MONTREAL WEST, QUEBEC

'Montreal West' (French: 'Montréal-Ouest') is a town in southwestern Quebec, Canada on the Island of Montreal. On January 1, 2002 it, along with its neighboring suburbs of Côte Saint-Luc and Hampstead, was merged into a borough of the City of Montreal to be known as Côte-Saint-Luc—Hampstead—Montréal-Ouest, though 97% of the town population voted against the merger. The population voted on June 20, 2004 to demerge and Montreal West was re-established as a town on January 1, 2006.
Also known as "MoWest", Montreal West is a small, close-knit suburban community made up primarily of single family dwellings. The town is largely composed of young families, and has a total population of 5,332 (As of 2005). The town itself takes up 1.630 square kilometers. About 85% of the population of Montreal West use English as their first language.
Montreal West is notable for having Quebec's highest rated Anglophone public high school in Royal West Academy (ranked 39th overall in 2005 by the Fraser Institute). The town is also the home of Canada's oldest amateur Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, the Montreal West Operatic Society. Clay tennis courts, the Montreal West Curling Club, and a swimming pool and an indoor ice rink are also highlights of the town.

Contents

List of mayors

Important yearly events

On St-Jean-Baptiste Day (translated as John the Baptist Day) there is a picnic at Davies Park, which usually includes a group of French singers. Just after dusk, a large bonfire is held in the centre of the park.

The Garbage Bowl is a yearly tradition held every January 1st, where men from Montreal West separate into two teams, the Northern Combines and the Southern Bombers, and play a football game in the frigid weather. Since 1950, the teams have suited up in pajamas with proceeds from donations, food, and commemorative pins going to charity.

Education

Public Places

Public Transportation

Local establishments

Religious Sanctuaries

Parks

See also

External links

List of mayors

1897 - William Smithson Lingley

1898 - Charles McClatchie

1899 - B.W. Grigg

1900 - J.J. Kirkpatrick

1901 - Walter C. Flyfe

1902 - Edward J. Bedbrook

1903 - C.C. Ballantyne

1904 - Edward J. Bedbrook

1905 - William Smithson Lingley

1906 - J.J. Kirkpatrick

1908 - Edward J. Bedbrook

1909–1910 - C.J. Davies

1911–1927 - James Ballantyne

1927–1935 - Harry Aird

1935–1943 - James R. Pearson

1943–1948 - Robert Hope Ross

1948–1954 - George W. Hodgson

1954–1963 - Forest Norman Wiggins

1963–1965 - Everett Charles Fitzpatrick

1965–1973 - Robert Arthur McQueen

1973–1977 - Alistair Reekie

1977–1989 - Roy D. Locke

1989–2002 - John A. Simms

2002–2006 - None (''see below'')

2006–present - Campbell Stuart

In 2002, Montreal West merged with Côte-Saint-Luc and Hampstead to become the borough of Côte-Saint-Luc–Hampstead–Montréal-Ouest. In 2006, The borough of Côte-Saint-Luc–Hampstead–Montréal-Ouest demerged and the three municipalities were reestablished. This resulted in their being no Montreal West major listed about for the 2002-2006 period.

Important yearly events

===Canada Day===
Canada Day is the largest community event of the year in Montreal West. Residents organize a parade route that mainly runs down the main street of Westminster and ends at Strathern Park. Floats represented in the parade include organizations and clubs located in town, as well as some created personally by residents.
In some years, there have been water fights between sidelined residents and members of the parade (mainly the swimming pool float). Water fights during these years have seen water balloons and super soaker water guns, as well as the odd hose drawn from a house. Organizers have tried to minimize these activities in recent years so as not to detract from the parade itself, with varying success.
Following the parade, residents converge on Strathern Park for a giant picnic/BBQ. Many children's games and activities go on at the park, as well as in the nearby Percival park. The final event of the evening is the fireworks, which take place around 10pm at Hodgson Field.
===Fête Nationale du Québec

On St-Jean-Baptiste Day (translated as John the Baptist Day) there is a picnic at Davies Park, which usually includes a group of French singers. Just after dusk, a large bonfire is held in the centre of the park.

Garbage Bowl=

The Garbage Bowl is a yearly tradition held every January 1st, where men from Montreal West separate into two teams, the Northern Combines and the Southern Bombers, and play a football game in the frigid weather. Since 1950, the teams have suited up in pajamas with proceeds from donations, food, and commemorative pins going to charity.

Associations & Clubs==

★ Art Etc.

★ Montreal West Scout Group

★ Montreal West Girl Guides Group

★ Montreal West 50 Plus Travel Club

★ Montreal West Horticultural Society

★ Montreal West Operatic Society

★ Montreal West Curling Club (MWCC)

★
★ Founded in 1912, it is one of the oldest clubs in Quebec. It has over 300 members and has four sheets of curling ice.

