Mount Royal holds a unique place in the life of Montrealers. People go there to walk, discover nature, get together, and take a break from the city. Its forest, landscapes, and heritage are a shared legacy passed down from one generation to the next. Their protection must guide all decisions affecting the mountain.

The new Guide des organismes pour l’organisation d’événements in Mount-Royal’s parks (Guide for events organization), published by the City of Montreal last August, should have reaffirmed this priority. Instead, this revised version removes several safeguards governing the hosting of events and introduces a number of ambiguities.

 

Specifically, we note:

1. The removal of attendance caps and maximum frequency of events by sector, which helped limit pressures on different natural habitats.

2. The removal of guidelines distinguishing static and dynamic events, which allowed requirements to be adapted to the specific characteristics of different activities.

3. The lack of detail regarding the closing of intersections. Although the guide’s summary mentions the Montreal Police Department (SPVM), it provides no information on the measures to be implemented. The previous version required a police presence at key intersections to inform and redirect visitors, a measure essential for ensuring access to information and managing traffic.

4. The removal of the term “eco-responsible events” from the title, which underscored the importance of environmental responsibility to event organizers.

 

Les Amis de la montagne was not consulted on the development of this revised guide. Our knowledge of the mountain could have informed a planning approach better suited to its realities. Collaboration with organizations and institutions involved in the protection and enhancement of the mountain would strengthen the guide and broaden its value.

The succession of activities, along with the installation and dismantling of event infrastructures and event-related travel, puts repeated pressure on the same areas. These impacts accumulate over time and across seasons. Restrictions on public access can also limit the public’s ability to enjoy the park.

Rigorous monitoring and the regular publication of results are needed to assess the cumulative effects of events on natural habitats, heritage assets, and park accessibility. This information should be used to adjust event requirements and restrictions, based on the recovery of natural habitats.

Events can help people discover Mount Royal, bring communities together, and strengthen their connection to this special place. However, they must respect what makes the mountain valuable: the richness of its natural habitats, its heritage, its landscapes, and its everyday accessibility to the public. These considerations must take priority in decisions regarding the hosting of events. The visibility and economic benefits of these events should not come at the expense of the long-term preservation of this exceptional site.

 

Les Amis de la montagne therefore calls on the City of Montreal to:

• Reinstate clear, public, and predictable guidelines regarding maximum attendance, event frequency, permitted locations, and the distribution of events, based on the nature of the activity, the capacity of each sector, and the recovery time required by natural habitats.

• Involve the Table de concertation du Mont-Royal, as well as relevant organizations and institutions, in revising the guide, drawing on its members’ expertise and knowledge of the territory.

• Assess the cumulative impacts of events and make monitoring results, best practices, and mitigation measures publicly available so that event requirements and restrictions may be adjusted as needed.

 

As Montreal marks the 150th anniversary of Mount Royal Park, the city has an opportunity to renew its commitment to our mountain and to future generations. The guide must reflect this ambition and align with the strategic plan Taking action for Montréal 2026-2030, particularly as it relates to transparency, the protection of natural environments, and territorial resilience.

 

Les Amis de la montagne