Community snapshot: Pointe-Claire
If population turnover is any indication of the health and prosperity of a city, it’s fair to say that Pointe-Claire is doing pretty well. Homes are often occupied on a generational basis in this community situated on the banks of Lac St-Louis.
“There’s a lot of stability in our housing market,” said Bill McMurchie, who has served as mayor of Pointe-Claire since 1998. “People who live here aren’t transient. Residents stay here for decades, if not longer; it’s a reflection of their level of comfort with this community.”
That’s because it’s an environment in which people have a high quality of life, he added.
The waterfront city of PointeClaire is spread over 19.1 square kilometres and is bounded by Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Dorval, Kirkland and Beaconsfield. It became a municipality in 1854. At that time, and in the years following, agriculture was the principal activity in the small, mostly French-speaking village.
Over time, Pointe-Claire became known as an attractive vacation destination, particularly during the summer months. This brought about an influx of English-speaking people, who came for a vacation and ended up staying.
Pointe-Claire today is home to 30,932 residents. The average family income in the city is roughly $84,000 a year. Families make up a large chunk of PointeClaire’s population, and with good reason. The city offers several programs and services ideal for children.
“Our sporting facilities are without parallel for a municipality of this size,” McMurchie said. “We have over 2,500 children registered i n our soccer programs, and we have two indoor Olympic-sized pools that are staffed by wonderful swimming and diving coaches.”
Wonderful, indeed. PointeClaire has produced 26 Olympic competitors in water sports, who have raked in about 20 medals over the years. The city also has seven outdoor swimming pools, spread throughout its major parks.
The pools cater to all ages, and each one of them offers swimming lessons.
“Our pools also have programs and exercises for people who have trouble with mobility,” Mayor McMurchie said. “We have facilities and services suitable for all ages and ability groups in the city.”
The Pointe-Claire Canoe Club is another popular sporting centre in the city. The club has 1,200 members — including Thomas Hall, who won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In addition to exceptional recreational and athletic facilities, the city’s library is another source of pride, McMurchie said.
“It was opened in the 1960s and run by volunteers. Since then it has morphed into a modern library in every sense of the word.” It’s the No. 1 library in Quebec for communities with fewer than 50,000 residents, McMurchie explained. “This is measured in terms of circulation per capita and volume of information available.”
The Stewart Hall community centre is another well-known Pointe-Claire attraction. “The remarkable building was donated to the city several years ago on the condition that the land associated with it be kept as a park in perpetuity. We have concerts there, art shows, and cultural festivals. We produce several quality community based programs at Stewart Hall.”
Located down the street from Stewart Hall is the Pointe-Claire Village. This lovely section of the city is home to several beautifully preserved buildings, including a heritage site containing the Communal Mill, the Notre-Dame-du-Vieux-Moulin Convent, and the St. Joachim Church. The village is frequented by people from all over the island of Montreal.
Most of the residential dwellings in Pointe-Claire are single-family homes, although a handful of condo developments have been in the works of late. The H1 project, for instance, is a five-phase development on Hymus Blvd. between St-Jean and Sources Blvds. Phase 1 is already 85-percent sold, with delivery expected later this month. Phase 2 is currently selling as well, with delivery expected next summer. Prices for both phases range from $174,900 to $294,900, plus taxes and rebates.
In addition to a large residential base, Pointe-Claire also has healthy industrial and commercial sectors. “Fairview Shopping Centre has the third-highest taxable valuation on the island of Montreal,” McMurchie said. “Its total valuation is exceeded only by Place Ville-Marie and Complexe Desjardins. This commercial base contributes to our ability to keep our tax rate low for residents.”
McMurchie cites Pointe-Claire’s reputation as a primary reason why people stay in the community.
“I like to think that residents have a sense of stability living in Pointe-Claire,” he said. “We’ve had a strong administration and visionary councils over the years that have resulted in consistently positive developments for our citizens.”