The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Laval, city, Canada
city (1991 pop. 314,398), coextensive with Île-Jésus (94 sq mi/243 sq km), S Que., Canada, between the Rivière des Mille Îles and the Rivière des Prairies, just NW of Montreal. The second largest city in Quebec, Laval was created in 1965, when 14 small communities on the island were amalgamated. It is a largely residential suburb of Montreal, with summer tourist facilities. The island was known as Montmagny Island until 1699, when it was granted to the Jesuits of Quebec and began to be settled.
