Bromont, Quebec

Geography

Located between Montreal and Sherbrooke in proximity of Granby, the territory known as Bromont is characterized by a mountain with several summits, called mount Brome (or Bromont), mount Gale, and a smaller top, almost a hill, mount Soleil (literally mount Sun); the terrain around this mountainous mass is flat and has hills and vales sparsely distributed; this is crossed by the Yamaska river, flowing in from Fulford arriving from its source lake Brome, separated from Bromont by Iron Hill and Fulford (both parts of Lac-Brome), and definitely leaving into Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby. Two lakes: Bromont and Gale, are pooling between the mountaintops of mount Brome; Gale lake, on mount Gale sources from the mountain. The surface of the territory is naturally covered by mixed forest and grasslands, sometimes exploited as grazing grounds or grow space.

Another portion is exploited for human ends. In fact, much of Bromont's surface is crisscrossed by roads and trails, including a section of highway 10 (which connects Montreal and Sherbrooke) that gives access to Bromont at two exits (74 and 78); this network has many touristic crossroads, a vintage village, many neighborhoods occupied by housing and shops, as well as an impressive technological park. Many spaces that aren't covered by woodland are cultivated, others serve to sustain large herbivorous domestic animals: cows, horses, and alpacas. A natural domain instated on mount Gale includes a protected area, uniting private owned lands for conservation and hiking. In spite of these conservation efforts, a large part of mount Brome is exploited intensively, transformed into Bromont, mountain of experiences, a mega touristic complex including alpine skiing facilities, a water park, holiday housing and residential habitations.

List of Mayors

History

Bromont was envisioned by Roland Désourdy (1917-2011), who in 1963 became the first French Canadian Master of the Montreal Hunt.

Bromont was created in 1964, as a model community, out of Brome County, as an ideal resort community. In 1966, Bromont annexed the town of West Shefford, Quebec, which had been founded in 1792 and was a stop on the stagecoach route between Montreal and Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Hyundai plant

In 1989, Hyundai Auto Canada Inc. opened a stamping and assembly plant in Bromont, employing 800. The 150,000 m² (1,600,000 sq ft) plant was situated on an 850,000 m² (9,100,000 sq ft) site, with body, paint and trim shops as well as a pumping station for the plant, a paint residue treatment plant, and administrative offices. The plant cost $387.7 million, with Quebec and Canadian federal government subsidies of $131 million.

The plant was designed to manufacture approximately 2,000 Hyundai Sonatas per week. Subsequently, Chrysler and Hyundai considered a joint venture that would have Chrysler rebranding the Sonata manufactured at Bromont, only to later announce the deal had failed. The Bromont plant was operational for four years before it closed in 1994, with Hyundai's sales unable to support the plant. Hyundai subsequently sold the plant to Olymbec Inc., which, in turn, subdivided the plant leasing the former paint and assembly plant to Goodyear from February 2007 and, later, the former metal stamping portion of the plant to AAER Inc., a manufacturer of wind turbines based in Quebec.

Biodiversity

The environment present within Bromont limits allowed special ecosystems to develop; indeed, mountainous terrain, the presence of water in the form of lakes, creeks, and the river, the blend of trees and the expanse of prairies permit various flora and fauna to flourish there. On mount Gale, it is possible to observe species of amphibians that only thrive at higher elevations; the lakes harbor many species of fish, amphibians, water birds, turtles, and aquatic mammals such as muskrat. Humans having encroached in the area have kept many species of domestic animals that populate the fields and roam wild just the same, house cats, dogs, and horses are among the most common in the municipality. Fields and forests serve as breeding grounds for many species of birds, some of which remain all year, though a large portion migrates south during the colder months; Canada geese, European starling, American crows and black-capped chickadees to name a few. Many animals coveted by hunters and trappers also inhabit the land, red fox, white-tailed deer, wild turkey; raccoon and deer are often victim of roadkill. Covering most of the territory, vegetation of many kinds thrives; a majority of Bromont is forest covered, though plants occur in grasslands and urban developments alike. Biodiversity is a pride and Bromont aims to respect it.