The Vanier area has been part of Québec County since 1855. Its southern part, near the Saint-Charles River and known as “Petite rivière sans bruit,” first drew summer visitors. From 1912 to 1914, speculative land companies bought almost all the land in the eastern part of Petite-Rivière, a municipality that had stayed agricultural. They secured the creation of the town of Québec-Ouest, incorporated on March 9, 1916.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughLes Rivières
Les Rivièresnorth of the Saint-Charles River
Life in Vanier
The vibe
A former working-class neighbourhood where residential, commercial and industrial uses sit side by side.
The housing
Mostly apartments in small buildings and duplexes, on a grid of streets in the southern part of the neighbourhood.
Nearby
ExpoCité · Saint-Charles River linear park · Saint-Roch
Good to know
The Métrobus 802 serves the Fleur-de-Lys station, and the Laurentienne and Félix-Leclerc highways border the neighbourhood. Handy for reaching downtown or Charlesbourg.
Landmarks
- Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel
- Fleur de Lys
- Boulevard Pierre-Bertrand
History
The history of Vanier
- 1916The town of Québec-Ouest is founded
- 1963Place Fleur de Lys opens
- 1966Québec-Ouest becomes Vanier
- 1968The industrial park opens
- 2002Merged into Québec City
These companies controlled the young town: until 1929, the town council met in their offices in Québec City. It took an injunction from the provincial health service for the town to begin water and sewer work in 1924. During the Depression of the 1930s, low housing prices drew the unemployed, and the population grew from 600 to 2,132 between 1928 and 1933.
In June 1966, for its 50th anniversary, Québec-Ouest took the name Vanier, in honour of Governor General Georges P. Vanier. The industrial park, opened in 1968, helped the town overcome the difficulties of its early years. In 1974, it built the Complexe Jean-Paul-Nolin, which housed its town hall and now serves as the administrative office of the Les Rivières borough.
On January 1, 2002, Vanier was merged with Québec City, along with several other municipalities. In the June 20, 2004 referendum, 61.3% of voters supported demerger, but this was only 23.1% of registered voters, below the required 35% threshold. Vanier therefore remained a Québec City neighbourhood. In 2008, the Saint-Charles River linear park opened along its southern edge.
Frequently asked questions about Vanier
Where is Vanier?
In the Les Rivières borough of Québec City, between the Saint-Charles River and the Félix-Leclerc highway, west of the Laurentienne highway. It borders Duberger–Les Saules to the west and the Limoilou area to the east.
Where does the name Vanier come from?
It honours Georges P. Vanier, soldier, diplomat and Governor General of Canada. The town of Québec-Ouest adopted the name in June 1966, for its 50th anniversary.
Is Vanier still a separate city?
No. Vanier was merged with Québec City on January 1, 2002. Despite the 2004 demerger referendum, it remained a Québec City neighbourhood, in the Les Rivières borough.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Vanier?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Vanier 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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