Community snapshot: Châteauguay
The cosy South Shore community of Châteauguay was in the news after its mayor, Nathalie Simon, was hailed as a hero for reporting an attempted bribery in late 2013. But while the incredible story of the honest politician made headlines across the province, there are a lot of other reasons to pay attention to the largely residential community of Châteauguay.
“Châteauguay has a lot to offer,” Simon says. “It has a mix of country and urban life and a real community spirit; our citizens are present, engaged and dedicated.”
Located only 20 minutes away from Montreal via the Mercier Bridge, it’s a city rich in green space and waterfront territory.
The Refuge f aunique Marguerite-D’Youville and the Centre écologique Fernand-Seguin are two of the best-known green spaces in the community. Both are home to a variety of wildlife and marked trails covering sever- al kilometres. During the warmer months, there are also organized pontoon tours on the Châteauguay River.
“We’re lucky to have both a river and a lake,” Mayor Simon said.
“We also have a long history and a large inventory of heritage properties.”
According to the 2011 census, Châteauguay is spread over a territory of 35.89 square kilometres and is home to 45,904 residents. The city’s population increased 7.3 per cent between 2006 and 2011, a growth rate higher than the national average of 5.9 per cent.
Real-estate development during that same period was high as well. In fact, the number of private dwellings increased by 10 per cent; residential construction was very healthy, and kept up with the growing population.
The Via30 Condominium project, for instance, is conveniently located two minutes away from Autoroute 30, and only 10 minutes from the Mercier Bridge. The project features 4½ and 5½ condos, with prices starting at $176,900.
Châteauguay boasts one of the most bilingual populations on the South Shore. The average household contains 2.9 people, and the community is home to 12,445 families.
“It’s perfect for families because we have many schools, health services, a lot of parks, natural and historical areas, and an industrial park,” Mayor Simon said. “We also offer a large residential mix for every budget, and are constantly working on projects to make Châteauguay better for everyone.”
Many of Châteauguay’s residents have lived in the community for decades — some even for generations. This low population turnover is one of the best indicators of residents’ contentment with the city.
“I have lived in Châteauguay for 40 years and have taught here and been an administrator for 36 of those years, and I have to say that I am proud and happy to be a part of this great community,” said Karin Van Droffelaar, principal of Mary Gardner School, who in 2013 was named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals by the national organization Learning Partnership. “It has been a wonderful place to raise my own children, offering many varied experiences in sports, community groups and, of course, the many wonderful schools.”
There are indeed several organized associations and sporting activities going on yearround in Châteauguay. The Nautical Centre on the banks of Lac St-Louis, for example, allows residents to rent a variety of watercraft and also offers lessons and summer camps. In addition, the Centre Multisport de Châteauguay has three skating rinks which, in addition to offering recreational hours to the public, also host the city’s Midget AAA hockey team, speed skating, and figure skating clubs.
In terms of education, the community has t wo school boards serving the bilingual population through their many institutions at various academic and professional levels.
“The connections you make here are wonderful,” Van Droffelaar said. “The city has the perfect formula to raise a family; I look forward to my grandchildren taking advantage of the many oppor- tunities available to them in Châteauguay.”