Time zone EST (UTC−5) Elevation 53 m Population 2,684 (2011) | Region Montérégie Constituted November 21, 1866 Postal code(s) J0J 1A0 Local time Wednesday 10:36 AM Province Québec | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind S at 16 km/h, 94% Humidity | ||
Bedford is a city located in the Montérégie region of southern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 2,684. This small community is just an hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington and Montreal, and is the home to southern Quebec's largest boy scout troop.
Contents
History
The first settlers arrived in 1812.
Origin of the name
The name "Bedford" could have been given by Loyalists who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710–1771), an English politician and Secretary of State (1748–1751), and governor general of Ireland from 1756 to 1761.
Geography
Bedford is part of Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Montérégie.
The town, located 86 kilometres (53 mi) southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence lowlands, at the beginning of the steep leading to the Appalachian Mountains, the Pike River (Rivière aux Brochets) flows through the middle of the town, separating it into south and north parts.
Language
About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776.
Parishes
Activities
Every year since 1828, at the beginning of August, the town holds its annual fair, the oldest of its kind in Quebec and the second oldest in Canada. One can play hockey, curling or figure skate at the Centre sportif. Every year since 1969, Bedford has held a PeeWee hockey exchange with Kensington, PE.