★ Montreal West Tennis Club

★
★ 4 Clay courts

Education

Montreal West has one Anglophone high school, Royal West Academy High School. It also has the Anglophone Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School and the Francophone Edinburgh Elementary School.
In terms of libraries, the town has a children's library located in each of the above-mentioned elementary schools. Another is located in Royal West Academy High School. An adult library is also located on Westminster Avenue.

Public Places

The town of Montreal West has incorporated many of the standard public spaces expected from a family oriented suburb of a large city. It has a large number of public parks, an indoor ice skating rink, and a public swimming pool.
It terms of services, the town has its own public works division, a fire station, a community centre (named after former town mayor John A. Simms), and a Town Hall.

Public Transportation

Montreal West is serviced by six Société de transport de Montréal bus lines. Each of these connects to a corresponding Montreal Metro (subway) station. The Montreal West Train Station also services the area. Trains that run through this station connect passengers to downtown Montreal on one end, and three different routes heading away from the city at the other end.

Local establishments

The core business area of Montreal West is located on Westminster Avenue between Milner and Curzon. It's comprised exclusively of small, non-franchised businesses. Of particular note is the Mini-Cout Depanneur, which is the most popular store in the area. The store has been in operation in the area for over 20 years. The Quality Fruit Bowl, the local produce store, has been in operation at least as long. Also of note is the local pharmacy, Budning Pharmacy, which has operated in the same location for over 50 years.

Religious Sanctuaries

Montreal West includes three medium-sized church buildings. One is United (Montreal West United Church), one is Anglican (St. Philip's Church), and the final is Presbyterian (Montreal West Presbyterian Church). The Montreal West United Church also houses a Pentecostal service (Overcomers Assembly).

Parks

'Name'	'Location'	'Name Origin'	'Features'
'Dave Reid Park'	End of Bedbrook	Named after Mr. Dave Reid, who was superintendent of the Legion Memorial Rink from its opening in 1966 until his death in 1980	1 jungle Gym
'Davies Park'	Westminster South/Ainslie	Previously named Edgar Davies Park. Named for George and Edgar Davies who operated Davies Brothers, a grocery store located at 56 Westminster for many years. They were very active in the community during this time. Also previously called South Park	Montreal West community centre, 2 outdoor ice skating rinks in Winter, 1 chalet
'George Booth Park'	Bedbrook/Curzon	Named for Fire Chief George Booth who died while performing his duties at a fire in 1975	1 baseball diamond, 1 jungle gym
'Hodgson Park'	Bedbrook/Nelson	Named after MR. G.W. Hodgson, Mayor of Montreal West 1948-54	1 basketball court, 1 Soccer/Football Field, 1 Recreational & 1 Ice Hockey Outdoor skating rink in Winter, 1 swimming Pool, 1 jogging track
'John A. Simms Park'	Avon/Westminster	Named after John A. Simms, Mayor of Montreal West 1989–2002
'Kirkpatrick Park'	End of Easton	Named after J.J. Kirkpatrick, Mayor of Montreal West 1900 & 1906, Previously named Easton Park	1 jungle gym
'Memorial Park'	Westminster/Ainslie
'Percival Park'	End of Percival		2 baseball diamonds
'R.D. Paul Park (closed)'	Garden/Brock	Named after Mr. R.D. Paul who built many of the homes in this section of town. He lived in this area and ran a contracting business which is now run by his son-in-law. Many members of his family still live in this area.
'Ronald Park'	Ronald/Brock South	Named after adjacent street
'Roy D. Locke Park'	Ballantyne/Sherbrooke Ouest	Named after Roy D. Locke, Mayor of Montreal West 1977–1989, formerly Ballantyne Park	1 jungle gym
'Rugby Park'	Rugby/Radcliffe	Named after adjacent street	1 jungle gym, 1 children's swimming pool
'Sheraton Park'	Cote St. Luc Rd/Sheraton	Named after adjacent street
'Strathearn Park'	Strathearn/Parkside	Named after adjacent street, used to be called North park	2 jungle gyms, 1 children's swimming pool
'Toe Blake Park'	Banstead/Sheraton	Named after the Montreal Canadiens star hockey player and coach who lived in the house to the South of the western section of the park
'???? Park'	Brock/Northview

See also

★ List of former boroughs

★ Montreal Merger

★ Municipal reorganization in Quebec

External links

★ Montreal West Web Page

★ Montreal West Informer

★ Montreal West Operatic Society

★ Montreal West Children's Library

★ Elizabeth Ballantyne School

★ Royal West Academy

★ Montreal West United Church

★ St. Philip's Church

★ Montreal West Scout Group

★ Montreal West Curling Club

★ Edinburgh School

★ Diz Boarding Shop

★ Bonders Bookstore

★ Montreal West United Church

★ Overcomers Assembly

★ Montreal West Scout Group (largest in Quebec)

★ Montreal West Business Directory @ iconvillage.com

★ Montreal West Children's Library

★ Montreal West History