Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, is a charming off-island suburb located northwest of Montreal in the Thérèse-De Blainville Regional County Municipality. This southwestern Quebec town is a unique blend of heavy industry, recreational activities, and rich history.
While Sainte-Thérèse is known for its heavy industry, it also serves as a hub for recreational and tourist activities. Nestled near the southern limit of a network of cross-country ski trails that wind through the Laurentides, it offers nature enthusiasts an opportunity to ski towards major resort centres like Mont-Tremblant. In the summer, these ski trails transform into dedicated bicycle paths, allowing for day-long or week-long cycling excursions through pristine areas, from one resort to another, without the interference of motorized vehicles.
The history of Sainte-Thérèse dates back to September 23, 1683, when Joseph-Antoine Le Febvre de La Barre, the governor of New France, granted the seigneury of the Thousand Islands to Michel-Sidrac Dugué de Boisbriand. The exploitation of the 9 square mile seigneury began in 1714 when Marie-Thérèse Dugué de Boisbriand and her husband Charles Piot de Langloiserie took possession.
The seigneury was abandoned in 1715 after Langloiserie's death and was not reclaimed until 1743 by Suzanne de Langloiserie and her husband Jean-Baptiste Céloron de Blainville. On October 15, 1789, Marie-Anne Thérèse de Blainville inaugurated the parish of Sainte-Thérèse-d'Ávila. The Village of Sainte-Thérèse was created on June 1, 1849, following a request from Louis Marteau, Paul Filiatrault, and Joseph-Benjamin Lachaîne to the Terrebonne County Parish Council. The village officially became a town in 1916.
Sainte-Thérèse is well-served by public transportation. The Sainte-Thérèse commuter rail station on the Exo (Réseau de transport métropolitain) Saint-Jérôme line provides easy access to the town. Additionally, local bus service is provided by CIT Laurentides, ensuring convenient travel within the town.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Sainte-Thérèse had a population of 26,533 living in 12,686 of its 13,202 total private dwellings. This represented a 2.1% increase from its 2016 population of 25,989. With a land area of 9.48 km2 (3.66 sq mi), the town had a population density of 2,798.8/km2 (7,249.0/sq mi) in 2021.
