Parks and natural areas
Montreal, located mainly on an island in the St. Lawrence River, boasts many green spaces, including 19 large parks where visitors in search of nature can recharge their batteries. Here are just a few of them:
Parc du Mont-Royal, surely the most emblematic, is ideal for a stroll on foot or snowshoes, with a belvedere overlooking the city.
Parc Jarry : located near Little Italy, it boasts a beautiful pond and sports facilities.
Parc La Fontaine : located between downtown and the Plateau, this magnificent wooded area is a popular place for Montrealers to relax.
Angrignon Park , located in the southwest of the city, is a haven of peace for those seeking a break from the urban grind.
Maisonneuve Park, located in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, boasts sports facilities and bicycle paths. You'll also find a community garden and a flock of sheep. Talk to Biquette Montréal's shepherds and volunteers to learn more about eco-pasturing.
Promenade Bellerive : on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, for cycling or walking. From here, you can embark for Île Charron and the Îles-de-Boucherville national park.
Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville : made up of 5 islands, this is an idyllic setting for wildlife observation. You can also pitch your tent here.
Parc Jean-Drapeau , located on Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, offers panoramic views of Montreal.
Parc des Rapides: to the south-west of the city, this park offers a view of the river and its famous rapids, as well as a wealth of birdlife. The bike path along the banks of the St. Lawrence runs through the park.
Cap Saint-Jacques nature park: renowned for its beautiful beach and ecological farm.
Île-de-la-Visitation nature park: this former industrial site is now home to a beautiful wooded area, mills and an apple press.
Pointe-aux-Prairies nature park: visitors can explore the park's biodiversity via an interpretive trail.
Other nature parks include Bois de l'Île Bizard, Bois-de-Liesse and Anse-à-l'Orme, as well as the Complexe environnemental de Saint-Michel in Parc Frédérick-Back.
Olympic Park: home to L'Espace pour la vie, a botanical garden, planetarium and insectarium. For those who want to better understand the links between man and nature!
A city at the forefront of climate change
A report commissioned by the Canadian government points to a rise in annual temperatures more than twice as great in Canada (1.8°C for the period 1948 to 2020) as the global average (0.8°C for the same period). By 2050, Montreal's humid continental climate could well resemble that of Washington, D.C., some 1,000 km south of the Quebec capital. However, ecological awareness is growing, particularly among young people. A case in point is the student-led initiative "La Planète s'invite à l'université" and the Great Climate March in March 2019. Justin Trudeau, who based part of his election campaign on the climate issue, was roundly criticized. And for good reason: while the federal government has announced ambitious targets, such as a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to comply with the Paris agreements, concrete action has been slow in coming. Worse still, they sometimes seem to go in the opposite direction, such as the endorsement given to the Trans mountain project (extension of the oil pipeline between Alberta and British Columbia). The City of Montreal also seems to lack ambition in its environmental roadmap, and we wonder whether it will achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Although Quebec produces 100% renewable energy, it is still dependent on carbon-based energies for its consumption. On the other hand, the particularly violent forest fires of summer 2023 were destructive for the local ecosystem. Over 18 million hectares were burnt across Canada, with dramatic environmental consequences. Forests are in great demand for their ability to absorb greenhouse gases. Several reforestation projects have since been set up.
A city that still consumes a lot of resources
Quebec and Montreal have no shortage of water and energy. What's more, these resources are not expensive, and we sometimes spend them lavishly. Such is the case with the supply of drinking water. The billing system (not linked to volume and included in the property tax) does not encourage savings. Montrealers are among the highest consumers of water, with over 1,000 liters per person per day. Over two days in June 2020, the inhabitants of the Quebec capital distinguished themselves by consuming "the equivalent of 483 Olympic-sized swimming pools of drinking water (1,811,000m3), 59 more than on the same dates last year", according to the Journal de Montréal. Leaky, outdated networks are another reason for this dismal record, even though investments have improved the situation in recent years.
Towards zero waste?
Canada is also one of the world's biggest waste producers (465 kg of waste produced per inhabitant per year in Montreal). The city has embarked on an ambitious waste management program. Concrete measures include actions to combat food and clothing waste. The aim? To avoid 70% of waste going to landfill. Local initiatives are already underway, such as a company that uses coffee grounds to grow mushrooms.
A cycling city
Montreal is regularly ranked among the world's most bike-friendly cities. Its assets? A growing network of 876 km of bike lanes (bike express network), self-service bicycles (BIXI), snow removal in winter, safety and bicycle traffic.
The virtues of urban agriculture
Urban agriculture is well established in Montreal. The city is home to both socially-oriented urban vegetable gardens and commercially-oriented urban farms (Montreal is home to over 70% of Quebec's urban agricultural enterprises). Urban agriculture has many advantages in terms of restoring both environments and social ties.
