Presentation of the City
With a history stretching back over three centuries, Châteauguay boasts multiple attractions in close proximity, which makes the city distinctive in many ways:
- its prime geographic location, 30 minutes from Montréal and close to both Ontario and the United States
- its many natural treasures – a river, an island, a wildlife reserve, a lakeshore and numerous parks and green spaces
- its numerous tourist attractions showcasing its rich heritage
- its peaceful residential neighbourhoods that offer a quality of life that is both ideal for flourishing families and a stimulating living environment
- its varied cultural programming, thanks in part to its two performance venues
- its entrepreneurial strength, which generates over 13,000 jobs
- its powerful commercial and industrial development potential
With its urban setting, Châteauguay has everything it needs to satisfy residents, entrepreneurs and workers. Châteauguay has a rich bounty to offer to families, seniors, nature lovers, sports fans and people interested in recreation or heritage.
Châteauguay is…
a huge territory in a very advantageous location
- a total area of 46.3 km2:
- 36.0 km2 of land
- 10.4 km2 of water
- 25 km from Montréal
- 60 km from the United States (Lacolle border crossing)
- 60 km from Ontario
- surrounded by the cities of Léry, Mercier, Beauharnois and Sainte-Martine, as well as the First Nations Reserve Kahnawake
a dynamic population
- 49,953 people (Institut de la statistique du Québec, 2020)
- 3rd largest city on the South Shore
- median age of 42.3 (2016 Statistics Canada data)
- 57.6% mother tongue French (2016 Statistics Canada data)
- 25.6% mother tongue English (2016 Statistics Canada data)
a burgeoning economy
- 5th economic hub on the South Shore (in terms of the number of jobs and businesses, Statistics Canada, 2016)
- 1,051 businesses (Registraire des entreprises, Statistics Canada, 2019, CMM processing, 2020)
- 173 retail businesses
- 69 restaurant and hospitality businesses
- 214 professional services businesses
- nearly 200 businesses in the industrial park
- 2nd hub for employment and businesses on the South Shore, with 14 295 local jobs (2016 Statistics Canada data)
- over 1 million sq.ft. of commercial space
plenty of access to nature
- 73 parks and green spaces totalling 3,838,505 square metres
- a Centre nautique and a Pointe nautique
- 275 000 visits to Île Saint-Bernard (2018)
- the Centre écologique Fernand-Seguin, with its LEED Silver welcome centre
- the Refuge faunique Marguerite-D’Youville, a 223-hectare wildlife reserve
historic buildings and a rich heritage
- many churches, including two historic churches, Saint-Joachim and St. Andrew’s
- the Maison LePailleur, a listed historic monument built in 1792
- an interpretation centre in the Maison Gravel, built in 1842
- a resort, located in the Manoir D’Youville, a former sanatorium that was used as a retirement home
- a windmill dating back to 1686, making it the oldest windmill on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River between the United States and Gaspésie
- a former convent, built in 1910–1911 and converted into city hall
a vibrant cultural scene with diverse programming
- professional multidisciplinary performing arts presenter
- 2 performance venues (Salle Jean-Pierre-Houde and Pavillon de l’île)
- 17 587 tickets sold by Château Scènes (2016)
sports activities to suit every taste
- 1 covered outdoor skating rink at the Agora
- 1 indoor pool at the Polydium
- $13 million investment in the Complexe sportif Beau-Château
- 3 rinks at the Centre multisports
- more than 20 recognized sports associations, including a football team (Raiders), a basketball team (Ravens), a AAA midget hockey team (Grenadiers), a women’s softball team (Chat-O-Cats), a running team (Les Riverains) and more
health and education services for the entire population
- 12 elementary schools
- 4 high schools
- 2 adult general and vocational training centres
- 2 school boards, the Commission scolaire des Grandes-Seigneuries for Francophones and the New Frontier School Board for Anglophones
- Anna Laberge hospital
- CLSC de Châteauguay
- Centre de services ambulatoires with the Louise-Auger outpatient dialysis centre
- Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique
Did you know?
Demonym: Châteauguois, Châteauguoise
Administrative region: Montérégie
Regional county municipality: Roussillon
Québec electoral constituency: Châteauguay
Canadian electoral constituency: Châteauguay-Lacolle
Date of constitution: November 3, 1975
Motto: Unita Fortior (strength united is stronger)
Official bird: Great blue heron
Timeline
Seigneury de Châteauguay is ceded to Charles Le Moyne by the Governor of New France, Comte de Frontenac, for services rendered.
Zacharie Robutel de La Noue becomes the new seigneur (lord) of Châteauguay.
Construction of a fort in Châteauguay.
Marguerite d’Youville, a Grey Nun, purchases the seigneury.
During the war between the United States and Great Britain, the seigneury of Châteauguay becomes a garrison.
Battle of Châteauguay: On the banks of the Châteauguay river, near Ormstown, Canadian troupes, comprised of 40 elite militiamen from Châteauguay under the leadership of Captain Bruyère and nearly 500 combatants, manage to stop an American force of 3,700 from invading Montréal.
British soldiers take control of the seigneury during the Lower Canada Patriote Rebellion.
Hanging of Châteauguay Patriotes Joseph Narcisse Cardinal and Joseph Duquette.
Birth of the Municipalité de Châteauguay and election of Mayor Narcisse Mallet.
Amendment of the statutes and toponym of the Municipalité de Châteauguay, which becomes the Municipalité de la Paroisse de Saint-Joachim de Châteauguay.
Creation of the Comté de Huntingdon after the merger of the Municipalité de la Paroisse de Saint-Joachim de Châteauguay and several other entities.
Abolition of the seigneurial regime.
Creation of the village and election of Mayor Pierre Laberge. Division of the Paroisse de Saint-Joachim de Châteauguay when the Comté de Huntingdon is split into several entities.
Creation of Ville de Châteauguay after it separates from the Paroisse de Saint-Joachim de Châteauguay and election of Mayor John Edward Charles Bumbray.
Creation of Ville de Léry after it separates from the Paroisse de Saint-Joachim de Châteauguay.
Creation of Ville de Châteauguay-Heights after it separates from Ville de Châteauguay and election of Mayor H. Lawrence Melville.
Amendment of the statutes and toponym of the Paroisse de Saint Joachim de Châteauguay which becomes Ville de Châteauguay-Centre. Election of Mayor Joseph-Maurice-Henri Laberge.
Châteauguay-Heights annexed by Ville de Châteauguay.
Confirmation of the statutes and toponym of Ville de Châteauguay-Centre.
Châteauguay-Centre annexed by Ville de Châteauguay.
Constitution of Ville de Châteauguay and election of Mayor Philippe Bonneau.
Election of Mayor Jean-Bosco Bourcier.
Election of Mayor Sergio Pavone.
Election of Mayor Nathalie Simon.
Purchase of the knoll of Île Saint-Bernard from the Grey Nuns.
Election of Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier.