What secrets does Sainte-Thérèse Island hold? Here, nestled in the St. Lawrence River, lies a place steeped in history and natural beauty. Sainte-Thérèse Island, just northeast of Montreal, is a captivating island. It’s the fifth largest in the Hochelaga Archipelago, a testament to its significant presence.
Sainte-Thérèse Island’s story begins with the Indigenous peoples who first inhabited the St. Lawrence Valley. Archaeological remains reveal their presence dating back 2,500 years. These early inhabitants likely used the island for short stays or hunting expeditions. In 1665, Charles Le Moyne d’Iberville, while hunting on Sainte-Thérèse Island, was captured by the Iroquois, highlighting the island’s role in early conflicts.
The island’s recorded history began in 1662. It was granted to Ignace Boucher, son of Pierre Boucher. The name Sainte-Thérèse, possibly a tribute to Queen Marie-Thérèse, appeared around this time. Michel-Sidrac Du Gué de Boisbriand, a captain in the Carignan Regiment, became the island’s first European settler in 1667. He cleared land and shipped oak logs to the Quebec shipyard. Some of this wood was even used to build a ship called the Griffon.
In 1672, Sainte-Thérèse Island and the neighboring islands became the seigneury of Île Sainte-Thérèse, granted to Du Gué de Boisbriand. This marked the beginning of the island’s development as an agricultural center. The island’s 1681 census recorded 53 residents in 14 dwellings, highlighting its growing population. Among these early settlers were Louis Brien dit Desrochers, ancestor of families who lived on Sainte-Thérèse Island until 1952, and Jean Bousquet, a master gunsmith.
Du Gué de Boisbriand died in 1689. His friend, Charles-Gaspard Piot de Langloiserie, married Du Gué’s daughter and took over the island’s management. By 1695, Sainte-Thérèse Island’s population had increased by 60%, evidence of its fertile land and growing prosperity. In 1742, Louis-Hector Piot de Langloiserie became the new lord of the island. He was involved in discussions of marriage with Marguerite Du Frost de la Jammerai, who later became known as Mère d’Youville.
During the English conquest of 1760, General Murray used Sainte-Thérèse Island as a camp for his troops before advancing on Montreal. He even created a detailed map of the island and its surroundings. Under English rule, the island changed hands. Louis-Joseph Ainse, a successful trader, became the lord in 1781 and built the island’s first windmill. His son’s daughters, Françoise and Zoé, played a role in the Patriots’ Rebellion of 1837-38. Their home on Sainte-Thérèse Island reportedly housed a printing press used for “La Minerve,” the Patriots’ journal.
Life on Sainte-Thérèse Island continued, with a schoolteacher arriving in 1841. However, with no hamlet or church, inhabitants relied on neighboring towns for trade, religious services, and administrative matters. The population declined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1950s, after the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the use of icebreakers, the last residents, including Raoul Durocher, a descendant of one of the island’s original families, left Sainte-Thérèse Island.
In the mid-20th century, the island became known for its beaches, served by ferrymen from Varennes and Montreal. A park operated briefly in the 1980s, featuring a cycle path and picnic areas. New park projects were proposed in the 2010s. Sainte-Thérèse Island, despite facing ecological challenges due to erosion and pollution, remains a place of historical significance and natural beauty. It holds the echoes of its past, from Indigenous settlements to colonial struggles, whispering stories to those who listen closely.