Varennes (Quebec)

History

The history of Varennes starts with the arrival of the Régiment of Carignan-Salt boxes. Rene Gaultier, sior of Varennes, are made give two concessions by the large intendant Jean Talon. It should be noted that Rene-Gaultier is the grandfather of Sainte Marguerite d' Youville. Jaques Rene, the son of Rene Gaultier was the 2nd lord of Varennes. Five seigniories formed the parish of Varennes later. They are the seigniories of the Cape of Varennes, the Holy-Therese island, Large House, the Cape of the trinity and the Cape Saint-Michel. The city was conquered by the British during the Seven Year old war. It belonged to the province of Quebec then Low-Canada before remaking part of Quebec.

In 1837, Louis-Joseph Papineau, being the subject of a warrant for arrest for high treason because of his patriotic activities finds refuge in Varennes before exiling himself towards the United States. See excel it text of Sophie Geoffrion entitled " November 16th, 1837 - the secret meeting of Varennes" on the site patriots of 1837@1838.

In the middle of the 19th century, Varennes was known like a seaside resort. A hotel and various installations of holiday were found there. The gray Sœurs had there also an old people's home. A source of salt water emerged close to these installations. Starting from the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the year 1970, a company Montréalaise, Gurd, bottled this salt water which it distributed under the name “Vée de Vée”, which points out initial town of Varennes.

Chronology of events

1692 Nomination of Flying Claude, first priest resident;
1693 Opening of the registers of the parish;
1780 Construction of the church Holy-Anne;
1827 Opening of the first post office of Varennes;
1832 canonical Erection of the parish Holy-Anne;
1848 Constitution of the municipality of the village of Varennes;
1854 Foundation of the Saint-Paul College;
1855 Constitution of the municipality of the parish of Holy-Anne-of-Varennes;
1944 Foundation of the Popular Case of Varennes
1972 Fusion of the municipalities of Holy-Anne-of-Varennes and Varennes to form the town of Varennes;
1993 the church Holy-Anne is declared basilica minor;
2007 Closing of elementary school J.P. Labarre.

Native personalities of Varennes

Holy Marguerite d' Youville (1701-1771) Founder of the Sisters of the better known Charity of Montreal under the name of gray Sisters. It was béatifiée in 1953 per Jean XXIII and Jean-Paul II canonized it in 1990.
Theodore Robitaille (1834-1897) Lieutenant-governor of the province of Quebec of 1879 to 1884. He was senator thereafter.
Sylvain Attic (1977-) Fighter of WWE
Marc-Andre Perron (1988-) Goalkeeper of the Cataracts of Shawinigan.

Priests of Varennes (to be supplemented)

the abbot Claude Stealing (1654-1719) 1e cleaned of 1692 until its death
the abbot Michel Poulin de Courval (1688-1760) 2nd priest of 1719 to 1725
the abbot Paul-Armand Ulric (1693-1749) 3rd priest of 1725 with his death
the abbot Jean-Baptiste Maisonbasse (1721-1780) 4th priest of 1749 to 1750
Jean-Baptiste Lecoudray (1698-1760) 5th priest of 1750 until his death
the abbot Antoine Morand (1724-1773) 6th priest of 1761 until his death
François Shoed Of Buron (1727-1801) 7th priest of 1773 until his death
Shoed-Duburon the François abbot (1727-1801) 8th priest of 1773 until his death
the abbot Maurice-Joseph Lamedèque-Felix (1773-1831) Vicar of 1800 to 1802
the abbot Antoine-Eméric Lemaire Saint-Germain (approx 1757-1804) 9th priest of 1802-1804
the abbot Spirit-Zéphirin Fire-dog (1763-1805) 10th priest of 1804 until his death
the François-Joseph abbot Disguises (1759-1835) 11th priest of 1806 to 1833
the abbot Pierre Grenir (1791-1834) 12th priest of 1833 until his death
the abbot Charles-Joseph Primeau (1792-1855) 13th priest of 1834 until his death
Mgr Joseph Desautels (1814-1881) 14th priest of 1855 until his death
the abbot Joseph-Solomon Théberge (1827-1899) 15th priest of 1881 until his death
the abbot François-Governed Bonin (1851-????) 16th priest of 1899 to 1903
the abbot Joseph Cart (1850-1907) 17th priest of 1903 until his death. It is responsible for the construction of the Presbytère
the abbot Jean-Louis Gaudet (1849-????) 18th priest of 1908 to 1917
Mgr Ironwood Jobin (1868-1942) 19th priest of 1917 until his death 1942.
the abbot Andre Beauregard, canon (1886-1986), 20th priest of 1942 to 1962.
the abbot Elisee Choquette, (1900-1972), 21e cleaned of 1962 to 1970.
the abbot Roger Cyr, (1923-????), 22e cleaned of 1970 to 1975.
the abbot Maurice Lafond c.s.c. , (1915-????), 23e cleaned of 1975 to 1984.
the abbot Rene Désourdy, (1936-????), 24e cleaned of 1984 to 1993.
Father Yvon Préfontaine c.s.v. , (1926-2003), 25e cleaned of 1993 to 1996.
the Barred Norman abbot, (1929-1998), 26e cleaned of 1996 until its death 1998.
the abbot Jude Péloquin, (???? -????), interim of 1998 to 1999.
Father Salesse France, (1954-????), 27e cleaned of 1999 to 2005.
Father Gerald Champagne c.s.v. , (1942-????), 28e cleaned of 2005 to 2007.
the abbot Raymond Poisson, (1958-????), 29e cleaned of 2007 with????.

