Editing Pointe-Claire (section)

==History==
[[File:CarteIsleMontreal1700.jpg|thumb|left|alt=1700s map of Montreal Island.|On a map of the Island of Montreal dated 1700, the words "Pointe Claire" are visible.]]

Pointe-Claire was first described by [[Nicolas Perrot]] in his account of 1669, and the name Pointe-Claire appeared on a map as early as 1686.<ref name="toponymie"/>  Although [[Samuel de Champlain]] canoed through the area in 1613, he reported no village or dwelling visible.<ref name=alapc>{{cite book|title=A la pointe claire|year=2005|publisher=Conseil du patrimoine de Montreal|isbn=2-9808545-4-9|pages=3–47}}</ref>

The urbanization of the territory of Pointe-Claire began in the 1600s, when the Sulpicians were lords of the island of Montreal. Land on the island of Montreal was granted to the Sulpicians for development as early as 1663. They began to grant concessions along major waterways.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pointe-claire.ca/content/uploads/2022/02/2022_02_09_draft_pu_en.pdf |title=Planning Program 2022 |publisher=City of Pointe-Claire |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

In 1678, the first concession on the land under the [[Seigneurial system of New France|seigneurial system]] was to Jean Guenet who named his property Beau Repaire. This was near the future village of Beaurepaire, located in what is now [[Beaconsfield, Quebec|Beaconsfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shbbhs.ca/index.php/en/history/important-dates |title=Significant Dates |publisher=Société Historique Beaurepaire-Beaconsfield |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> on June 4, 1910, the village of Beaconsfield separates from the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire<ref>{{cite web|author=Ville de Beaconsfield |title=History of Beaconsfield |url=https://www.beaconsfield.ca/en/our-city/portrait-and-history#:~:text=Louis%20and%20founded%20the%20Village,Earl%20of%20Beaconsfield%20in%201876. |publisher=www.beaconsfield.ca |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

The first concession of land that is still in the current city limits of Pointe-Claire, was in 1684 to Pierre Cabassier, for a lot just east of Pointe Charlebois.<ref>{{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Brian |title=A History of Pointe-Claire |year=1985 |page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/507/1/Berube_Harold_PhD_2008.pdf |author=Harold Bérubé |title=Des Banlieues Qui Se Distinguent : Gouverner Westmount, Pointe-Claire et Mont-Royal (1880-1939) |date=3 July 2008 |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> Under the seigneurial system, the [[Society of Saint-Sulpice|Sulpicians]] had to build a mill for the colonists, who in turn had to grind their grain there at a set fee.
The arrival of French settlers in Pointe-Claire began in 1698-1699.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pointe-claire.ca/en/history/ |title=History |publisher=Ville de Pointe-Claire |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

In 1707, after the [[Great Peace of Montreal]] was signed in 1701, the Chemin du Roy (now Lakeshore Road) from [[Dorval]] to the western tip of [[Montreal Island]] was opened having been ordered by intendant [[Jacques Raudot]],<ref name=alapc/> and the parish was subdivided in three côtes: St. Rémy (present-day [[Boulevard Des Sources]]), [[Boulevard Saint-Jean|St. Jean]], and [[Boulevard Saint-Charles|St. Charles]]. Between côtes St. Rémy and St. Charles lay 33 lots (numbered 145 to 177). These were generally three [[arpent]]s wide by 20 or 30 deep. Up to this time Pointe-Claire had only been accessible by boat.

[[File:Église presbytère de Pointe-Claire.jpg|thumb|left|Church and presbytery of Saint-Joachim de Pointe-Claire]]
On October 13, 1713,<ref name="dates">{{cite web|author=BAnQ|title=Parishes, Missions and municipalities of the province of Quebec|url=https://collections.banq.qc.ca/document/b_Q1fOXNHipgHXnLul6Q_Q|publisher=BAnQ Grande Bibliothèque of Québec|access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref> the seminary formed a parish on the land that now includes Pointe-Claire and much of the West Island, and in 1714 a church was built at the point, at the site of the present-day church.<ref name="matthews">{{cite book|last=Matthews|first=Brian|title=A History of Pointe-Claire|year=1985}}</ref> Up to that time the area was served by an itinerant missionary priest. Initially the church was called Saint-Francois-de-Sales, but it was renamed six months later to Saint-Joachim de la Pointe Claire. The church and presbytery, both built of stone, formed a fort about two arpents ({{Convert|7000|m2|abbr=on|disp=comma}}) in area, surrounded by stakes. The construction was ordered by [[Charles de Beauharnois de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois|Governor Beauharnois]] out of fear of the [[Iroquois]]. The point was used as a stopover by [[voyageurs]] en route to the interior.<ref name=alapc/>

