Nestled on the north shore of the Rivière des Mille Îles, Rosemère, Quebec is an affluent suburb of Montreal. Known for its lush greenery and upscale homes, this town offers a unique blend of history, nature, and affluence.
Rosemère is renowned for its verdant appearance, thanks to the high density of trees. As the town has grown, some wooded areas have been preserved, further enhancing its green look. The town's residences range from renovated cottages to unique character homes, reflecting its upscale nature.
The town's main commercial artery, Boulevard Curé-Labelle, is lined with suburban shops and shopping malls, including the largest, Place Rosemère. Despite its commercial offerings, Rosemère remains primarily residential, with no significant industries.
Among its residents, Rosemère is proud to have Alexandre Bilodeau, the first Canadian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal on Canadian soil. He achieved this feat in the men's moguls event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Rosemère had a population of 14,090 living in 5,249 of its 5,340 total private dwellings. This represented a 0.9% increase from its 2016 population of 13,958. With a land area of 10.68 km2 (4.12 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,319.3/km2 (3,416.9/sq mi) in 2021.
The area that would become Rosemère was first settled in 1714 with the establishment of the Mille-Îles Seigneury. By 1780, the seigneury was well established, with large tracts of land under cultivation.
The town was named by J.P. Withers of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who moved to the area in 1880. Initially, he named his new home "Rose" after the many wild roses growing there. Later, he added "mere", an old English word for a lake, resulting in "Rosemère" or "lake of roses".
Over the years, Rosemère transformed from a summer cottage community to a bedroom community of Montreal. Today, it is a harmonious blend of French and English-speaking residents, each leaving their own mark and institutions.
Rosemère is well-connected to Montreal's Lucien-L'Allier Station by commuter rail via the Rosemère station of the Exo (Réseau de transport métropolitain) Saint-Jérôme line. Local bus service is provided by the RTM's CITL section.
Rosemère is part of the Laurentides administrative region and the Thérèse-De Blainville MRC. It falls within the Groulx provincial electoral district and the Rivière-des-Milles-Iles federal electoral district.
