Île Bizard

Île Bizard

Borough Hall of Île-Bizard
Île Bizard
Geography
Location	Saint Lawrence River
Coordinates	45°29′N 73°54′W / 45.483°N 73.900°W / 45.483; -73.900Coordinates: 45°29′N 73°54′W / 45.483°N 73.900°W / 45.483; -73.900
Archipelago	Hochelaga Archipelago
Area	22.77 km2 (8.79 sq mi)
Administration
Canada
Province	Quebec
City	Montreal
Borough	L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève
Demographics
Population	14647 (2011)
Pop. density	643.26 /km2 (1,666.04 /sq mi)

Île Bizard is an island near the Island of Montreal in the Hochelaga Archipelago region.

Historically named Île Bonaventure, by 1723 it had come to be named Île Bizard, after Jacques Bizard, to whom it was conceded as a fief in 1678, part of the Seigneurial system of New France. The island was also used by the settlers of New France, as a way to get timber into Montreal from the river using Timber rafting.

It was formerly a separate municipality named Ville de L'Île-Bizard, but was forcefully merged with of the city of Montreal, and made into the borough of L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève. The numbers to demerge on June 20, 2004 were: Registered to vote 10 068. Yes 3,391. No 1,947. Yes and No votes combined 5,365.

The Jacques Bizard Bridge connects it across the Rivière des Prairies with Sainte-Geneviève on the Island of Montreal. The seasonal Laval-sur-le-Lac Île-Bizard Ferry provides a connection to Laval-sur-le-Lac on Île Jésus (Laval). This ferry does not operate in the winter.

Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard Nature Park is a 201-hectare park which contains marsh lands and several kilometres of nature trails, accessible year round. There is also a small beach at Pointe-aux-Carrières that faces the Lac des Deux-Montagnes. The Royal Montreal Golf Club, the Golf Saint-Raphael and Elm Ridge Country Club are located on the island.