Who lives in Chomedey: a mosaic of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern communities
The Lebanese community is the largest and most institutionally developed; Greek, Armenian, Italian, Haitian, Moroccan, Sri Lankan, and Colombian communities make Chomedey one of Quebec's most diverse neighborhoods.
Chomedey's population of approximately 120,000 includes one of the highest proportions of immigrants of any municipality in Quebec outside central Montreal. The Lebanese community is the cornerstone, with estimates placing the Lebanese-origin population in Laval at over 40,000 — one of the largest Lebanese diasporas in Canada. This community arrived in waves beginning in the 1970s and accelerating through the civil war years and subsequent decades.
The Greek community has been present since the 1960s and maintains the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal's infrastructure in the sector. The Armenian community, smaller but highly organized, has a church and cultural associations that serve as a focal point for the diaspora in the greater Montreal area. Italian families who arrived mid-century remain, with social clubs and bakeries persisting alongside newer immigrant arrivals.
French is the official language and dominant in public institutions, schools, and commerce. Arabic is widely spoken in community settings, businesses, and places of worship. Greek, Armenian, Italian, and Haitian Creole are maintained in community organizations and within multigenerational families. Many residents are highly multilingual, combining French with their heritage language and often English as well.
- French
- English
- Arabic
- Greek
- Armenian
- +2 more
- Roman Catholics
- Eastern Orthodox
- Maronite Catholics
- Sunni Muslims
- Jews
- +1 more