| Beaconsfield Population: 18,906 (December 2000)
Area: 10,64 km2 |  |
This quiet and affluent municipality is almost exclusively residential. Beaconsfield is filled with tree-lined residential streets. Most of Beaconsfield's 18,906 residents are anglophones. Their quiet refuge is still easily accessible from downtown. Public transit by train and bus is relatively simple for commuters. Commuting by car to downtown is a matter of 20 minutes to a halfhour.
Fine residences can be found on Lakeshore Rd., while Beaurepaire and Sherwood districts offer single-family homes. Most residents live in executive-quality housing bordered by tree-shaded streets. Many of the streets are deliberately designed in the form of crescents to end in culs-de-sac so as to maintain quiet, peaceful neighbourhoods.
Beaconsfield is served by local shopping malls and an outstanding array of recreational facilities, including an indoor pool, arena and gymnasium. The municipality offers residents 24 playgrounds, 22 tennis courts and two marinas.
The municipality owns Centennial Hall, on a beautiful site overlooking Lake Saint-Louis. It is used for concerts, exhibitions, and other events.
Beaconsfield is favoured with a truly picturesque location. Situated near the west end of the island of Montréal and graced on the south by Lac St-Louis, it integrates the peaceful quality of life in a small town with all the amenities of the rapidly expanding West Island area. In this distinctive city, the pleasures of house and garden living are a mere 20 minutes from the heart of Montréal. Two major highways (20 and 40) and a scenic lakeshore drive offer ready access to downtown. The Société de transport de Montréal provides convenient bus service within the neighbouring municipalities and into the city of Montreal. Alternative transportation is provided by a commuter train service with parking facilities at Beaurepaire and Beaconsfield stations. Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Via Rail's Dorval station are within a ten-minute drive.
The Recreation Centre features a full-sized ice rink, an eight-lane semi-olympic pool with a diving board, a gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms for meetings.
The Department offers many recreational services including preschool programs, summer camps, playgrounds, teen activities, golf clinics, swimming lessons, aquafit and aerobics for adults and seniors.
Beaconsfield has a variety of major and smaller neighbourhood parks, each with designated play areas and passive green space. The major parks are equipped with chalets, playgrounds and a combination of soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, skating rinks and large hockey rinks plus basketball and volleyball courts. Residents of all ages are encouraged to make use of these facilities.
Boat ramps for small craft may be found at the foot of Angell, Lakeview and St.Louis Avenues.The city also has a prime lakefront green space at Centennial and St-James parks.
