From our Experts

Les Amis de la montagne has a unique mission that sits at the crossroads of environmental protection, education, culture and community action.

Camille Saade-Traboulsi, Head of Philanthropic Development and Partnerships, explains the critical role that donations play for a non-profit organization like Les Amis de la montagne.

Photos: Claude Morin - Frédérique Ménard-Aubin - Éric Gagnon - Kayla Nickson

Jean-François Roy, our advisor for urban planning, environment and heritage, has written the following assessment of advocacy activities undertaken by Les Amis de la montagne in 2023, in addition to defining the broad outlines of what 2024 holds in store.

The movement to ensure that the Monteregian Hills are recognized and protected is gaining momentum and the Coalition des Montérégiennes has taken major steps in this direction.

To learn more about the most recent advancements, we asked Jean-François Roy, Les Amis de la montagne’s Urban Planning, Environment and Heritage Advisor, to answer our questions!

Photo : Instagram @mich.nasr

Readers and visitors undoubtedly associate our Conservation team with awareness raising about Mount Royal’s ecosystems and forest regeneration through trail closures and tree planting. However, behind the scenes, the team is conducting important research projects to better understand and measure the mountain’s ecological integrity. Les Amis’ Head of Conservation Services, Antonin St-Jean, tells us more.

Photo : Pascale Bélanger Lavallée

On April 4th, Les Amis de la montagne unveiled its Plan de conservation du réseau écologique du mont Royal 2023-2027 [plan for the conservation of Mount Royal’s ecological network 2023—2027, in French only]. which is the result of an extensive scientific analysis conducted with the Coalition des Montérégiennes.

 

Photo : Sébastien Foray

The Great Mount Royal Clean-Up will look different in 2023. This year, the traditional garbage collection activities will be integrated with those of the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP), which will start in early May. This will enable us to minimize our impact on the mountain’s natural environment, involve more volunteers of all ages and, as always, celebrate this jewel that holds a privileged place in the heart of our city and our lives.

With its unique, 423-hectare ecological network and rich biodiversity, Mount Royal is central to the lives of Montrealers and virtually serves as an open-air school. Easily accessible to hundreds of thousands of people, the mountain’s natural environment is perfect for exploration and learning. Emily Coffey, Head of Education Services and designer of several programs for Les Amis de la montagne, as well as a number of projects supported by the Ministère de l’Éducation [Quebec’s department of education], talks about the organization’s essential role in environmental education and in preparing the next generation of environmentally responsible citizens.

What do Mount Royal’s fauna and flora do to survive the cold and snow? Ariane Bernier, Environmental Conservation Patrol Lead at Les Amis de la montagne, gives us a few examples of the strategies our mountain’s plants and wildlife use to make sure they can get through the winter.

Les Amis de la montagne is one of the 94 organizations that make up the Collectif COP15, whose mission is to encourage governments to take ambitious, concrete action in terms of nature conservation. For over 35 years, Les Amis and its partners have been working together to maintain the integrity of Mount Royal’s natural ecosystems by improving the condition of the mountain’s ecological network, raising awareness among its visitors and users, and developing a collective commitment to protecting the mountain, which is a major nucleus of biodiversity in Montreal.

Feature article by Marie-Odile Trépanier, Honorary Professor of Urban Planning at Université de Montréal and member of Les Amis de la montagne’s Board of Directors, and Jean-François Roy, Urban Planning, Environment and Heritage Advisor for Les Amis de la montagne.