sustainability

Montreal’s St. Pierre River: Little local issues are tied to big global ones

August 2nd 2018 UPDATE: The Court has ruled in favour of burying the St. Pierre River. To read Marion Scott’s report, click here.

by Hélène Montpetit

Montreal environmental group Les Amis du parc Meadowbrook recently called attention to a Quebec Superior Court decision ordering the city to clean up a small stream in the west end.

In and of itself, this does not sound like anything that should make headlines, but the stream is one of the few remaining visible sections of the historic St. Pierre River and its fate could set a precedent of some importance, since filling it in is what the developer that currently owns the site suggests should be done. Continue reading “Montreal’s St. Pierre River: Little local issues are tied to big global ones” →

Sauvons La Falaise endorses Hands Across Our Green Spaces

We are happy to announce that Sauvons la Falaise has added its name to the list of Montreal non-profit environmental groups endorsing Hands Across Our Green Spaces, a fun and healthy way to support the conservation of Greater Montreal’s wild and natural spaces.

Take a peek, get inspired, sign up here!

Saturday, June 10 2017 – from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

May 15, 2017 0

About Hands Across Our Green Spaces

There’s a flashmob coming together in and around Greater Montreal and it is a fun and healthy way to support the conservation of our wild and natural spaces. Take a peek, get inspired, sign up at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RLZMSS7

Saturday, June 10 2017 – from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Supported by:

May 9, 2017 0

Looks Like Montreal Could Use Tutoring On Environmental Issues

By Hélène Montpetit

Is Montreal Really an Environmental Dunce?
Adopted in April 2016, the Charter for the Protection of Montreal’s Green Spaces and Natural Environments was signed by over 100 city planners, biologists, sociologists, economists, public health and social housing experts, as well as about 40 citizens groups. On April 20th, to mark its first anniversary, Forum Nature Montréal handed the City a Green Report Card. The final grade came out of a survey in which participants assessed Montreal’s performance on priority environmental issues such as the protection of natural environments and biodiversity, the reduction of urban sprawl and the accessibility of green spaces for all residents. How did the City fare? An overwhelming majority of respondents gave it a poor (D) or miserable (E) rate on all counts! Continue reading “Looks Like Montreal Could Use Tutoring On Environmental Issues” →

April 27, 2017 0

Hands Across Our Green Spaces

Français

Saturday, June 10 2017 – from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Are you ready to WALK THE TALK AND SHOW your love of Nature?

Will you stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Montrealers to SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL FLORA AND FAUNA?

Concerned citizens of the Greater Montreal Area are invited to hold hands in SILENT VIGIL AND FORM A HUMAN BARRIER AROUND KEY ENDANGERED WILD SPACES to create a massive consciousness raising event.

At least 500 participants are required to make this silent flashmob work, so please share this information widely.

and

Please commit by filling out our registration form between now and May 27 – you will find it by clicking on this link.

A follow up email will be sent out on or before Saturday, June 3, 2017. to let you know if we will be going ahead.

Supported by:

April 18, 2017 2

Sweet Songs Collection no. 27: Resilience

A program of the Post Carbon Institute, Resilience.org provides news and information on energy, the depletion of critical resources, complex environmental crises and related social and economic issues. It also shares the creative solutions various groups and individuals have thought up or implemented to overcome these challenges.

A great one-stop way to stay informed on current initiatives, the site features articles by various experts, journalists, publications, associations and NGOs such as Yes! Magazine, the Sustainable Food Trust, Circle of Blue and others. It also publishes book reviews and links to films on relevant topics.

To access resilience.org, click here.

Thank you for reading!

February 24, 2017 3

Transition NDG Launches New Pop-Up Cafe

By Hélène Montpetit

Every Monday from January 23^rd to March 13th, NDG residents can warm up, cheer up and pick up new skills by popping into Coopérative de solidarité Transition NDG’s (“TNDG”) new Pop-Up Coop. The transitory café will be held at Café Zephyr, 5791 Sherbrooke West, owned and operated by NDG residents. The venue serves mostly organic, local food and although Chef Anne is off on Mondays, she has agreed to make her hearty soup available to patrons.

Building Community and Resilience

Active in the neighbourhood since 2012, TNDG is well-known for growing free food through its Incredible Edibles initiative that builds and maintains raised-bed gardens on a few of the area’s main thoroughfares during Montreal’s growing season. Also popular are the group’s film and discussion evenings, held once a month from October through June at Coop la maison verte. Continue reading “Transition NDG Launches New Pop-Up Cafe” →

January 17, 2017 0

New Conference and Nature Walk Series Focuses On Montreal Flora & Fauna

By Hélène Montpetit

From the strip of walking trails and cycling paths on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River to the well-travelled escarpments of Mount Royal, Montreal is home to several species of birds, animals and plants.

Landmarks such as Mount Royal Park and Bois-de-Liesse are well protected, but infrastructure construction and pushes for new housing developments currently threaten some of the lesser-known areas on the Island.

To keep Montrealers informed about the endangered bounty at their doorstep, Transition NDG has teamed up with several local environmental organizations. Together, they will host a series of conferences throughout February and March on the premises of Coopérative La Maison Verte. Each of the talks will be followed by a nature walk in the featured area.

For more information, see the graphic below. You can also stay informed through Transition NDG’s Facebook page.

To find out more about the areas that will be featured, visit the Amis du Technoparc Facebook page here, the Les Amis du Parc Meadowbrook website, the Sauvons La Falaise website and the Sauvons l’Anse-à-l’Orme Facebook page.

January 13, 2017 0

Sweet Songs Collection no. 24: The World Social Forum

All citizen-run groups and individuals belonging to social movements are invited to attend World Social Forums to raise important issues, discuss ideas, formulate proposals, build their networks and learn from each other’s experiences.

The first World Social Forum was held in 2001 in Brazil. Since then, gatherings have taken place almost every year. Documentation stemming from these meetings as well as from other workshops and conferences organized under the auspices of the organization is being shared online. Several topics of interest to anyone wishing to foster social, economic and political change are covered. To see what is available, please click here.

Participants come from all over the world to focus on practical alternatives that foster a world built on social and environmental justice, social and supportive economic principles, participative democracy and the preservation of equality and dignity for all.

From August 9th to 14th 2016, Montreal, Quebec, Canada is hosting the first edition of the Forum to be held in the northern hemisphere. For more on this event, click here.

For more information about the World Social Forum in general, click here.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to share your comments in the space below.

July 7, 2016 0