montreal montreal pronounced french populous city quebec second populous municipality canada originally called city mary named triple peaked hill heart city city island montreal took source city smaller peripheral islands largest distinct season continental climate warm hot summers cold snowy winters city population montreal metropolitan area population population urban municipalities island montreal included estimate population metropolitan area montreal million french city official language language spoken home population city followed english languages census larger montreal census metropolitan area population speaks french home compared speak english montreal bilingual cities quebec canada population able speak english french montreal second largest primarily french speaking city world paris historically commercial capital canada surpassed population economic strength toronto 1970s remains important centre commerce finance technology design education culture tourism gaming film world affairs location headquarters montreal north american cities home organizations united_nations washington new_york second highest number continent montreal named city design montreal named north_america leading host city international association events according preliminary rankings edition ranked montreal 7th best city world university student according global ranking montreal ranked 14th cities montreal hosted multiple international conferences events history including international universal exposition summer olympic games canadian city held summer olympics currently city hosts formula laughs festival montreal ranked beta world city island called referring island southwest language land called meaning stopping place seven fires prophecy city named european settlers city mary current comes triple peaked hill heart city according theory derives modern french diary entry naming mountain refers royal possibility mentioned web site concerning canadian place names adopted written early map italian mountain real history pre european contact archaeological evidence demonstrates nations native people occupied island montreal early years ago year started years built fortified villages saint lawrence ethnicity distinct nations based present day new_york established village foot centuries french arrived found evidence locations valley 14th century french explorer visited october estimated population native people thousand people place seventy years later french explorer reported lawrence settlements disappeared altogether valley believed european diseases wars established fur trading post island montreal site initially named place confluence lawrence river present day stands map named island honour french seeking obtained title establish roman catholic mission natives hired paul lead group colonists build mission new colonists left france quebec arrived island following year marie founded southern shore montreal island governor settlement included chapel hospital command marie attacked raids spring attacks frequent violent thought end come settlers refuge fort colony montreal reduced forced return france raise volunteers colony following year effort failed montreal abandoned survivors located arrived fall population montreal barely people home colonists living modest wooden houses centre fur trade base exploration english allied attacked island montreal committing worst massacre history new france early 18th century established encourage french settlement wanted away fur trading post marie mission village known south lawrence river fathers persuaded new settlement hunting grounds north families moved create settlement known reserves canada canadian territory ruled french colony surrendered great_britain seven years war settlement appeared official documents montreal appeared time people referred island montreal long modern history montreal incorporated city opening canal permitted ships bypass construction victoria bridge established montreal major railway hub leaders montreal business community started build homes golden square mile km2 largest municipality british north_america undisputed economic cultural centre canada 19th century maintaining montreal drinking water increasingly difficult rapid increase population majority drinking water coming city harbor busy heavily leading deterioration water mid 1840s city montreal installed water system pump water transported desired location water system type montreal private ownership middle 19th century water distribution carried open close water outside buildings directed city lacked modern systems impossible connect buildings acted conservation method population finished rising rose montreal capital lost status mob burnt parliament building protest passage rebellion losses bill strategic reasons queen_victoria established ottawa capital reasons located interior nation susceptible attack importantly lay border french english canada small town ottawa seen compromise montreal toronto kingston young nation official capital camp set immigration hall montreal august november world war prohibition movement united_states led montreal destination americans looking alcohol unemployment remained high city exacerbated great depression world war mayor protested conscription urged federal government registry men women government allied forces furious stand held prison camp year government decided institute conscription expand armed forces fight nazis conscription crisis montreal official residence royal family exile world war montreal population surpassed million toronto growth begun challenging montreal status economic capital canada volume stocks traded surpassed traded 1940s saint lawrence opened allowing vessels bypass montreal time development led end city economic dominance businesses moved areas 1960s continued growth including world fair known expo construction canada tallest new subway system known montreal metro 1970s period wide ranging social political changes stemming largely concerns french speaking majority conservation culture language given traditional english canadian minority business arena october crisis election supporting sovereign status quebec resulted departure businesses people city montreal host olympics 1980s early 1990s montreal experienced slower rate economic growth major canadian cities montreal merged surrounding municipalities island montreal january creating unified city covering entire island great resistance suburbs merger perception forced english suburbs expected proved unpopular later rescinded municipalities totalling population island voted leave unified city separate june took place january leaving municipalities island including montreal merged municipalities remain affiliated city council collects taxes pay numerous shared services city history montreal annexed cities towns villages beginning prior 21st century brought revival city economic cultural landscape construction new residential super hospitals centre creation