Borough Profile
Situated in the southwest portion of the island of Montréal, Verdun is spread
out over an area of 9.8 km². To the north, the borough is bordered by Highway
15, to the west, by the Canal de l'Aqueduc, to the south by
neighbouring borough LaSalle and to the east, by the Fleuve
Saint-Laurent. The omnipresent river, with its magnificent banks extending
for several kilometres throughout the borough, is Verdun ’s most magnificent
natural resource.
The borough of Verdun is privileged when it comes to urban
transportation. Citizens have access to four subway stations, with three of
them on the territory. In addition, commuters have a remarkable bus network at
their disposal, taking them directly downtown Montréal in only a few
minutes.
The borough had 66,078 residents in 20061. Verdun’s
English-speaking population is in decline (17%), while the proportion
of allophones (estimated at 19% in 2006) is rising.
Verdun is a socially heterogeneous borough. It contains not only high-income
households, but individuals living below the poverty line. The number of single
residents is about equal to that living in families.
Tax Base
Verdun ranks among Montréal’s top three boroughs for the growth of its tax
base. This base is rising by an annual average of $100 million, largely due to
construction projects on L’Île-des-Soeurs neighbourhood.
Quality of Life
Verdun is highly skilled in mobilizing local stakeholders to help improve the
community’s quality of life. Local development efforts have proved to be solidly
successful and are cited as a model in this field, not only in Québec, but
throughout the entire world. Under the same heading, the existence of various
issue tables on different sectors of activity make it easy for Verdun residents
to rally around common causes and take action in support of full social
integration. The presence of prestigious organizations and specialized
institutions, such as the Canadian Red Cross, the École de cirque de Verdun, the
Yellow Pages Group, the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale
Douglas, Bell Canada and the Multi-Prêts, mortgage brokerage firm,
help give the borough’s an international impact.
Urban Infrastructure
The borough stands out for its sustained efforts in developing expertise in
the field of urban infrastructure. In 2004, Verdun scored a Canadian first by
deploying a high-tech environmental wastewater control system. The proximity of
Montréal’s business centre, the city’s excellent public transit service and
high-quality housing all serve to promote the borough’s role as a residential
community.
Quality Services
A wide range of quality cultural services are available to all borough
residents. The administration supports organizations that sponsor recreational
activities and intends to pursue its efforts to enhance the availability of
sports and recreational equipment for teens.
With the Environment in Mind
Verdun’s policies and activities highlight the borough’s strong interest in
preserving the environment. Planning in this field, which has been performed in
conjunction with environmental specialists, is aimed at ensuring the harmonious
development of flora and fauna. The borough stands out in this area for its
mosaicultures, which won the Grand Prize of Honour in the Mosaiculture International
Montréal 2003 inter‑borough competition.
1 Source : Census 2006 - Statistics Canada.
