Canada
In a recent study on urban agriculture, cultivated vegetable gardens and educational gardens, the Quebec metropolis topped New York, Paris and Brussels.
For some cinephiles, Mount Royal – Montreal’s most popular public park – brings back sequences from Le Jour d’après (2004), in which the site is ravaged by a snowstorm. The directors of the Stargate SG-1 series – among others – also set up their cameras here. The 280 hectares of green space, with its forests, meadows, ponds and streams, make for an extremely photogenic backdrop. There are over 700 species of vascular plants, as well as maples, birches, oaks and conifers. Violets, dandelions and daisies line Beaver Lake. The avian fauna includes many birds, including cardinals, blue jays and robins. “I’ve even come across snowshoe hares, red foxes and raccoons… not to mention amphibians like the green frog and the two-lined salamander,” boasts Robert, a Quebec wildlife photographer. As an added bonus, this high-perched estate offers a breathtaking view of Montreal, ideal for getting your bearings.
THE BACKBONE
BACKBONE OF MONTREAL. ©DR
Mile End
Situated below, this bohemian district is brimming with vintage boutiques, trendy cafés and culinary delights. The streets – often narrow – are lined with deciduous trees, entire beds of nasturtiums and other perennials. The city values these green spaces and is even looking to expand them. During the pandemic, for example, new areas were opened up, where pesticides and fungicides are prohibited. The environment and sustainable development are priorities in the north of the city. In January, the borough mandated “Ville en vert” to manage its Éco-quartier program. This non-profit socio-environmental organization works with residents and businesses to promote sustainable ecological change. In the process, Montreal’s rooftops are being put to good use. Lufa Farms aims to improve the food sector by sustainably growing local food. The company was launched in 2009 as a citizens’ initiative. At the time, people were shocked to find only fruits and vegetables imported from California. On a 3,000 m2 farm in the middle of an industrial estate, lettuces, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and other early vegetables are now sold directly to consumers. To avoid waste, the surplus is donated to institutions. Frédéric-Back Park embodies one of North America’s most ambitious environmental rehabilitation projects. Imagine a former landfill transformed into a 160-hectare space where 40 million tonnes of stabilized waste continue to decompose naturally in deep layers!
Living museums
Already a long-standing project, the conversion of the former velodrome remains exemplary. Built in 1976 for the Summer Olympics, this sports facility has become the Biodôme de Montréal, following a $37 million renovation. The result? A combination of zoo and aquarium, where animals interact in a “normal” way with their reconstituted biotope (tropical rainforest, Quebec mixed forest, polar regions, etc.). The recently inaugurated Insectarium celebrates unjustly neglected species. The area reserved for living lepidopterans is reminiscent of the Swiss Papiliorama. As for the Botanical Garden, it really is an Eden. With its themed areas, greenhouses and Art Deco pavilions, it’s one of the city’s jewels. It houses thousands of plant varieties and organizes educational exhibitions. In the evening, a “sound & light” production transforms it into a vast dreamlike theater. Special mention must be made of the Chinese pavilion, whose traditional lanterns are reflected in a magical pond.
An emblematic river
It’s impossible to talk about Montreal without considering its backbone. For too long, the St. Lawrence has been a dumping ground for local communities and industries. Efforts to save it seem to be bearing fruit. Indeed, water quality – upstream of Montreal and downstream of Trois-Rivières – has been improving over the years, to the point where more and more beaches are opening up to swimming. Whales, seals and belugas can even be spotted here.
