B is for Boucherville

I chose Boucherville for the letter B because right before Christmas I met a second cousin on my paternal grandfather's side that resides in the town of Boucherville about 15 minutes from Montreal on the south side of the St. Lawrence River. We now correspond regularly, exchange photographs of our family and have become great friends. Finding him was a gift.

Boucherville is one of the oldest municipalities in Québec. In 1668, Pierre Boucher began farming in the area and 4 years later received his seigneury, consisting of Îles-Percées and the adjacent islands.
Boucher secured the community against Iroquois attack by constructing a palisade. In 1843 a tragic fire destroyed almost the entire village. In 1856, Boucherville divided into 2 distinct municipalities: village and parish. In 1956, the parish lots with frontage on the St Lawrence River rejoined the village and a year later Boucherville was incorporated as a city. In 1963, the remaining territory of the municipality of the parish and the city of Boucherville merged. In 2002, Boucherville lost its municipal status when it was amalgamated into the new city of Longueuil.

courtesy - Bernard Gagnon

Old Boucherville is the original section of the city that contains the former village and Sainte-Famille Church. The neighbourhood is located between Saint-Lawrence River, the boulevards du Fort Saint-Louis, de Montarville et de Montbrun. Many of the buildings there are officially classified as historic monuments.

Iles-de-Boucherville National Park
courtesy - Stephane Batigne