News

Discover Mount Royal on the Web for 8 to 17 year-olds!

Launch of the youth section of the Mount Royal interactive map

Press release – for immediate distribution

Discover Mount Royal on the Web for 8 to 17 year-olds!

Montreal, March 30, 2009 – Les amis de la montagne proudly launched the brand new youth section of the Mount Royal interactive map geared for 8 to 17 year-olds, in the company of students from the École Saint-Germain d’Outremont today.

A presentation and trial run of the interactive map’s new content available at www.lemontroyal.qc.ca was featured on this occasion – games, videos, investigations, slide shows and discovery files – all ensured a most dynamic, playful and interactive discovery of the mountain ever!

With the help of 100 multimedia files, young people – at home or in the classroom - are invited to discover the history, geology, fauna, flora and art on the mountain in a most uncommon and original way.
 

Photos (clockwise) : Samuel Montigné, environmental educator, presents the map. Jean-Michel Villanove, coordinator of educational services (general public), guides students in their investigation.  Production team and guests: Gabrielle Korn, Samuel Montigné, Jean-Michel Villanove, Myriam Grondin, Éric Richard, Lina Sarraf (member of the advisory committee), Pierrette Trudel (member of the advisory committee), Diane Lacour de Léry (principal of the École St-Germain d'Outremont), Émilie Paul, André Larichelière (commissioner with the Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys for Outremont) and Sylvie Guilbault, executive director of Les amis de la montagne. Helen Fotopulos, member of the executive committee of the Ville de Montréal, responsible for Mount Royal, Sylvie Guilbault, executive director of Les amis de la montagne and Diane Lacour de Léry, principal of the École St-Germain d'Outremont, participate in an investigation.(Photos: © Les amis de la montagne/Andrew Dobrowolskyj). 

The younger age group (8 to 11 years) is invited to lead a series of investigations: re-trace the history of a coin found of the mountain dating from 1860 or trek through the forest to trace animal prints in the snow.

The colourful “Friendz” super-guides accompany 12 to 17 year-olds on a variety of multimedia challenges that will see them create posters on conservation issues that could even be published on the interactive map via Les amis de la montagne’s website. A downloadable guide for teachers allows further thinking in the classroom.

The purpose of the interactive map, which went live in the fall of 2008 by Les amis de la montagne, is to trigger the visitor’s desire to discover Mount Royal and its hidden assets in order to better appreciate the mountain and participate in its conservation and longevity. The website presents audio-visual capsules on the mountain’s heritage that can be downloaded from the site free of charge.

This project was made possible due to the program supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Cultural Content Online Program, as well as the participation of a committee of education specialists.

Les amis de la montagne also wish to extend thanks to the Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire by way of the Fonds de développement de la métropole, the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine and the Ville de Montréal as part of the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal.

To visit the interactive map of Les amis de la montagne: www.lemontroyal.qc.ca

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Source and information:
Gabrielle Korn
Director of Communications
Les amis de la montagne
514 843-8240, ext. 237
gkorn@lemontroyal.qc.ca