In 1728–1729, the first lots were granted, near the fort, to a blacksmith and to a carpenter. By 1765 there were 783 residents, 74 lots owned by 35 individuals, and 19 houses, some built of stone, but most of wood.<ref name=alapc/>

On July 1, 1845, the Village Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire was created, before losing its municipal status on September 1, 1847, as was common in Quebec for many local entities. On September 2, 1854, it was reestablished.<ref name="toponymie"/><ref name="dates" />

The [[Grand Trunk Railway]] built the railroad through the area in 1855, linking Pointe-Claire to Montreal. This brought people, and with them property development in an area that up to then had been largely agricultural. It also improved the welfare of farmers by providing a ready market for their goods. Suburban development began in 1893 when Otto Frederick Lilly acquired land spanning Boulevard Saint-Jean. He used his influence with the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] to have a station added to the line at the end of Cedar Avenue, which he also paved from there down to Lakeshore Road. Both sides of Cedar Avenue were built up by 1920.<ref name="matthews"/>

After the [[British North America Act 1867]], Pointe-Claire was included in the new federal riding of [[Jacques Cartier (electoral district)|Jacques Cartier]]. In the election of 7 August, the men ([[suffrage]] did not extend to women until 1940) of Pointe-Claire elected the [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservative]] [[Guillaume Gamelin Gaucher]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jacques Cartier, Quebec (1867–1952)|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/FederalRidingsHistory/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Det&Include=Y&rid=313|publisher=Parliament of Canada|access-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

In 1900, a major fire destroyed much of the village. The fire was discovered in an uninhabited building around 2:00 a.m., 22 May 1900. The wind caused the fire to spread to surrounding houses. The only water supply was from village wells or carried in buckets from the river. A small two-wheeled hose reel and hand pump was the only village fire protection. Locals failed to put out the fire and asked for help from Montreal. Equipment was sent by train but did not arrive in time to help. The worst of the damage was on the rue de l'église. In all about 30 buildings were destroyed, including the post office, the town hall, and the residences of about 200 people.<ref name="villepc">{{cite web |url=https://www.pointe-claire.ca/en/history/|publisher=www.pointe-claire.ca |title=History of Pointe-Claire |author=Ville de Pointe-Claire |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Milne |first=George E.R. |title=Recollections of Early Pointe Claire: Fire in Pointe Claire: May 22, 1900 |year=1965 |publisher=West Island School Commission |location=Pointe Claire, Quebec |page=24 |url=http://www.haya.qc.ca/fire/19000522.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025195218/http://www.haya.qc.ca/fire/19000522.html |archive-date=2021-10-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://grandquebec.com/nouvelles-quebec/incendie-pointe-claire |title=Conflagration à la Pointe-Claire |date=29 March 2011 |language=fr|access-date=1 December 2012}}</ref>

On March 14, 1911, the Village Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire changed status and name to ''[[Ville (Quebec)|Ville]]'' (city/town) de Pointe-Claire.<ref name="toponymie"/><ref name=maires>{{cite web |title=Répertoire des entités géopolitiques: Pointe-Claire (ville) 2.9.1854 - 1.1.2002 ● 1.1.2006 - ... |url=https://www.mairesduquebec.com/mairesduquebec/munic.php?id=2934 |website=www.mairesduquebec.com |publisher=Institut généalogique Drouin |access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>

Provincial highway number 2 (now [[Quebec Autoroute 20|Autoroute 20]]) was built alongside the railway in 1940, following expropriation of property.  This led to a move of much of the town from the south to the north of the highway, namely the town hall, recreation centre, police station, and fire station.<ref name="matthews"/>

In 1955, the City of Pointe-Claire annexed large portions of the Parish Municipality of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire (which was formed on September 1, 1855).  Remaining portions of the municipal parish became the Town of [[Kirkland, Quebec|Kirkland]] on March 24, 1961.<ref name="souvenir">{{cite web |title=Souvenir Album - Kirkland 1961-1986 |url=https://www.ville.kirkland.qc.ca/client_file/upload/image/kirkland-en-bref/626631247211535.pdf |website=ville.kirkland.qc.ca |publisher=Town of Kirkland |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> In 1958, a new City Hall was built and Pointe-Claire changed status from ''Ville'' to ''Cité'' ("city"), but in 1967, this was reverted.<ref name=maires/>

From 2002 to 2006 there were [[Municipal reorganization in Quebec|municipal reorganizations across the province]], which included a [[2002–2006 municipal reorganization of Montreal|reorganization of Montreal]]; Pointe-Claire was [[Montreal Merger|merged into Montreal]] and became a borough. However, after political changes ([[2003 Quebec general election]] and the [[2004 Quebec municipal referendums]]) it was re-constituted as an independent city in 2006, along with [[Boroughs of Montreal#List of former boroughs|a number of other boroughs]].<ref name=maires/>