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Verdun is a borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec. It is located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, five minutes from downtown Montreal. Mainland Verdun is characterized by medium-density residential dwellings. L'Île des Soeurs is also part of the borough. In Verdun, residents and visitors alike can enjoy the expansive shoreline of the St. Lawrence River and l'Île des Soeurs.
History
Before it was converted into a borough, Verdun was one of the province's oldest municipalities. It was founded in 1671 by Zacharie Dupuis, one of the first landholders on the Island of Montreal. He named Verdun after his native village of Saverdun in France. The religious community of Soeur Marguerite Bourgeois inherited his property and changed the name of l'Île St-Paul to l'Île des Soeurs. In 1956, l'Île des Soeurs was integrated into Verdun.
In the early 1900s, Verdun became a densely populated suburb, resulting from industries springing up in Montreal. It resisted annexation by the city of Montreal in the 1930s. The 1970s saw the closure of many of Verdun's industries, and unemployment and poverty brought a demographic exodus.
The Verdun Economic Forum, created in 1991, introduced new life into commercial activity and attracted young families by facilitating access to home ownership. One of the Forum's many endeavours included hosting the Worldwide Kite Rendez-Vous. This event brought more than 100,000 visitors in 1993 and continued until 1999.
Verdun became a borough of Montreal in 2002 as a consequence of the municipal reorganization of Montreal that took place between 2002 and 2006.
