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Survey Are you for or against the privatization of institutional properties on Mount Royal?
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2013-05-24 - Welcome to Les amis’ springtime newsletter – May 2013
Mount Royal Month activities; launch of "Les dimanches en musique" at the Chalet du Mont-Royal; Mount Royal Summit 2013; and much more...
The answer is a definitive no - Mount Royal is not a volcano, dormant or otherwise!
Mount Royal is one of the last oases of nature remaining in the heart of the city. A surprising biological diversity is still present on the site, but the ecosystems are threatened by the pressures of urban development and intensive use. It is important, therefore, to understand the richness and fragility of Mount Royal's natural habitats.
Animal species on Mount Royal:
To learn more, pick up the brochure titled, "Checklist of animal species on Mount Royal" published by Les amis de la montagne, available for free at the Smith House nature-boutique.
Mount Royal is the heart of Montreal, the city’s most cherished green space and symbol of the movement to conserve and enhance the environment. It houses more than 200,000 trees in the centre of the city and a habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life: 65 tree species, 600 plant species, 180 bird species and 20 species of mammals.
Les amis de la montagne took active part in the work of the Table de concertation created in 2005 to update the draft Mount Royal Protection and Enhancement Plan. This work shed light on the richness of the natural environment covering the territory of the Mount Royal Historic and Natural District and the importance in taking action in the short term to ensure its perpetuity.
In response, Les amis de la montagne decided to establish an Environmental Stewardship Program on Mount Royal to support the property owners and managers in their efforts and to encourage their participation in the conservation of the mountain's natural environment. Click here to learn more about this program.
The Maison Smith is a public building owned by the Ville de Montréal that houses Les amis de la montagne, a registered charitable organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Mont Royal through community involvement and environmental education. A heritage building constructed in 1858, the house is located in the heart of Mont-Royal Park, halfway between the Lac aux Castors and the Grand Chalet.
On the main floor, you can find our welcome and information service, nature boutique, the Café des Amis and our permanent exhibition entitled Mont Royal: A Territory to Discover. On the second floor, the house has two freshly renovated rooms available for rent for a variety of activities. All revenues derived from room rentals are reinvested in activities and conservation projects organized on the mountain by Les amis de la montagne.
ROOMS FOR RENT
Meeting room

Ballroom

Please note that rooms are located on the second floor with adjacent washrooms; there is no elevator.
For more rate information or to schedule an appointment for a visit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, please contact our reservations coordinator by calling 514 843-8240, ext. 235 or by email at reservations@lemontroyal.qc.ca.
The chalet can be rented for noteworthy events that help to promote Montréal provincially, nationally or internationally. The planning and execution of the event must take into account the mountain’s status as a place of heritage as well as accessibility to the mountain for residents and tourists.
Mount Royal Park is the largest, yet the most accessible of all of Montreal’s great parks.
BY FOOT: numerous entry points provide access to Mount Royal Park, namely from Avenue du Parc (at Rue Rachel), from Avenue des Pins (at Rue Peel) and from Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges via the Trafalgar stairs or Chemin Remembrance.
BY BIKE: Olmsted Road is a picturesque pathway that begins at the monument to George-Étienne-Cartier on Avenue du Parc. Olmsted Road is connected to Montreal's bicycle paths via the Rue Rachel.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: the 11 bus (STM) traverses the mountain from the Mont-Royal metro station and Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. Several other bus routes also provide access to the mountain:
BY CAR: the Voie Camillien-Houde and Chemin Remembrance are accessible by car:
Click here to download a map of Mount Royal available in PDF format, created by the Ville de Montréal's Bureau du Mont-Royal, in collaboration with the Direction des grands parcs et du verdissement.
Click on this link to download your copy of the map of cross-country ski trails in Mont-Royal Park.
Stationnement de Montréal is responsible for the pay parking and lots on Mount Royal. Parking regulations are posted on the ticket distributors in each lot.
Mount Royal Park is open from 6 a.m. to midnight and parking is payable from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking fees are $3 per hour or $8 for the day.
There is one parking lot off the Camillien-Houde lookout. To reach the Kondiaronk lookout, you may park near Smith House and follow Olmsted Road by foot for about 10 minutes.
You may contact Stationnement de Montréal directly by calling (514) 868-3737 or by email at their customer service address: sac@statdemtl.qc.ca.
