Granby, Quebec
Granby is a town in southwestern Quebec, located east of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 63,433. Granby is the seat of La Haute-Yamaska Regional County Municipality. It is the fourth most populated town in Montérégie after Longueuil, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and Brossard. The town is named after John Manners, Marquess of Granby; today it is most famous for the Granby Zoo and its landmark fountain of Lac Boivin.
History
The territory on which Granby is found was described as natural prairies and forests composed of ash, fir, maple, hemlock and birch, there was also a small swamp a kilometer and half uphill. The area was inhabited sporadically by nomadic First Nations.In 1792, Loyalists were granted permission to colonize the Eastern Townships. On January 29, 1803, the Executive Council of Quebec conceded the Township of Granby to Colonel Henry Caldwell and his 97 associates. John Horner, the first inhabitant who settled on the site of the current town arrived in 1813. Horner built a sawmill near the Yamaska River. Twelve years later, in 1825, he opened a general store with Richard Frost. Frost traced the official plans later that same year.
Granby became an incorporated municipality in 1816, and a town in 1971.
Field areas have been exploited for agricultural use and the North Yamaska river's flow has been used for its hydraulic energy since the construction of a first dam in 1815 by large industrial companies; the use of dams along the stream has provoked the formation of a large shallow swamp, called Lac Boivin, often cited as one of Granby's landmarks.
In May 2006, the citizens of Granby and Granby Township held a referendum on a possible merger. A majority of citizens of the two municipalities approved the merger, which took effect on January 1, 2007.
Geography
Granby is a flat region located approximately halfway between Montreal and Sherbrooke along Autoroute 10; historically a land covered by forests and prairies, it has transformed into an urbanized core surrounded by fields and suburban neighborhoods. The North Yamaska river, which crosses lake Boivin and 74.Parks and green spaces
It is notable that Granby possess many parks and fountains upon its territory, notable ones are parks Daniel-Johnson, Victoria, Terry Fox, Miner, Pelletier, and Kennedy.- Lake Boivin, Daniel-Johnson park, and the Centre d'interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin, take shape in the 1980s, landscaped with paths all around for bikers and pedestrians, they become a haven for all lovers of nature for they harbor many lifeforms. Touching the heart of the town, lake Boivin has park Daniel-Johnson on its northern shores, from which citizens and tourists practice recreational sports such as navigation and cycling, the park also hosts events for Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Earth day; as well as a self-proclaimed fête de la rivière to honour and clean the North Yamaska River; characteristic hills on the park's premises are very popular for picnicking during the summer and sleighing in the winter. The Centre d'interprétation de la nature du lac Boivin is a non-profit with a mission aimed at conservation of the territory, habitat, fauna and flora of lake Boivin.
- Yamaska National Park is a vast protected humid zone around the Choinière reservoir; it is sought out for its forest, beach, walking and biking paths, as well as the navigation of its waters ; it is considered an important bird sanctuary.
- Park Victoria is the oldest urban garden in town. Its lot was purchased in 1889, and the park landscaped in 1900, its name honours Alexandrina Victoria de Wettin, queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India. There are war memorials to Latimer, for the soldiers killed in the Second Boer Wars, and the monument to the Braves, both accompanied by canons. Selbach fountain, inaugurated in 1982, rises on the corner of Dufferin street and Mountain boulevard. Two ponds connected by a small stream, large rock outcrops and a hilly terrain are its main geographical characteristics; its northeastern tip is fragmented by Lorne street; at its southernmost limits, the park touches Parkview, an English elementary school. In the warm months, free concerts are sometimes played in a gazebo.
- Park Miner is the second oldest park in Granby; it was gifted to the town by mayor Stephen Henderson Campbell Miner in 1910; today, it lies downtown and houses Piscine Miner, the municipal indoor public pool. A monument to the founders of Saint-Jean-Baptiste society was erected in 1934. The first community public art gallery in the region is installed by Atelier 19 to celebrate its ten years. During the summer, the park has tents installed to house different public activities such as dance and music.
Demographics
| Census | Population | Change |
| 2011 | 63,433 | 6.8% |
| Merger | 59,385 | 19.8% |
| 2006 | 47,637 | 8.0% |
| 2001 | 44,121 | 1.9% |
| 1996 | 43,316 | 1.2% |
| 1991 | 42,804 | N/A |
Amalgamation of the city and the township of Granby into the town of Granby on January 1, 2007.
| Language | Population | Pct |
| French only | 43,550 | 94.47% |
| English only | 900 | 1.95% |
| Both English and French | 120 | 0.26% |
| Other languages | 1,530 | 3.32% |
Economy and attractions
Granby is a regional centre for industries and commercial zone, but is also a tourist town, due to the presence of the important Granby Zoo, founded by the Mayor Horace Boivin. It hosts a Fête des Mascottes each year in July.Granby is the host of the yearly "Festival de la chanson de Granby" in which many well-known artists, such as Jean Leloup and Luc De Larochellière, have first gained public exposure.
The international classic car show takes place at parc Daniel-Johnston, with over 2500 antiques, vintage, hot rods, muscle cars and classic imports cars every summer.
Granby is also home to the Galeries de Granby regional shopping mall which has 106 stores.
The Autodrome Granby, one of Canada's largest dirt oval racing tracks, hosts professional racing teams every Friday night from May to September. Winner of many prizes Autodrome Granby is known worldwide in the racing community.
Sports
Granby is the location of the annual Challenger Banque Nationale de Granby of the ATP Challenger Tour, which takes place at the Club de Tennis des Loisirs de Granby.The Granby Inouk of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League are based in Granby. The Inouk play their home games at the Leonard Grondin Arena.
Granby is also home to the Ligue de Baseball Senior Élite du Québec's Granby Guerriers. The Guerriers play their home games at Napoléon Fontaine Stadium.
From 1981 to 1997, Granby was home to a QMJHL team, originally called the Granby Bisons but changed to the Granby Prédateurs in 1995. The team won the Memorial Cup in 1996. In 1997, the franchise relocated to Sydney, Nova Scotia and became the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Both teams played at Léonard Grondin Arena.
Transportation
The public transit department of the town is Transport urbain Granby. Until 1956, it was the eastern terminus of the Montreal and Southern Counties Railway's Montreal-Granby Line.Climate
Granby has a humid continental climate. It has significant variations of temperature with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm but short and winters are very cold. Transitional seasons have significant variations of temperature between adjacent months. Precipitation is quite high, resulting in rainy summers and snowy winters.Twin towns – sister cities
Granby's twinned are:- Ancona, Italy
- Bokito, Cameroon
- Coventry, England, United Kingdom
- Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
- Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Rayne, Louisiana
- Windsor, Canada
Notable people
- Pierre-Luc Dusseault, the youngest Member of Parliament in Canadian history.
- Rosie Valland, pop singer-songwriter