The occupation of the Pointe-Claire territory by French settlers began in the years 1698-1699. By 1706, deforestation allowed for the construction of a road along the lake, from La Présentation to the end of the island.

The lots granted facing the lake are served by the Chemin du Roy (today, Chemin du Bord-du-Lac – Lakeshore). The parish is divided into three sections: Saint-Rémy (today Boulevard des Sources), Saint-Jean, and Saint-Charles.

Initially erected under the name of Saint-François de Sales in 1713, the parish was consecrated the following year to Saint-Joachim. In 1834, M^gr Signay decreed the canonical erection of the parish. Pointe-Claire was civilly erected in 1845, then proclaimed a municipality in 1854.

An Inviting Landscape

With agriculture at the center of all activities, the landscape changes little in appearance. Transformations occur gradually with the massive arrival of English-speaking summer vacationers, attracted by the beauty of the area. To meet the growing demand and the requirements of vacationers, a large number of private homes are offered for rent. Seasonal cottages are built and soon become permanent residences.

This new socio-economic context marks the landscape of Pointe-Claire and influences its development until World War II. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1855 brought many changes, and, from 1887, the Canadian Pacific Railway reduced the travel time to Montreal to forty-five minutes. Another significant change occurred with the implementation of the telephone system in the 1890s.

Expansion and Incorporation of the City

In 1889, the municipality's territory was expanded by annexing new properties.

On May 22, 1900, a major event marked the heart of the village: a devastating fire destroyed about thirty buildings within the perimeter formed by Rue de l’Église (today Avenue Saint-Joachim), Avenue Sainte-Anne, and the current Chemin Bord-du-Lac – Lakeshore.

The incorporation of the City took place in 1911. Pointe-Claire then encompassed the entire village as well as a large part of the old parish territory, with an additional part annexed in 1958. With the construction of a highway along the railway tracks in 1940, Pointe-Claire is now recognized as a suburb.

The majority of the architectural and landscape heritage of the City is located in the south of its territory. A summary inventory conducted in 1989, at the request of the Urban Planning Department, identified approximately 150 old buildings of historical interest.

Key Events and History of the Municipal Council

Below you will find the key moments in the history of Pointe-Claire for each period, as well as the history of the municipal council.

1684-1749

1684: Grant to Pierre Cabassier, by the Order of the Sulpicians, of the first lot within the current limits of Pointe-Claire (Lot #165).
1689: Massacre of Lachine.
1710: Construction of the banal mill.
1713 (October 13): Construction of the first church and creation of the parish of Saint-François-de-Sales at the place called Pointe-Claire.
1714 (May 1^st): The parish is named Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire parish.
1722: Civil erection of the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.
1745-1757: Construction of a new, larger church, allowing better service to the community.

1750-1849

1787: Construction of the first convent of the Congregation of Notre-Dame.
1825: Opening of the Lachine Canal, allowing bypassing of the rapids.
1834 (April 7): Canonical erection of the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.
1835: Opening of a post office under the name of Pointe-Claire.
1845 (June 8): Constitution of the municipality of the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.
1847 (September 1^st): Abolition of the municipality of the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.

1850-1949

1854: Creation of a limestone quarry for the construction of the Victoria Bridge (at the site of the current Beaconsfield Golf Club).
1854 (September 2): Establishment of the municipality of the village of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.
1855: Arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway (Grand Trunk Railway Company), connecting Montreal to Belleville (Ontario).
1855 (September 1^st): Establishment of the municipality of the parish of Saint-Joachim-de-la-Pointe-Claire.
1867: Construction of the second convent of the Congregation of Notre-Dame on the mill's point.
1868: Inauguration of the third church on the site of the one from 1757.
1881 (April 17): Fire of the third Saint-Joachim church.
1885 (September 15): Consecration of the fourth and current Saint-Joachim church.
1900 (May 22): Fire of about thirty houses in Pointe-Claire, the town hall, and the post office.
1900: Construction of a new town hall.
1904: Incorporation of the Beaconsfield Golf Club.
1905: Development of the Bowling Green area.
1910 (from June 24 to July 3): Pointe-Claire hosts the first international air congress in Canada.
1911 (March 14): Incorporation of the village of Pointe-Claire.
1915: Development of Valois Bay Heights.
1919: Construction of the first water filtration plant.
1930: Inauguration of the Field of Honour cemetery intended to receive the remains of veterans of the wars in which Canada participated.
1942: Construction of Highway 20.

1950-2006

1954: Election of the first female mayor, Olive Urquhart.
1955: Operation of the water tower begins, increasing water pressure.
1958: Pointe-Claire is recognized as a city; the new city hall is inaugurated.
1963: Inauguration of Stewart Hall, the Cultural Center of Pointe-Claire.
1969: A law from the National Assembly orders, among other things, the creation of the Montreal Urban Community (CUM) and the integration of all the municipalities on the Island of Montreal into this community.
1980: It is decided to build two tunnels, at Lakeside and Valois, which will allow safe crossing of the railway.
1987: Restoration of the interior of the fourth Saint-Joachim church.
2000 (December 20): Sanction of the Act reforming the municipal territorial organization of the metropolitan regions of Montreal, Quebec, and Outaouais, adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec on the same day. This law orders, among other things, the merger of all the municipalities on the Island of Montreal and the municipalities of L’Île-Bizard and L’Île-Dorval to form the new City of Montreal. The territory of the municipality of Pointe-Claire will become that of the Pointe-Claire borough of the City of Montreal.
2001 (November 4): Election of the council of the new City of Montreal.
2001 (December 31): The merged cities cease to exist as independent cities.
2002 (January 1^st): Birth of the new City of Montreal.
2004 (May 20): Taxpayers of the former municipality of Pointe-Claire (36.55%) sign the registers requesting a referendum aimed at dismantling the City of Montreal and reconstituting Pointe-Claire as a municipal entity distinct from the other municipalities on the island.
2004 (June 20): Referendum on the dismantling of Montreal, the vote for separation must reach 50% + 1 of the voters who voted and represent at least 35% of the registered voters; Pointe-Claire obtains its separation from the City of Montreal with a majority of 88.82% representing 52.75% of the registered voters.
2006 (January 1^st): The municipality of Pointe-Claire regains its status as an independent city.