Les Cèdres is a municipality located north of the Saint Lawrence River in the Montérégie of Quebec, Canada, near Vaudreuil-Dorion. The population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 7,184. The name means "The Cedars" in French. There is an extensive rapid on the St. Lawrence River at this location. During the American Revolution, the Battle of the Cedars was fought in the vicinity. In 1959-1960 Swedish writer, Stig Claesson, lived in the village at a place called Point Charlie and later wrote a book about it called My friend Charlie.

History

This location was already notable in the late 17th century because of the large rapids on the St. Lawrence River, marked by tall cedars (French: les cèdres) that grew there in abundance. Hence, the location was originally known as Cedars Rapids, or as mentioned by cartographer Deshayes in 1695, as Rapide du Costeau [sic] des Cèdres. Subsequently, it was also known as Coteau-des-Cèdres, Portage-du-Coteau-des-Cèdres, or just Les Cèdres. Numerous explorers and military expeditions passed there to portage around the rapids. It was first settled in 1715. In 1845, the Parish Municipality of Saint-Joseph-de-Soulanges was created (named in honour of Joseph-Dominique-Emmanuel Le Moyne de Longueuil, Seigneur of Soulanges), followed by the Village Municipality of Soulange in 1852. In 1967, the Village Municipality of Soulange was renamed to Les Cèdres. In 1985, Les Cèdres and Saint-Joseph-de-Soulanges were merged to form the current Municipality of Les Cèdres.

Demographics

Language

Local government

List of former mayors (since formation of current municipality):

Transportation

The west end of Quebec Autoroute 30, a Montreal Island bypass route, runs through this area to link up with Autoroute 20. Montréal/Les Cèdres Airport, a single-runway general aviation airport, is located north of Quebec Autoroute 20 in the Les Cèdres area.

Education

Commission Scolaire des Trois-Lacs operates Francophone schools. Lester B. Pearson School Board operates Anglophone schools. It is zoned to Birchwood Elementary School and Evergreen Elementary School in Saint-Lazare and St. Patrick Elementary School in Pincourt.