About L'Île-Bizard

L'île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève is a borough of Montreal. Located northwest of the city, the district is bordered by the Lake of the Two Mountains and the Rivière des Prairies. To the south, it neighbors the Pierrefonds-Roxboro district. Away from the hectic pace of the city, this family-friendly region offers an array of green areas.
Formerly called Île Bonaventure, it was renamed Île Bizard in 1723 after Jacques Bizard, to whom it was granted as a fief in 1678 as part of the seigneurial system of New France. The island was also used by the settlers of New France to bring lumber from the river to Montreal using wooden rafts. Previously, the island was an independent municipality called St. Raphael de L'Île-Bizard, but it was forced to merge with the city of Montreal and became the borough of L'Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève. On June 20, 2004, a referendum was held on separation. Even though more than 50% voted in favor of the split, it was unsuccessful as this accounted for less than the necessary 35% of the electorate.
Offering residents a quiet and relaxing environment away from downtown Montreal, this area is a convenient place to live. Multiple green spaces, one of which is a nature park and highly rated golf courses, combine to make it the perfect location for residents who love the outdoors, and also for families looking to keep their kids entertained close to home. However, don't be fooled by the tranquil and residential ambiance of the area, as there is much to discover.
L'île-Bizard has a very casual environment that mirrors family life. Depending on the season, children can be seen here enjoying themselves playing in the parks or playing in the snow in their own front yards. At the same time, the region draws people from all over the city, which includes sports aficionados to the nature park and golf enthusiasts to one of the highly rated golf courses.
Given the comfortable and peaceful ambiance of the area, it is mainly family-oriented and encompasses both new and old families alike. As a matter of fact, close to one-third of the area residents are under the age of 20. Despite having one of the lowest immigrant populations in Montreal, this area is the most bilingual in the city.This neighborhood does not lack for green spaces, with six parks and recreation areas and one nature park. Home to a public library and a venue for shows of theater, music, and dancing called the Salle Pauline-Julien, the district is also home to a large number of students from neighboring boroughs. College students from neighboring districts (mainly from the West Island) also frequent the area to pursue their French studies at the Collège Gérald-Godin.
The area has older and newer properties to accommodate all budgets. The same goes for the area's hotspots, which offer everything from high-end restaurants serving French cuisine to humble bakeries and breakfast joints.