Have you considered how a small village transformed into part of Montreal? The story of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount is one of growth and change. It is a story of families, professionals and the evolution of a community.
Let’s step back to the 1860s. The Catholic Diocese of Montreal was decentralizing power. Local parishes began handling administrative duties. Previously, these tasks were reserved for the central Parish of Montreal at Notre Dame Cathedral. In 1867, the Église Notre Dame de Grace gained this new authority.
A provincial law followed. It allowed parishes to incorporate into separate towns. Thus, the Village of Notre Dame de Grace formed on December 28, 1876. The village had three areas: Saint Luc, St Pierre and Notre Dame. Its borders touched Côte des Neiges and St. Laurent parishes to the north and east. Lachine and Côte St. Paul bordered it to the south and west. Jérémie-Daniel Decarie became the first elected mayor in 1877.
Transportation improved quickly. A horse-drawn tram linked the village to Montreal for the first time in 1878. Electric streetcars replaced horsepower by 1894. The Grand Trunk Railroad arrived in 1855. The Canadian Pacific Railroad followed in 1886.
More changes came. In 1893, St. Pierre and Montreal West split from the southwestern parts of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount. The Montreal Park & Island Railroad started building a tramway from Lachine to downtown in 1896. By 1900, this tramway provided regular passenger service. It helped people avoid the Lachine Canal transit. Sherbrooke Street became a prime area for development.
In 1903, Saint Luc became the town of Côte St. Luc. The population of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount had doubled between 1901 and 1906. So it became a town on March 9, 1906. The new town divided into St. Pierre, Turcot, Mount Royal Vale and Notre Dame wards.
Montreal expanded rapidly. Land development companies looked for expansion opportunities. The Kensington Land Development Company acquired large parcels in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount. They planned suburban streets. They partnered with the Montreal Tramway Corporation and Montreal Light Heat and Power. The orchards and melon farms gave way to suburban streets.
The town borrowed $400,000 in 1903. It needed to supply city services. In 1907, it contracted with the Montreal Park and Island Railway to develop streetcar lines. By 1910, the town was $1,400,000 in debt.
Thomas Trenholme, founder of Elmhurst Dairy, became mayor in 1906. He favored annexation by Westmount. From 1907 to 1910, council meetings focused on debt and annexation. The Council favored joining Westmount. However, many landowners preferred Montreal. In 1908, Westmount voted against annexation. So Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount was annexed by Montreal in 1910.
Even the city’s central school boards became interested. NDG initially fell under the Coteau St-Pierre School Commissioners. The provincial government split the region in 1916. The eastern half’s Protestant population went to the Protestant Board of School Commissioners.
The Coteau St. Pierre School Commission built Kensington elementary and West Hill high schools. The provincial government struck again in 1921. It awarded the rest of the NDG district to the PBSC.
Today, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount is a vibrant part of Montreal. It is home to families and professionals. The population in 2021 was 105,601. This area continues to evolve as a vital community within the larger city. It boasts numerous parks, churches, schools, cultural centers and Concordia University. N.D.G. is a vibrant community with much to offer.