Verdun Where Young & Old CoExist ( a Gazette Story March28th)

Verdun is a borough of the city of Montreal located in the southeastern part of the island. Originally founded in 1671, it is one of Canada's oldest cities.

In the early-20th century, an increase in the number of working class families in Verdun brought about growth in the community's population.

Moreover, due to the development and trade along the Lachine Canal, people began settling over a larger area on the waterway. In the first quarter of the 20th century, the farmland in Verdun was divided up and turned into residential dwellings to accommodate the influx of people.

Verdun was a primarily English-speaking community until the mid-1900s, when the French population increased.

Interestingly, since the early-1900s, Verdun has been what is known as a dry community, meaning there are no bars or taverns in the borough and only certain restaurants are licensed to sell alcohol with food. However, earlier in March, the borough issued a permit for the construction of a microbrewery on Wellington St. This shift in the community's tradition is said to be the result of the ongoing gentrification of the area as new developments are built and more people move in.

Today, Verdun has a population of roughly 66,000 and is a largely residential community in which families, young professionals and the working class all reside.

SCHOOLS

There are several schools in the borough of Verdun. Verdun Elementary is located on Desmarchais St., while Riverview Elementary can be found on Riverview Ave. French elementary schools include Chanoine-Joseph-Théorêt and Notre-Damede-Lourdes, both on 5th Ave., Lévis-Sauvé on Willibrord St., and Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix on Caisse St. High schools include Beurling Academy on Champlain Ave., and Monseigneur-Richard on Galt St.

PARKS AND WATERFRONT SPACE

Because of its geography, Verdun has many distinct features, including several kilometres of waterfront parks and green space.

There are several paths for pedestrians and cyclists along the St. Lawrence River. In addition, the various parks in the borough offer many options for residents to spend time outdoors.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

The Verdun Auditorium and Denis-Savard arena are located next to the riverfront and Arthur-Therrien Park. The auditorium is used as a concert hall and the arena was the home of the Montreal Juniors hockey team prior to being moved to Boisbriand for the 2011-2012 season. Also on the riverfront are public docks and a marina, an open-air dance floor, lawn bowling and sporting fields for football, baseball and soccer.

In addition, Quebec's first and largest outdoor public pool, known as the Natatorium, can be found on LaSalle Blvd.

The borough also organizes several sporting and cultural activities year-round for children and adults, including badminton, baseball, martial arts, figure skating and tennis. Moreover, artistic courses are offered in ceramics, singing, dancing, drawing, music, language, woodwork and photography, among others.

CONVENIENCE AND SHOPPING

Wellington St. is the main commercial centre in Verdun. It boasts a wide variety of shops, including grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, fashion boutiques and other specialty shops.

Major highways such as Autoroutes 15 and 20 are easily accessible from Verdun and lead to both the South Shore and Montreal.

In terms of public transit, residents are well served by three stops along the metro's green line and a fourth stop in nearby Ville-Émard. Bus service is also available throughout the borough.

HEALTH CARE

Verdun is home to two main health-care institutions: the Verdun Hospital and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute both on LaSalle Blvd. In addition, a long-term care facility, (CHSLD) known as Manoir de Verdun, can be found on LaSalle Blvd., and the CLSC Verdun is located on De l'Église St.

............................Cheers ! Have Fun & Remember Verdun............. - Les