reconstruction interchanges construction new subway line extensions purchase new subway cars complete expansion completion quebec reconstruction bridge construction new toll bridge helping montreal continue grow geography montreal southwest province quebec city covers confluence saint lawrence ottawa rivers port montreal lies end saint lawrence river gateway stretches great lakes atlantic montreal defined location river south north city named prominent geographical feature island head hill called topped sea level montreal centre bordered city north municipalities south east municipalities west montreal west town mount royal surrounded montreal climate montreal classified humid continental climate climate classification summers warm humid daily maximum average july temperatures excess common conversely cold fronts bring crisp drier weather early later parts summer winter brings cold snowy times weather daily average ranging january winter days rise freezing allowing rain average days january february usually snow covering bare ground lasts average second week december week march air temperature fall year wind makes temperature feel low exposed skin spring fall mild prone drastic temperature changes spring fall late season heat waves indian summers possible early late season snow storms occur november march rarely april montreal generally snow free april november lowest temperature environment canada books january highest temperature august international airport modern weather record keeping dates minimum temperature degrees lower recorded january registered annual precipitation including average snowfall occurs november march thunderstorms common period beginning late spring summer early fall additionally tropical storms remnants cause heavy rains montreal averages hours sunshine annually summer season slightly terms total precipitation thunderstorms architecture century half montreal industrial financial centre canada legacy left variety buildings including factories elevators warehouses mills today provide insight city history especially downtown area area national historic sites canada city city earliest standing buildings date late 16th early 17th centuries old montreal area seminary adjacent notre dame dates built find important examples early colonial architecture city situated oldest complete building city point charles visitors saint trace history historic buildings old montreal original form notre dame montreal market impressive 19th century headquarters major canadian banks james street french montreal earliest buildings characterized uniquely french influence grey stone construction completed art main building landmark place marie office tower controversial olympic stadium surrounding structures notable examples city 20th century architecture designed international universal exposition popularly known expo featured wide range architectural designs temporary structures landmarks including dome montreal striking habitat apartment complex public artwork biggest names quebec culture montreal named city design design capitals world berlin buenos_aires distinguished title recognizes montreal design community city home officially set complexes ground downtown city composed large subdivided des notre dame grace plateau mount royal marie centre extension east des northeast saint northwest south west south independent cities forced merged montreal january following municipal reorganization montreal borough includes downtown historical district international development interest borough include affluent golden square mile neighbourhood foot area home thousands students borough comprises island notre dame island borough working class area largest neighbourhood plateau confused borough undergoing considerable study deemed canada creative neighbourhood artists comprise labour force neighbourhood mile end northwestern borough area city features montreal known establishments extreme southwestern portion borough derived fact home thousands students faculty members south west borough home city industry late 19th early mid 20th century borough included home traditionally working class irish point low income notable include areas notre dame des des notre dame grace borough borough home olympic stadium borough old montreal old montreal historic area southeast downtown containing attractions place place museum notre dame montreal architecture streets old montreal maintained restored frequented horse drawn carrying tourists old montreal accessible downtown core underground city served bus routes metro stations ferries network bicycle paths riverside area adjacent known site port montreal shipping operations moved east larger site leaving location recreational historical area maintained new port montreal canada largest container port largest inland port earth mountain site montreal largest park wooded designed designed new_york inaugurated park contains prominent plaza overlooking downtown montreal features park small man lake short ski slope sculpture garden centre known monument sir park hosts athletic tourist cultural activities mountain home major notre dame des founded acres cemetery north slope borough notre dame des cemetery larger predominantly french canadian officially catholic people buried mount royal cemetery contains graves final resting place number notable canadians includes veterans section soldiers awarded british_empire highest military honour victoria_cross mount royal cemetery company established canada cross mountain placed founder city virgin mary praying stop disastrous flood today mountain crowned high illuminated cross installed john baptist society owned city converted light new system turn lights red blue purple sign mourning death pope election demographics according canadian census city inhabitants total lived montreal census metropolitan area census census boundaries means population growth year census children years age constituted inhabitants years age numbered total population people european formed largest cluster ethnic groups largest reported european census french italians irish english scottish spanish population montreal members visible minority non white group visible minorities comprised population census numerous visible minorities blacks arabs latin americans south chinese visible minorities defined persons non white colour according report published city population island expected number million increase estimated number million people suggesting area surpass million threshold according greater montreal area expected number visible minorities terms mother language language learned census reported spoke french language followed english spoke language remaining montreal area residents speaking languages including italian arabic spanish chinese greek portuguese romanian vietnamese russian terms additional languages spoken unique feature montreal canadian cities noted working knowledge french english possessed residents predominantly roman