunications, petrochemicals, and transportation.

Notable employers in the city of Kirkland include:

Local government

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Kirkland Town Hall

The territory of the Town of Kirkland is divided into eight electoral districts. Each district is represented by a councillor elected by the voters of that district. The mayor is elected by all voters and represents the entire territory made up of eight-districts.[15]

It is a full-service community, with a public works department, recreation department, engineering department, accounting, communications, human resources and administrative services operating for the welfare of its citizens.

The present mayor is now Michel Gibson, who has been a member of the Kirkland City Council since the mid-1970s.

  1. Michael Brown (District 1 - Timberlea)
  2. Luciano Piciacchia (District 2 - Holleuffer)
  3. Samuel Rother (District 3 - Brunswick)
  4. Domenico Zito (District 4 - Lacey Green West)
  5. Stephen Bouchard (District 5 - Lacey Green East)
  6. John Morson (District 6 - Canvin)
  7. Paul Dufort (District 7 - St. Charles)
  8. André Allard (District 8 - Summerhill)

Former mayors

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List of former mayors:[16]

  • Jean-Baptiste Théoret (1845–1847)
  • Francois Valois (1855–1858, 1864–1868)
  • Gabriël Valois (1858–1860, 1869–71, 1881–1887)
  • Pierre Charles Valois (1860–1864)
  • Leon Legault (1864, 1872–1881)
  • Joste Legaut (1887–1895)
  • Jean Bte Valérie Quesnel (1896–1909)
  • Gédéon Legault (1910–1914)
  • Daniel Arthur Legault (1915–1918)
  • Joseph Dosithée Legault (1919–1925)
  • Ernest Brunet (1925–1927)
  • Joseph Anthime Legault (1927–1931)
  • Ovila Brunet (1931–1939)
  • Joseph Glaude Zetique Asénor Legault (1939–1941)
  • Aimé Legault (1941–1945)
  • Edmé Brunet (1945–1953)
  • André Brunet (1953–1957, 1965–1968)
  • W. Wallace Horne (1957–1958)
  • James A. Smiley (1958, 1968–1975)
  • Marcel Meloche (1958–1965)
  • Samuel L. Elkas (1975–1989)
  • John William Meaney (1989, 1994–2002, 2006–2013)
  • Nunzio "Nick" Discepola (1989–1993)
  • Michel Gibson (1993–1994, 2013–present)
  • Brian MacDonald (1994)

Culture and recreation

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Public Library

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The Kirkland Public Library has an impressive collective of more than 80,000 volumes in French and English for adults, teens and children. The library also offers online database searching, children and adult programs, computer rooms, wireless Internet, inter-library loans, photocopying and reserved books.[17]

Parks, Green space and Sport facilities

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Kirkland Sports Complex has an indoor gymnasium that offers badminton, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball and other indoor sport activities. As well as an arena for hockey, ringette, free or figure skating.[18]

Around the town there are multiple outdoor centres for soccer, baseball, tennis, football, basketball, beach volleyball and ice rinks as well as a 5 kilometre bike trail.[19] There is also a splash pad and community pool offered in this town. The splash pad and community pools make it possible for young and old alike to experience the joys of swimming. The splash pad is located the Harris park. The community pool is located at the Ecclestone park.

The Town of Kirkland has many halls and park chalets, which citizens, associations and organizations can rent out for different occasions or activities (banquets, meetings, parties, exhibits, shows, etc.):

  • Sports Complex
  • Ecclestone Chalet
  • Holleuffer Chalet
  • Kirkland Chalet
  • Lantier House
  • Conference room (Kirkland Public Library)
  • Dés Bénévoles Chalet[20]
  • Meades Park (on the same grounds as the sports complex)
  • Canvin Park
  • Kirkland Park
  • Robbie-Loftus Park
  • Park du Chablis
  • Park Syrah
  • Park Moreau
  • Park Fewtrell
  • Park Dance
  • Park Letarte

Special Events

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Kirkland Day, which takes place mid-June, is a big outdoor annual festival celebrating the inauguration of the Town of Kirkland on March 24, 1961. The first Kirkland Day was held on June 20, 1970, at the dedication of Kirkland Park. Since then, Kirkland residents come out in great numbers every year to celebrate the town together.

Other events within the town include:

  • Winter Carnival
  • Kirkland Day
  • Mini Olympics
  • Kirkland Food Drive
  • Christmas Events[21]

Education

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The Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys operates Francophone public schools, but were previously operated by the Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys until June 15, 2020.[22]

Previously school districts were on religious grounds, but there was a law passed by the Quebec government that changed the school board system from denominational to linguistic.

Professional development centres:

  • Centre de formation professionnelle des métiers de la santé

Primary schools:

  • École primaire Émile-Nelligan

The Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) operates Anglophone public schools in the area.

Primary schools:

  • Margaret Manson Elementary School
  • Some areas are served by Sherbrooke Academy (junior and senior campuses) and Beacon Hill Elementary School in Beaconsfield, Clearpoint Elementary School in Pointe-Claire, and Kingsdale Academy in Pierrefonds-Roxboro[23]

Private preschool, primary and high school:

The Federation of private schools, FEEP (La Féderation des establissements d'enseginement privés) operates bilingual (French/English) private schools in the area:[25]

Preschool, kindergarten, primary school and high school:

  • Académie Marie-Claire[26]

Notable residents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Banque de noms de lieux du Québec: Reference number 388466". toponymie.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec.
  2. ^ "Répertoire des municipalités: Kirkland". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca (in French). Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Parliament of Canada Federal Riding History: Lac-Saint-Louis (Quebec)". Archived from the original on 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  4. ^ a b "Data table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Kirkland, Ville (V) [Census subdivision], Quebec". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022.
  5. ^ Maison Jean-Baptiste-Jamme-Dit-Carrière. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
  6. ^ a b c "Souvenir Album - Kirkland 1961-1986" (PDF). ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Town of Kirkland. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Montreal municipalities take action to keep bilingual status under Quebec's Bill 96 | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  8. ^ "Organismes reconnus offrant des services dans une langue autre que le français". www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca. 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  9. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Quebec". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  11. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  12. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c "Kirkland, Quebec (Code 2466102) Census Profile". 2021 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada.
  15. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - Districts électoraux". www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  16. ^ "Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Kirkland (ville) 1.7.1845 - 1.9.1847 ● 1.7.1855 - 1.1.2002 ● 1.1.2006 - ..." www.mairesduquebec.com. Institut généalogique Drouin. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - More than books..." www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  18. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - Sports facilities". www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  19. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - Bicycle path". www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  20. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - Sports facilities". www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  21. ^ "Ville de Kirkland - Local sustainable development Plan". www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  22. ^ "ÉCOLES ET CENTRES." Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys. Retrieved on December 7, 2014.
  23. ^ "School Board Map Archived 2017-09-21 at the Wayback Machine." Lester B. Pearson School Board. Retrieved on September 28, 2017.
  24. ^ "General School Profile | Kuper Academy". www.kuperacademy.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  25. ^ "AnnuaireFEEP.com". www.annuairefeep.com. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  26. ^ "Académie Marie-Claire School". amcca.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
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