The history of
Montérégie

Carte sur l’histoire de la montérégie
  1. Prehistory

    Aboriginal presence in Pointe-du-Buisson (Melocheville) and in the Sorel region.

  2. 1642

    The founding of the city of Sorel, forth oldest city in Canada.

  3. 1657

    Year that Longueuil was founded through a Seigneury concession act to Charles Le Moyne.

  4. 1665

    Louis XIV decides to come to the aid of the colony and sends the Carignan-Salière regiment to face the Iroquois threat.

  5. 1665

    Construction of Route 1 “Chemin Chambly” between the cities of Chambly and Longueuil by the troops of the Carignan-Salière regiment, under the orders of Daniel Rentry de Courcelle, governor of New France. First road suitable for cars in Canada.

  6. 1665

    Construction of a wooden fort in Chambly, near the Richelieu River rapids, in order to prohibit the Iroquois access to the region.

  7. 1667

    The founding of the François-Xavier Mission in La Prairie to teach Native Americans the Christian religion.

  8. 1668

    The founding of Boucherville. Settlement of Pierre Boucher on the land of “Seigneuries des Îles-Percées”.

  9. 1673

    The founding of Châteauguay.

  10. 1708

    Construction of a windmill in Pointe-du-Moulin on l’Île-Perrot.

  11. 1709

    A stone fort replaces the wooden fort in Chambly.

  12. 1716-1717

    The Saint-François-Xavier Mission is moved and becomes Kahnawake.

  13. 1748

    The founding of the city of Saint-Hyacinthe.

  14. 1750

    The French dig the Rigolet Canal in Côteau-du-lac. First canal in North America.

  15. 1759

    The French undertake the construction of a star-shaped fort on l’Île-aux-Noix. It will become British in 1760.

  16. 1759-1760

    Battle of Québec and defeat of Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham. The French colony is surrendered to the British.

  17. 1768

    The return from exile after the “Great Upheaval” of 1755 (the expulsion of the Acadians), who settle in Sainte-Marguerite-de Blairfindie, which becomes “petite Acadie” and then L’Acadie.

  18. 1775

    Battle against the American troops at Dorion.

  19. 1779-1780

    The British build the first canal lock in North America in Coteau-du-Lac. An octagonal bunker will ensure its protection starting in 1812.

  20. 1781

    The British build the Lacolle River Blockhouse(the only building of its type in Québec still intact).

  21. 1813

    Under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry, the Canadian troops take down the American army at Allan’s Corner, better known as “The Battle of the Châteauguay”.

  22. 1819

    The construction of military buildings, by the British, on the site of the old French fort of l’Île-aux-Noix, which is Fort-Lennox.

  23. 1836

    Inauguration of the first Canadian railroad between La Prairie and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

  24. 1837-1838

    Patriots’ rebellion against the British regime. Victory at Saint-Denis.

  25. 1843

    Inauguration of the Chambly Canal, open to commercial navigation on the Richelieu River.

  26. 1845

    The construction of the Beauharnois Canal.

  27. 1851

    Inauguration of the first international railroad between Longueuil and Portland via Acton Vale.

  28. 1860

    Construction of Victoria Bridge. First bridge linking Montréal and the South Shore.

  29. 1861

    Construction of a covered bridge in Powerscourt (Hinchinbrooke). It is the oldest covered bridge in Canada.

  30. 1879

    Opening of world known organ builders, Casavant et Frères, in Saint-Hyacinthe.

  31. 1909

    Opening of King Edward amusement park on l’Île Groisbois in Boucherville. It closes its doors permanently in 1922.

  32. 1930

    The Airship R100, coming from Carling in Great Britain, lands in Saint-Hubert after its first and only transatlantic flight.

  33. 1959

    Opening of the Saint-Lawrence Seaway.

  34. 1978

    UNESCO recognizes Mont Saint-Hilaire as the first “Biosphere Reserve” in Canada.

  35. 2000

    UNESCO recognizes the Archipelago of Lake Saint-Pierre as the second “Biosphere Reserve” in Montérégie.