In the days of New France, the fief of Bélair was granted to Guillaume Bonhomme in 1682, and the grant was ratified by Louis XIV on April 15, 1684. The fief included mont Bélair and lac Bonhomme. After Guillaume Bonhomme’s death in 1710, his children gradually sold their shares to the Jesuits; in 1800, the land became British Crown land.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughLa Haute-Saint-Charles
Northwest of the cityat the foot of mont Bélair
Life in Val-Bélair
The vibe
A young, family-oriented residential neighbourhood surrounded by forest, with many local parks.
The housing
Mostly single-family homes, with apartments in small buildings of fewer than five storeys.
Nearby
Parc La Chanterelle · Bibliothèque Félix-Leclerc · Corridor des Cheminots
Good to know
Autoroute Henri-IV is the most direct way into the neighbourhood. Shops are concentrated on boulevard Pie-XI, near avenue Industrielle and avenue de la Montagne.
Landmarks
- Boulevard Pie-XI
- Mont Bélair
- Base de plein air de Val-Bélair
History
The history of Val-Bélair
- 1682The fief of Bélair is granted
- 1909The Saint-Gérard-Majella parish is established
- 1933Val-Saint-Michel is created
- 1974Bélair and Val-Saint-Michel merge
- 2002Merger with Québec City
The parish of Saint-Gérard-Majella was founded in 1906 and canonically established in 1909; a parish municipality of the same name was created that year. Residents then made their living from logging and hunting. In 1914, the first cottages appeared on the road that would become boulevard Pie-XI, and the resort municipality of Val-Saint-Michel was created in 1933.
From 1939, the Second World War boosted the population, as many residents worked at the nearby military base and munitions plants. In 1965, Saint-Gérard-Majella became a town and took the name Bélair, after the former seigneury. On January 1, 1974, Bélair and Val-Saint-Michel merged to form Val-Bélair, which was briefly placed under trusteeship in 1977.
In the early 1990s, the town grew rapidly under the slogan “Val-Bélair, ville de la nature.” Its population rose from 11,000 in 1971 to more than 22,000 in 2002. On January 1, 2002, Val-Bélair was merged into Québec City; first part of the Laurentien borough, it has belonged to La Haute-Saint-Charles since 2009. In 2004, remaining in Québec City narrowly won a referendum, with 50.24% of the vote.
Frequently asked questions about Val-Bélair
Where is Val-Bélair?
In the northwest of Québec City, in the La Haute-Saint-Charles borough, between the Des Châtels neighbourhood and Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, at the foot of the Laurentians.
Where does the name Val-Bélair come from?
It combines the names of Bélair and Val-Saint-Michel, which merged in 1974. Bélair recalls the fief of Bélair, granted to Guillaume Bonhomme in 1682.
How do I get to Val-Bélair?
Autoroute Henri-IV is the most direct route. Route Sainte-Geneviève, avenue Industrielle and rue de Montolieu lead to boulevard Pie-XI, and the Corridor des Cheminots bike path links the neighbourhood to downtown.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Val-Bélair?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Val-Bélair will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
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