Lachine

Lachine is a borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, located on the southern shore of the Island of Montreal along the Saint Lawrence River. It encompasses the historic area formerly known as the Town of Lachine and is part of the city of Montreal since municipal reorganization in the early 2000s. The borough is bordered by the Lachine Canal to the north and several Montreal neighborhoods to the west and east, with easy access to major roadways and public transit.

Historically, Lachine was settled by French colonists in the 17th century and became an important site for trade and shipbuilding on the Saint Lawrence. In 1689, the area was the site of the Lachine Massacre, a raid by Iroquois forces that killed settlers and highlighted the dangers of frontier life in New France. The construction of the Lachine Canal began in the early 19th century and was completed in 1825 to bypass the Lachine Rapids, facilitating transport between Montreal and western regions. The canal helped transform Lachine into an industrial hub for a time and today the canal is a National Historic Site of Canada and a popular recreational corridor.

In contemporary times, Lachine is primarily residential, with commercial districts along the canal and in the older town center. The Lachine Canal and its waterfront parks attract cyclists, joggers, and visitors, while cultural and historical institutions preserve the area’s heritage. The borough is served by Montreal’s public transit network and is connected to the wider metropolitan area by road and regional rail services.