Mayors of Varennes (to be supplemented)

Village of Varennes

Marc-Amable Girard of 1862 to 1871
Napoleon Duschesnois of 1882 to 1886

Town of Varennes (since 1972)

Louis-Philippe Dalpé of 1979 to 1988
Jean Robert of 1988 to 2005
Michel Tremblay of 2005 to date

Juniors by Youville

There exists the body of junior by the Canadian royal navy (172 Youville) which draws its name from Marguerite d' Youville (CCMRC 172 Youville)

Education

Elementary schools

The town of Varennes is served by 6 elementary schools.

A seventh, the Labarre school, accommodated its last students at the time of the school year 2006-2007. One finds there also the educational Center Chante Feather, educational establishment private offering the primary education level.

Secondary schools

The public school the Crossroads reception in 2007 approximately 850 pupils, coming from Varennes, Verchères and Calixa-Lavallée. It is open since 1997. It offers the levels secondary 1,2 and 3. The pupils generally continue their secondary 4 and 5 with general-purpose of Mortagne of Boucherville.

The Collège St-Paul of Varennes is a founded private institution in 1854 by Mgr Désautels, priest of the parish. He was initially entrusted to the Frères of Co.-Cross, then with secular priests for finally, in 1899 to be put under the responsibility of the Frères of the Christian schools.

Culture and leisures

The Jacques-Lemoyne-of-Holy-Marie library has a collection of more than 68 00 documents (books, reviews, CD, newspapers, etc). Its catalog is accessible by Internet.

Several public institutions or private support the artistic development in Varennes, like the organization VarennArt (diffusion, organization of events), the music school High-Range and the Academy of Arts and Art schools. The St-Paul College also has a theater of 475 seats.

The arena Louis-Philippe Dalpé, of the grounds of soccer in 5 parks, 4 grounds of baseball, 6 tennis courts, 8 grounds of Volley ball and the football fields are at the disposal of the population. Since 2006, the park Pre-Green is equipped with a synthetic surface for the soccer and football. In winter, Varennois have of 5 skating rinks with bands, 2 frozen circuits and basic ski slopes.

Several sports associations make it possible to the young people to practice in an organized way their sports activities. One finds particularly:

minor Association of hockey of Varennes
Association of minor baseball of Varennes
Association of football of Varennes
Association of soccer of Varennes
Club of figure skating of Varennes
Club of taekwondo of Varennes Inc.
Club of judo of Varennes

For the nautical activities, a slope of setting to water and a municipal quay are at the disposal of the citizens.

Cultural activities

Since 2006, the entertaining and cultural services of Varennes organize the activity “the Great outdoors” of Varennes presented by Lotto-Quebec. This event festive wishes a gathering of fan of the kite. During 4 days the amateurs of kites can come to admire these large artificial birds. One can attend with demonstrations, competitions and air ballets of kites. One sees there also demonstrations of parapente and ski kites. Spaces are also placed at the disposal of artist buildings which can present and sell their works to it. Lastly, of the special spectacles and other events the evenings decorate.

Historic buildings and architecture

Basilica Holy-Anne of Varennes

The canonical erection of the parish Holy-Anne took place in 1725.

The current church at summer set up between 1884 and 1887. It is the third church to be set up on these places. The plans are architects Henri-Maurice Perrault and Albert Mesnard. Of eclectic architecture, it presents mixture of a Romance, Byzantine and Gothic style.

It at summer indicated minor Basilica in 1993 by the pope Jean-Paul II.

