Another honour was bestowed upon Westmount this week through Canada's program of historical commemoration, when Parks Canada included this community as one of four places declared to have historic significance.
The announcement, made on Tuesday by federal Environment Minister Peter Kent, included praise for Westmount based on its "opulent architectural and landscape heritage," as well as its overall integration into an urban setting.
The other places deemed historical this week were Kingston's Cataraqui Cemetery, which dates back to 1850; the Canadian Youth Hostel at Bragg Creek, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island, which, as Île Saint-Jean, was the scene of the 1758 mass deportation of over 3,000 inhabitants to France.
This year's choices of historical designations were made to reflect "how architecture and social networks contributed to building the country we know today. From recognizing the role of architecture in creating one of Canada's iconic neighbourhoods (Westmount), to remembering that Canadians were ‘early adopters' in bringing the hostelling system to North America, from saluting the final resting place of distinguished residents of Kingston, Ontario who contributed to Canada as prominent political, economic, and social leaders, including Canada's first Prime Minister, to reminding Canadians of the consequences of the forcible breaking-up of Acadian communities, these designations show how our present has its roots in unexpected places."
According to Parks Canada, Westmount, "is emblematic of the Victorian and post-Victorian suburb in Canada on account of its overall diversity and integrity. Its opulent architectural and landscape heritage is characteristic of the architectural styles and trends in landscape architecture of the period between 1890 and 1930. It also reflects the concerted efforts of members of the municipality who, from the early 20th century onwards, were keen to protect and preserve the features of their built environment. What sets this historic district apart from others is the harmonious integration of both its buildings and its urban design."