catholic weekly attendance quebec lowest canada historically montreal centre catholicism north_america numerous churches including notre dame marie total population christian largely roman catholic primarily descendants original french settlers italian irish origins include canada lutheran owing british german immigration denominations number consisting orthodox christians large greek population number russian ukrainian orthodox parishes islam largest non christian religious group members second largest concentration muslims canada jewish community montreal population cities saint jewish people constitute majority substantial population recently jewish community high political economic led leave montreal province quebec religious breakdown population montreal christian religion muslim jewish buddhist hindu religions economy montreal second largest economy canadian cities based largest quebec city today important centre commerce finance industry technology culture world affairs headquarters industries include electronic goods printed goods software engineering telecommunications textile manufacturing tobacco transportation service sector strong includes civil mechanical process engineering finance higher education research development montreal fourth largest centre north_america terms jobs port montreal largest inland ports world handling million tonnes cargo annually important ports canada remains trans shipment point grain sugar petroleum products machinery consumer goods reason montreal railway hub canada extremely important rail city home headquarters home headquarters headquarters southeast montreal montreal hosts headquarters united_nations body olympic body association world airports international organizations fields montreal centre film television production headquarters studios documentary producer city head offices national feature length film television funding agency given eclectic architecture broad availability film services crew members montreal popular filming location feature length films stands european locations city home recognized cultural film music festivals laughs montreal international jazz festival montreal world film festival contribute significantly economy home world largest cultural enterprises video game industry montreal coinciding opening recently city attracted world leading game developers publishers studios artificial mind movement strategy mainly quality local specialized labor tax credits offered corporations recently division announced open video game studio relatively new video game industry studio opened purchased develop games franchises batman games portfolio studio create jobs montreal plays important role finance industry sector employs approximately people march montreal ranked 21st position index ranking financial centres world city home oldest stock exchange canada financial derivatives exchange country corporate headquarters biggest banks canada montreal banks moved headquarters toronto ontario legal corporate offices remain montreal city home head offices smaller banks placement investor managing assets totalling billion main business office montreal foreign operating financial sector offices montreal including companies headquartered including whitney canada canada steamship lines rail placement montreal billion billion placing 41st city world largest centre canada companies like canada shell decided close centre throwing hundreds work causing increased dependence foreign eastern canada culture montreal referred canada magazine city canada centre french language television productions radio theatre film print publishing montreal cultural communities given distinct local culture north american city montreal shares cultural characteristics rest continent tradition producing jazz rock music city produced talent fields visual arts theatre music dance confluence french english traditions montreal developed unique distinguished cultural face distinctive characteristic cultural life animation downtown particularly summer prompted cultural social events particularly festivals city largest festival largest jazz festival world popular festivals include laughs largest comedy festival world montreal world film festival les pop montreal montreal fireworks festival smaller festivals totalling year montreal cultural heart classical art venue summer festivals complex different concert theatre halls surrounding large square eastern portion downtown place des arts headquarters world foremost grand chamber orchestra regarded montreal performing city chief ballet company les internationally recognized avant garde dance marie jean toured world worked international popular artists videos concerts unique choreography paved way success world renowned nicknamed cent city montreal renowned churches noted time city couldn throw brick breaking church window city roman catholic mary queen aforementioned notre dame largest church canada second largest copper dome world rome sports popular sport ice hockey professional hockey team original teams won record stanley cup championships recent victory came major rivalries boston original hockey teams played prior played montreal play stadium campus regular season games late season playoff games played larger enclosed olympic stadium played host won grey cup seven times recently periods hiatus second montreal machine played play university football league montreal baseball history city home minor league montreal international_league broke baseball colour barrier emotionally difficult year robinson forever grateful local fans support major_league_baseball came town form played games park moving olympic stadium years montreal team relocated washington branded montreal impact city professional soccer team play soccer specific stadium called joined north_america biggest soccer league montreal games world cup women world cup held olympic stadium venue hosted montreal games women world cup montreal site high profile auto racing event year formula racing race takes place famous circuit race dropped formula calendar fans canadian grand prix returned formula calendar hosted round car world series home nascar nationwide series race grand sports car series race built site rogers cup men women tennis tournaments men tournament masters event women tournament premier tournament men women tournaments alternate montreal toronto year montreal host summer olympic games stadium cost billion interest figure nearly billion paid december montreal hosted world summer attracting participants engaged sporting activities montreal host city 17th world championship convention august montreal national_basketball_association nba early discussions expansion franchise located city media montreal canada second largest media market centre canada media industry air english language television stations global city air french language television stations montreal daily newspapers english language montreal gazette french language journal free french montreal numerous weekly community newspapers serving ethnic groups schools government head city government montreal mayor equals city council member resigned mayor november office acting mayor held city councillor november selected new mayor resigned june assumed office acting mayor selection november 3rd elections won sworn november city council elected institution final decision making authority city power centralized executive committee council consists members council jurisdiction matters including public security agreements governments programs environment urban planning year capital expenditure program council required supervise approve certain decisions borough councils reporting directly council executive committee exercises decision making powers similar cabinet parliamentary system responsible preparing documents including budgets laws submitted council approval decision making powers executive committee cover particular awarding contracts grants management human financial resources supplies buildings assigned powers city council standing committees prime instruments public consultation responsible public study pending matters making appropriate recommendations council review annual budget forecasts departments jurisdiction public notice meeting published french english daily newspapers seven days meeting meetings include public question period standing committees seven terms lasting years addition city_council decide create special committees time standing committee seven members including chairman vice chairman members elected municipal officers exception representative government quebec public security committee city component larger montreal metropolitan community charge planning coordinating financing economic development public transportation garbage collection waste management etc metropolitan area president mayor montreal covers square kilometres million inhabitants montreal seat judicial district montreal includes city communities island education universities seven degree awarding institutions kilometre radius montreal highest concentration post secondary students major cities north_america students residents followed boston students residents higher education english canada leading post secondary institutions widely regarded world class institution ranked eleventh consecutive year best 24th best university world created merger sir higher education french second largest research university canada ranked universities canada separate institutions affiliated university school engineering founded considered best business schools canada montreal campus generally liberal arts programs related sciences available network separately run schools notably administration formation theology philosophy offers bachelor master program classical music additionally french language universities campuses nearby suburb montreal south shore des montreal university center ottawa nova_scotia montreal based serving french protestant community canada offering bachelor master program theology education system quebec different systems north_america high school ends grade university students additional school called offer pre university years technical years programs montreal seventeen offer courses french english english language elementary secondary public schools operated french language elementary secondary public schools montreal operated commission commission commission transportation like major cities montreal problem traffic congestion traffic cities towns claire compounded entering city use road crossings numerous island suburbs width saint lawrence river construction fixed links south shore expensive difficult presently road bridges including country busiest bridge tunnel railway bridges metro line far narrower city north separating montreal spanned road bridges city span directly north shore metro line island montreal hub quebec system served known expressway island montreal aka expressway south north aka system known metropolitan simply met elevated mid town section aka marie frequently rush hour recent years government acknowledged problem working long term solutions alleviate congestion example extension quebec montreal south shore serve bypass transport public local transport served network buses commuter trains extend island subway bus system operated transport bus network consists daytime nighttime routes bus routes serve passengers average weekday provides adapted transport wheelchair accessible buses won award outstanding public transit system north_america time canadian company won prize metro inaugurated stations lines canada busiest subway system total daily passenger usage serving passengers average weekday station designed different architects individual themes features original artwork trains run rubber tires making system project initiated montreal mayor later brought summer olympic games montreal metro system long station extended city north montreal new stations commuter rail system managed operated transport reaches outlying areas lines carried average daily passengers making sixth busiest north_america following new_york chicago boston philadelphia toronto april new planned automated rapid transit system unveiled kilometre long network consisting branches stations planned completed late largest automated rapid transit network financed pension fund manager placement air montreal international airports passengers cargo known airport serves commercial passenger traffic headquarters north city montreal international airport envisioned montreal primary airport serves cargo flights general aviation passenger services busiest airport canada passenger traffic fourth aircraft movements handling million passengers aircraft movements passengers non domestic flights largest percentage international flights canadian airport airport served carriers destinations worldwide serving offer flights europe united_states middle_east central_america caribbean africa mexico destinations canada contains largest duty free shop north_america rail montreal based rail provides rail service cities canada particularly toronto windsor corridor amtrak national passenger rail system operates daily new_york trains commuter trains operate headquartered calgary alberta founded corporate headquarters occupied windsor station street port montreal kept open year round lines surplus montreal railway eastern freight terminus connects montreal port montreal delaware hudson railway new_york buckingham montreal maine halifax flagship train canadian ran daily vancouver passenger services transferred canadian terminates toronto montreal based formed canadian government following series country wide rail formed midland canadian northern railways risen chief rival freight carriage canada like passenger services favour flagship train ran daily vancouver transferred eliminated notable people international relations twin towns sister cities montreal sister cities friendship cities paris france
Montreal