Martyrdoms

One call Martyrdom a cross of way on which a Christ is suspended. The martyrdom of Varennes represents also the two brigands who were crucifiés with dimensions of Jesus. This martyrdom located at the end is street Holy-Anne. Its date of erection is not clear. According to the site of the town of Varennes Toponymy of Varennes, it would go back to 1767 and would be allotted to the sculptor Michel Brisset. According to the site Grand Québec.comil would go back to 1829. Perhaps confusion comes owing to the fact that it was rebuilt by using statutes of old.

It was classified historic building in 1962.

Vault of procession Holy-Anne

This vault of procession was built in 1862 according to the plans of the architect montréalais Victor Bourgeau. It would be the largest vault of procession of Quebec. A vault of procession is generally devoted to a saint or is intended for the procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

The vault was classified historic building in 1981.

Vault of Saint-Joachim procession

It was classified historic building in 1981.

Hangar with Jodoin grain

Built during first half of the 19th century, one stored various varieties there. It was classified historic building in 1983.

House Brien-known as-Desrochers

House Joseph-Small-known as-Beauchemin

It was classified historic building in 1984. It was burnt in 2005.

Transport

The town of Varennes is served by two road main roads is the so called Autoroute 30 Autoroute of Steel and the road 132 which crosses it literally. It is besides in Varennes that it passes from road to fitted separate, 4 ways by direction, with a road with 2 ways only and misinterpretation. Moreover road 229 connects the city to Holy-Julie via the scientific industrial park.

Public transport is ensured by the Council intermunicipal of Sorel-Varennes Transport which makes it possible to move towards Cegep Edouard-Montpetit and the subway Longueuil at any hour of the day via 3 lines.

A railway of the Canadian National crosses Varennes without however offering service of transport to the citizens. It is used mainly with transport as materials and serves the chemical industrial park.

Demography

In 2005 the city counted 20439 inhabitants. Varennes however counted of them hardly 5000 in 1980. It is the real boom of the Eighties and at the beginning of 90, caused by the massive exodus of montréalais towards the suburbs twinned ata low rate of taxation and a low value of the grounds, which of it is responsible. In 2007, the growth had slowed down much because of the lack of grounds available and the rise of the value of the houses. This rise is mainly due to the tendency of the " sectors of prestige" where the houses which are construient there must have a fixed minimal value and generally out of price for the families with average revenues.

Economy

Industrial sector

The town of Varennes comprises two industrial parks. First is dedicated to chemical industry. It is located along the Fleuve St-Laurent and of the road 132. Mainly the following companies there are found:

Dow Chemical specialized in the manufacture and the distribution of chemicals. In Varennes one manufactures the Ziploc high-class products particularly.
Alcohols of Trade specialized in the production of various types of alcohols, more particularly the ethanol
Kronos Canada which manufactures titanium dioxide pigments

The second park is dedicated to the scientific research and constitutes one of the principal scientific research center in Quebec. It is located along the boulevard Lionel Boulet close to the Autoroute 30. Mainly the following institutions there are found:

IREQ Research institute of Hydro-Quebec
scientific INRS National research institute - Energy and Materials
Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) research center and of manufacture of transformers
CANMET - Varennes, research laboratory in solar energy and gas
CITEQ research laboratory in transport of energy

It should be noted that Lionel Boulet is the founder of IREQ.

Commercial sector

Although rather restricted, the commercial sector undergoes a certain expansion since 2005. The principal commercial poles are located at the downtown area (center line of highway 132, between the street of the Aqueduct and the rise of Picardy), on the Rene-Gaultier boulevard, at the intersection of the road 132 and the street of Gabelle, like with the intersection of roads 132 and 229. The principal trade are made up mainly of super markets, pharmacies, chains of fast-food industry and service stations with break-down mechanics.

Several financial institutions are present in Varennes. One finds there obviously Mouvement Desjardins with the popular Caisse of Varennes. One finds there also a branch of the national Banque of Canada, Royal Banque and Banque of Montreal.

The popular case of Varennes was founded in 1944 by the canon André Beauregard who was cleaned of Varennes of 1942 to 1962.

Some data

Many parks and of green areas: 17
Many elementary schools: 1 private and 5 public
Many secondary schools: 1 private and 1 public
School commission: Patriots
Many trade and of industry at January 1st, 2004: 418
Number of employment at January 1st, 2005: 7.135
Many research centres: 15
territorial Division: 8 electoral districts
Many units of residences at January 1st, 2004: 7.482
Rate of basic real estate tax: 0,883 $/100 $ of evaluation

Municipalities bordering

Sources

Repertory of the municipalities of Quebec
Commission of toponymy of Quebec
municipal Businesses and areas - regional charts
School commission the Patriots
the College St-Paul
Center of history of Saint-Hyacinthe
Large Québec.com
Canada' S Local histories Online

External bonds

Official site Varennes
Satellite image of Varennes

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