|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
| Dorval: Ready for Take Off |  |
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Dorval, located on the southwest side of Montreal Island, has been shaped by its history, environment, economy and citizens. These elements have worked together to create a strong and diverse city. One of the major attractions in the city is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, known today as Montreal-Trudeau. It is the busiest airport in Quebec and was featured on the reality television series, the Amazing Race and participated in Operation Yellow Ribbon by taking diverted flights from the United States during the September 11, 2001 attacks. The nickname “Airport City” emphasizes Dorval's industry-driven economy, however, the city provides a balance with a number of green spaces such as golf courses and parks and also maintains a strong community spirit through various programmes and recreational activities. HISTORY Sulpician priests established Fort Gentilly in the 1600s, which later became known as Fort La Presentation. Jean-Baptiste Bouchard d'Orval, a voyageur and fur trader, purchased land in Gentilly and is credited with providing the name for the city. The introduction of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1855 attracted wealthy, English speaking families into the area. Dorval was established as a village in 1892, as a town in 1903 and as a city in 1956. At the beginning of the Second World War, Dorval was selected to be the base for Ferry Command and would become a military airport. Ferry Command was responsible for improving aircraft deliveries to Britain. During the war, 9000 airplanes were shipped with a loss of only approximately 100. After the war, the airport continued to be used and gained popularity as a transportation hub. DORVAL AIRPORT Named after the 15th Canadian prime minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the airport is a major source of business in the area. It is the third busiest airport in Canada, accommodating domestic and international flights. In 2005, the airport serviced 10 million passengers. Starting in the year 2000, major expansions and renovations were being executed with the goal of increasing the terminal's capacity and improving the level of service to passengers. These changes will enhance the design and efficiency of the airport enabling it to keep up with its high demands. Work that has already been completed includes an international and United States jetty that allows direct access to the terminals as well as an increase in the size of the boarding gates to accommodate larger airplanes. Expansion of the central terminal building includes more check-in counters, boarding gates and services such as restaurants and shops. The check-in area has also been improved to implement a smooth traffic-flow of passengers and visitors and also the installation of more counters and self check-in kiosks. The international arrivals area now has a massive customs hall and baggage claim room. Currently, work is being done on the multi-level parking facility, adding more parking spaces. The public international and domestic arrivals halls are also being renovated to improve design and features.
Although the airport is the economy hub of the city, two industrial parks in the city also generate economic growth and profit. One is located facing the Trans-Canada highway and the other is on Cote de Liesse Road. A third industrial area is being developed on Sources Road near Golf Dorval. Companies with offices in the area include Bombardier, Air Canada, Novartis, Innotech Aviation and many more. GEOGRAPHY Located at a latitude of 45° north, a longitude of 73° west and an altitude of 31 m (102 ft), Dorval is situated on Montreal Island and has reached a population of 19,706 according to the Canada census of 2004. Montreal Island is approximately 50 km (31 mi) long and 16 km (10 mi) wide. Dorval stretches along the shores of Lake Saint Louis between Pointe-Claire in the west and Lachine in the east. Many bridges have been built on the island to access the surrounding areas. In 2002, Dorval was part of the city of Montreal but later in 2004, the city voted to become an independent city, achieving this designation on January 1, 2006. One interesting community in the area is L'ile Dorval, located 1 km (0.6 mi) off shore. This island is a summer cottage residence with only two permanent residents. ACCOMMODATION A number of hotels and motels are conveniently located within easy access of the Montreal-Trudeau airport and downtown Montreal, including the Hilton Montreal Airport, Quality Hotel Dorval Aeroport, Holiday Inn and Best Western. A number of the hotels provide conference and meeting rooms to accommodate business travellers. Other services provided at some of the hotels include free shuttle bus service to the airport and business centres equipped with office equipment and supplies. CLIMATE
In winter, temperatures can range from -10°C (14°F) to -14°C (7°F) with the most snow accumulating between the months of December and March. During the summer, averages are found in the high teens and mid to high 20s. The high humidity levels can also make the summers quite hot. Autumn is beautiful with the onset of leaves changing their colours, highlighting the skies with shades of red and orange. In the spring and fall, a raincoat and windbreaker would be useful. For summer, light fabrics such as cotton are recommended with a jacket for the evenings which can get cooler. In the winter, visitors should be prepared for the cold by having such items as waterproof boots, hats, gloves, scarves and other winter apparel. TRANSPORTATION In the city Public transportation is regulated and serviced by the Societe de Transport de Montreal. A number of bus routes are available linking all sectors of the city together. Two commuter train stations are also stationed in Dorval. For cyclists, all bicycles must be registered and licenses can be purchased at the city hall. To and from the airport Visitors can travel by car, bus and metro to and from downtown Montreal. L'Aerobus, the shuttle service, runs daily from 7-2am with departures every 20 minutes from the airport to the Montreal Bus Central Station. Stops on the route include the 36-floor Marriott Chateau Champlain and the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, with Central Station located below it. Located on site at the Montreal-Trudeau airport, passengers can hire limousines, taxis and rental cars. Rental car agencies available include Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty. It normally takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes by car to travel from the airport to downtown Montreal, however, travel time increases to about one hour during peak times. VIA Rail Train Stations offers Air Connect trail service that provides free shuttle bus service to Montreal-Trudeau. The price is already included in the cost of the train ticket to Dorval Station.
ATTRACTIONS Dorval is the gateway to Montreal, a city famous for its arts and culture scene. While downtown Montreal offers numerous hotels, fashion boutiques, restaurants, night clubs and so much more, Dorval itself also offers a number of activities and attractions to enjoy. Golf Dorval, located 20 minutes from downtown Montreal is enjoyed by visitors and residents of Dorval. Two 18-hole courses, the Oakville and Gentilly, were designed by Graham Cooke. Golfers can practice on the two putting greens and driving range. At 193 m (211 yards) with a par 3, hole 16 on the Oakville course offers quite the challenge with a design featuring sand traps and a pond. Golf Dorval supports Future Links, a program for children aged seven to 13 years old that teaches them the basics of golf and encourages the love of the sport. Two reception rooms are also available for weddings and special functions. Another golf course in the city is the Dorval Municipal Golf Club, a semi-private 18-hole course located minutes from the airport. Non-members are invited to play during the weekdays at scheduled times and the club hosts tournaments and events during the golf season. For cyclists, La Route Verte provides an extensive bicycle network covering close to 4000 km (2486 mi) of territory and linking the regions of Quebec. Some of the areas that the paths cross are the Parcours des Anses in Levis, Berri Street bicycle path in Montreal and Veloroute des Bleuets in Lac-Saint-Jean. Take in the scenery of lakes, rivers and forests as the route passes through the province. Bike-friendly accommodations can be found in regions such as the Laurentians, Monteregie and Saguenay, with many offering storage and laundry facilities and even high carbohydrate meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables for enthusiastic cyclists.
History and culture are preserved at the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage and the Dorval Cultural Centre. The museum is housed in the old stables of the forest and stream club that was renovated and officially opened in 2002. Visitors can view articles, artifacts and photos of landmarks and the first founders of Dorval. The Cultural Centre showcases artwork from local, regional and national artists and brings the community together for concerts. Art courses such as painting, drawing, pottery and wood sculpture are also available. Dorval, the transportation hub of Quebec, provides a link to the province's main cities and offers its visitors an opportunity to enjoy its parks, culture and recreational activities. PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada
