Bedford, Quebec (town)
Bedford () is a city located in the Estrie region of southern Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2011 Census was 2,684. This small community is just an hour's drive from larger cities such as Burlington and Montreal. History. The first settlers arrived in 1812. Origin of the name. The name "Bedford" could have been given by Loyalists who knew of several Bedfords back in the former American colonies. The name could also have been a tribute to Lord John Russell, who was the fourth Duke of Bedford (1710–1771), an English politician and Secretary of  State (1748–1751), and governor general of Ireland from 1756 to 1761. Geography. Bedford is part of Brome-Missisquoi Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Estrie. The town, located southeast of Montreal, is completely enclaved within the township of Bedford. Seated in the Saint-Lawrence lowlands, at the beginning of the steppe leading to the Appalachian Mountains, the town is separated into north and south parts by the Pike River (Rivière aux Brochets). Demographics. Language. About 20% of the population is Anglophone, many families having settled there after the arrival of the Loyalists in 1776. Activities. Every year since  1828, at the beginning of August, the town holds its annual fair, the oldest of its kind in Quebec and the second oldest in Canada. One can figure skate, or play hockey or curling, at the "Centre sportif". Every year since 1969, Bedford has held a PeeWee hockey exchange with Kensington, PEI. External links.