Montréal

Street in Montreal, in the province of Québec, Canada. Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada, was founded as a base for explorers and traders in 1642. Since 1958, with the development of the modern city centre of skyscrapers, businesses, restaurants, and theatres, it has become one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in North America.

Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada, is a major seaport along the St Lawrence River and Seaway, which links the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The region was originally occupied by the Huron Indians, and was given the name Mount Royal by Jacques Cartier in 1535.

High-rise buildings, Montreal, in the province of Québec, Canada. A major seaport on the St Lawrence River and Seaway, Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world, and is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris).

Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal, Québec, Canada. When it opened in 1829, the Roman Catholic parish church of Notre Dame was the largest church building in North America. Built by the Sulpicians, the church was designed by New York architect James O'Donnell. Its blue and gold interior of polychrome, stained glass, and painted wood was redecorated in the 1870s by the Québec architect Victor Bourgeau, and the high altar was carved by French sculptor Henry Bouriche.

Inland port and commercial centre of Québec, Canada, on Montréal Island at the junction of the Ottawa and St Lawrence rivers; population (2001 est) 1,039,500; metropolitan area (2001 est) 3,426,400. It is the second-largest port on the North American east coast, the chief port of the St Lawrence–Great Lakes waterway system, and the world's farthest inland port, situated 1,600 km/1,000 mi from the Atlantic. Industries include oil-refining, engineering, food-processing, distilling, brewing, and the manufacture of steel, aircraft, ships, petrochemicals, tobacco products, clothing, pulp, and paper. Founded by the French in 1642, Montréal became a British possession in 1763.

The city was badly affected by the great ice storm of January 1998 which coated electricity pylons with ice and the weight brought many of them down, blacking out parts of Montréal and Québec.

Features

Location Situated within the mouth of the Ottawa River, at its confluence with the St Lawrence, the triangular-shaped Montréal Island extends for 50 km/30 mi, with a width of 11–14 km/7–9 mi; one of over 230 islands in the vicinity. The city spreads in all directions from the lower slopes of Mont Réal.

Climate Winters are cold with heavy snow; the average temperature in January is −5°C/23°F. The summers are hot and humid; July temperatures average 26°C/79°F.

Economy From its origins as a French colonial settlement dealing in fur and lumber, Montréal has become the centre of Canadian financial, transportation, and industrial development. It contains Canada's major banking and investment institutions, and the headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Canadian National Railways, and the world headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The port opens about mid-April and remains navigable until the beginning of December, offering over 16 km/10 mi of docking facilities. Diverse industries produce about 20% of the country's manufactured goods. Iron and steel foundries, and associated engineering industries, have developed since World War II. Products of the city's food industry include sugar, flour, fruit, meat, chocolate, tea, and coffee.

Architecture Some of the more imposing of Montréal's many handsome public sites are the Church of Notre-Dame 1829; the many-steepled Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours 1772; Christ Church Cathedral 1857–59; St James Cathedral; the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice 1685–1715, Montréal's oldest monument; the Church of St Andrew and St Paul; the Chateau Ramezay 1705, one of North America's oldest buildings, now a museum; the Sun Life Building 1915, Montréal's first skyscraper; the Bank of Montréal 1847, and Bell Telephone Building. Montréals Underground City complex connects shopping malls, hotels, offices, public buildings, and the Metro; over 30 km/19 mi of climate-controlled passages have been developed since 1962 to counter Montréal's freezing winter and humid summer conditions. Numerous bridges link the island to the mainland. Victoria Bridge was one of the most notable engineering achievements of the 19th century. Completed in 1859, its former tubular construction extended for almost 3 km/2 mi; it has since been replaced by a cantiliver design. Jacques Cartier Bridge, a cantilever structure completed in 1930, is 2,643 m/8,670 ft long. Built in three sections, the central span rests on St Helen's Island.

Culture Sites include the McCord Museum of Canadian History; the Museum of Montréal; the Museum of Fine Art 1862, Canada's oldest museum; the Canadian Centre for Architecture; the Biodome; the Place des Arts, a theatre and gallery complex; and the Botanical Gardens. In 1967 the city hosted the World Expo, an international fair marking Canada's centennial, which also introduced a new concept in house design; the cellular block called Habitat. Educational institutions include McGill University 1813 and the University of Montréal 1878.

Entertainment Many of the smaller islands in the St Lawrence have been developed as park and recreation areas. A sports complex was created on the river for the 1976 summer Olympic Games. In the Vieux-Port area, the vast hangar of Expotec contains light and sound exhibitions; and Images du Futur displays futuristic electronic art.

History In 1535 Jacques Cartier explored the St Lawrence, and discovered the fortified Iroquois village of Hochelaga (Place of the Beaver), occupying the island site. Samuel de Champlain established the trading station of Place Royale in 1611, and the original Ville-Marie de Mont-Réal was founded in 1642 by Paul de Chomédy, Sieur de Maisonneuve as a mission post. During the Seven Years' War, it was the last town surrendered by France, becoming an official British possession under the Treaty of Paris in 1763. When troops of the rebel Continental Congress occupied the city 1775–76, the citizens refused to join the American revolt against Britain. Formerly the federal seat of government, it was succeeded by Québec in 1847, and later by Ottawa. Long-established animosity between British and French Canadians culminated in the terrorist activities of the Front de Libération de Québec in the 1960s. Subsequent schemes to promote the French-Canadian culture have made French the first language of the province. It has since been a focus for Québécois campaigns aiming to separate the province from Canada. In 1990, Mohawks demonstrating for Native Canadian land rights were involved in street battles with the Montréal police.

Population Montréal is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America. About 68% of the inhabitants are of French cultural origin and 20% of British; the balance being made up of other ethnic communities: Chinese, West Indian, Eastern European, Jewish, Italian, Greek, and South American.