Description

During the months of September and October, the Comité  ZIP Ville-Marie, with the help of over 200 volunteers, reforested nearly 21 000 m2 of land along the Saint-Jacques river. A total of 1680 trees and 1625  shrubs have been planted in order to increase the wildlife value of the sector. This represent an investment of more than $100 000.

All the trees that have been planted measured at least one to two meters and are native specie. They will provide quality habitat for birds, small mammals and  insects. The second objective of the project is to control the progression of the common reed, a common invasive plant. Its aggressive propagation along the St.Jacques river ecosystems threatens the survival of native species. 

On September 26th and 27th, 85 volunteers planted 920 trees and 300 shrubs near the AMT parking lot and the golf de La Prairie. Half of these volunteers came from Katimavik, a program for young volunteers across Canada. Other volunteers were citizens concerned  by safeguarding the environment and the protection of the St. Jacques river. 

On October 3rd, It is all the Maison des jeunes de la Montérégie that planted trees along the shoreline of the Saint-Jacques River at the Parc Jean-de-la-Menais. The fifty adolescents and the twenty adults have given a hand to the Comité ZIP Ville-Marie to plant 210 trees and 1045  shrubs. 

On October 8th and 9th, employees from two companies planted 550 trees  and 280 shrubs along the riverbanks in Parc Émilie-Gamelin. Both compagnies, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, have kindly released from their normal activities 24 and 11  employees respectively so that they can give a hand in helping the environment. 

To see pictures of the day

Plantation sites :

- Along the Golf de la Prairie, near the AMT parking lot : 920 trees et 300 shrubs
- Parc Jean de la Menais : 210 trees et 1045 shrubs
- Parc Émilie-Gamelin : 550 trees et 280 shrubs

Tree species that have been planted :

- Speckled elder
- Bur oak
- Fly honeysuckle
- Red osier dogwood
- White spruce
- Black spruce
- Sugar maple
- Red maple
- Butternut
- Balsam poplar
- Cottonwood
- Long leaf willow
- Pussy willow
- Black willow
- Large-leaved meadow-sweet
- American Elderberry

Partners and fincancial supports

We wish to thank the city of Brossard and La Prairie without whom this project and the protection of the St. Jacques river, would be impossible. This project would not have been able without the financial support of Environment Canada. We also thank our other partners: Le Fonds de l’environnement de Shell, le Golf de La Prairie, la Pépinière l’Aiglon, le Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Nautilus Plus, Subways de Brossard et les Muséums Nature de Montréal.

Press release
- beginning of the project - july 2009 (in French only)
- recruiting volunteers September 26th and 27th (in French only)
- results at mid-project (in French only)

For more information :

Louise Morin, project manager, Comité ZIP Ville-Marie lmorin@zipvillemarie.org, 514-934-0884