Pointe-Claire, Quebec, is a local municipality nestled within the Urban agglomeration of Montreal on the Island of Montreal in Canada. This fully developed region is home to residential areas, light manufacturing, and retail businesses. As of the 2021 census, Pointe-Claire boasts a population of 33,488.
The name Pointe-Claire refers to the peninsula where the windmill, convent, and the Saint-Joachim de Pointe-Claire Church are located. This point extends into Lac Saint-Louis, offering a clear view of its surroundings.
Pointe-Claire was first mentioned by Nicolas Perrot in 1669, and its name appeared on a map as early as 1686. Despite Samuel de Champlain canoeing through the area in 1613, he reported no visible village or dwelling. The urbanization of Pointe-Claire began in the 1600s when the Sulpicians, lords of the island of Montreal, started granting concessions along major waterways. The first concession on the land that is still within the current city limits of Pointe-Claire was granted in 1684 to Pierre Cabassier.
The French settlers began arriving in Pointe-Claire in 1698-1699. In 1707, after the Great Peace of Montreal was signed in 1701, the Chemin du Roy (now Lakeshore Road) was opened, and the parish was subdivided into three côtes: St. Rémy, St. Jean, and St. Charles. On October 13, 1713, a parish was formed on the land that now includes Pointe-Claire and much of the West Island. A church was built at the point in 1714, which was initially called Saint-Francois-de-Sales but was renamed six months later to Saint-Joachim de la Pointe Claire.
The Grand Trunk Railway built the railroad through the area in 1855, linking Pointe-Claire to Montreal. This development brought people and property development to an area that had been largely agricultural. In 1911, the Village Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire changed status and name to Ville (city/town) de Pointe-Claire. From 2002 to 2006, Pointe-Claire was merged into Montreal and became a borough. However, it was re-constituted as an independent city in 2006.
Pointe-Claire is entirely urbanized and developed. It is bounded on the north by Dollard-des-Ormeaux, on the east by Dorval, on the south by Lac Saint-Louis, and on the west by Kirkland and Beaconsfield. The city is home to 38 public parks and green spaces, including the public Terra-Cotta Natural Park, the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour, and the private Beaconsfield Golf Course.
According to the Office québécois de la langue française, Pointe-Claire has been officially recognized as a bilingual municipality since November 2, 2005. In the 2021 census conducted by Statistics Canada, Pointe-Claire had a population of 33,488 living in 13,313 of its 13,823 total private dwellings.
Pointe-Claire is equipped with various municipal sports and leisure facilities, including the Aquatic Centre, Bob Birnie Arena, Pointe-Claire Public Library, Stewart Hall Cultural Centre, and the Sailing Base at Grande-Anse Park. The Pointe-Claire Water Treatment Plant distributes an average of 65,000,000 litres of potable water per day to a population of 87,248 people and approximately 1000 business and commercial users.
Both Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 40 cross Pointe-Claire from east to west. The city is served by three stations on Exo's Vaudreuil–Hudson line and several bus routes operated by Société de transport de Montréal. Starting 2024, Pointe-Claire will be served by two stations on the Réseau express métropolitain rapid transit network.
Public safety in Pointe-Claire is ensured by the city's Public Security force, the Montreal Police Service, the Montreal Fire Department, and Urgences Sante. The Pointe Claire Volunteer Rescue Unit provides emergency management, such as response to storms and flooding, as well as emergency medical care at public events.