A comprehensive and varied range of accommodation is available in the vicinity of Mount Royal Park. You may search for your preferred form of accommodation on the official tourist website of the Government of Québec, BonjourQuébec.com.
All events held on the public domain in Montreal, including Mount Royal Park, must receive prior authorization from the Ville de Montréal.
Text: Les amis de la montagne, 1999
Translation in progress - text in available in French by clicking here (section "Raconte-moi la petite histoire de ...).
Translation in progress - text available in French by clicking here.
Mount Royal is a very special part of Montréal’s heritage. Its landscapes, flora, fauna and history make it an exceptional place to visit. Many services are available to help you explore this natural monument in the city’s centre. Consult the section of our website titled "Activities and Services" and join us on your next visit to the mountain.
As a charitable non-profit organization, Les amis de la montagne succeeds in its mission thanks to the involvement of citizens dedicated to the cause for Mount Royal. Financial support from individuals, corporations and foundations make possible our activities to protect and enhance Mount Royal. If you wish to make a contribution for the preservation of the mountain, please visit the "Take Action!" section of our website.
The Corvée du Mont-Royal mountain clean-up is an initiative of Les amis de la montagne, an annual event where the Montreal community is invited to take care of the mountain in a spirit of cooperation and celebration.
The first edition of the Corvée was organized in spring 1990, which coincided with the public consultations on the Mount Royal Enhancement Plan.
Over the course of the following decade, the infamous Saint-Jean Baptiste celebrations were held on the mountain. Conditions on the mountain were exacerbated by these significant events and the addition of 3 million visitors to the mountain per year.
The high-traffic areas of the park were certainly maintained, but the Mount Royal forest was never the object of neither rigorous maintenance nor cleaning. Participants in the early days of the Corvée worked hardest in these otherwise neglected areas of the park.
During the 5th edition of the event in 1994, participants planted trees for the first time. Other environmental activities were introduced over the years, including the removal of wild parsley and the spreading of wood chips in certain areas affected by soil degradation.
In 1998, the mountain was particularly affected by the ice storm that hit the region. No less than 80% of the trees were damaged. Nearly 1,000 participants helped to rid the park of fallen branches during the Corvée that year. After a two-year hiatus, during the 11th edition, 450 participants cleaned the park and 500 trees were planted.
In all, more than 9,000 people have participated in the Corvée du Mont-Royal since 1990.
The Mount Royal Forum gives the community, both citizens and organizations, the opportunity to exchange ideas about issues and projects affecting the mountain. Visit the "News and Events" section of our website for more information on the next public forum.
The Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event is Les amis de la montagne’s most original and magical signature fundraising activities on Mount Royal. By participating in the Tuques Bleues Celebration, you help Les amis conserve the inestimable heritage of this emblematic site for our collective quality of life and for Montreal.
The 12th edition of the Tuques Bleues event will be held Thursday, February 19, 2009. For details and how to register, please visit our website under the heading "News and Events: Tuques Bleues Celebration".
For your security and the protection of natural spaces, the Ville de Montréal reminds you of the following park regulations.
ACTIVITIES
PICNICS
PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Click on this link for more information on the by-laws governing Mont-Royal Park, one of the large parks that operates under the auspices of the agglomeration council of Montreal, RCG 10-016.
Visit the Ville de Montreal’s website for up-to-date snow conditions. Trails are maintained by the city from mid-December to mid-March.
The weather forecast - what could be more important before preparing for an outdoor excursion? Visit the website of Environment Canada to obtain the latest weather conditions and forecast for the Montreal area
Sunday Tam-Tam Jam
The tam-tam jams are held in good weather on Sundays from early May to late September in the vicinity of the monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier, near Avenue du Parc corner Rue Rachel. The Ville de Montréal is charged with the general maintenance and upkeep of the environment. Police and cadets from Station 20 provide support to uphold the peace and ensure the security of participants.
Visit to the stables of the SPVM cavalry
Horse-drawn carriage rides
The Ville de Montréal is undertaking important enhancement projects on the mountain: Beaver Lake, the beltway, Redpath Crescent, to name a few. For more information, visit the Ville de Montréal's websites: Division des grands parcs - Parc du Mont-Royal or Direction des travaux publics. You may also call the Ville de Montréal at any time: Info-Travaux, 514 872-3777 or 311.