Mount Royal Park is 125 years old! All Montrealers are invited to participate in the anniversary celebrations marking the inauguration of Mount Royal Park, beginning with the Festive Fair in the Park.

10:30 a.m.
Historic Parade
Join us in front of City Hall on Notre-Dame Street for a historical and symbolic re-enactment of the parade that took place at the inaugural celebrations of the park 125 years ago. Wear an item of clothing that recalls the 1800s -- top hat, parasol – anything your imagination desires. Free admission.

12:00 p.m.
Festive Fair in the Park
Following the parade, enjoy a family-style picnic for this day of living history and fun in the park at the George-Étienne Cartier Monument near Park Avenue and Rachel Street. Bring your picnic and participate in the fashion show or play some period games; have afternoon tea in the “Mount Royal Tea Room” and watch traditional folk dancing and musical performances. Free admission – don’t forget your picnic.

THE MOUNTAIN-TO-RIVER TRAIL
A GUIDED WALKING TOUR
Sunday, August 19 and 26, and September 23
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$5, $2 for children 6-12 years old
In french only

This day-long walking tour takes you from Mount Royal to the St. Lawrence River while a guide traces the links between water, history and science. Departure from Smith House, 1260 Remembrance Road, Mount Royal Park. The walk ends in the Old Port of Montreal.

MOUNT ROYAL PARK:
LANDSCAPES PAST AND PRESENT
Sunday, September 9 and 16
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
$5, $2 for children 6 to 12 years old

Father of landscape architecture Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for his design of New York City’s Central Park, was commissioned in the 1870s to design Mount Royal Park. Join this guided walking tour for an in-depth look at Olmsted’s vision and an overview of the evolution of the park’s landscapes in the 125 years since its inauguration. Departure from Smith House.

FINE ARTS ON THE MOUNTAIN
Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30
10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Under the auspices of the “Journées de la culture”; free admission, but reservation required.
Sunday, October 7
1:30 p.m.
$5, $2 for children 6 to 12 years old

Discover the works of fine art of Mount Royal Park, including sculptures from the International Sculpture Symposium of Montreal in 1964 and the One Hundred Days of Contemporary Art Exhibit in 1991. Departure from Smith House.

THE THREE SUMMITS
A GUIDED WALKING TOUR
Sunday, October 14, 21 & 28 (in French)
Sunday, October 21 (in English)
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$8, $3 for children 6 to 12 years old

Rediscover Mount Royal on this extraordinary day-long guided walk that traverses the mountain’s Westmount, Outremont and Montreal summits. Learn about the mountain’s rich heritage and its conservation challenges along the way. Departure from the George-Étienne Cartier Monument in the park, corner Park Avenue and Rachel Street.

TREE PLANTING
October
Details to follow

THE “SMITH HOUSE PLAYERS” PRESENTS:
A MOUNTAIN OF HISTORY!
Sundays, beginning September 9 to October 28
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission

Based upon the exhibit in Smith House titled, Monte Real, Montreale, Mont-Royal, Montréal, the “Smith House Players” will bring the mountain’s rich history to life through costumes, props and theatrical storytelling. At Smith House.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
September 22-24

For the first time in its history, the ASLA will be holding its annual conference outside the United States. As many as 4,000 landscape architects and professionals from related fields are expected to congregate in Montreal. The conference theme is “Common Ground: Culture and Nature”. Pivotal to this theme is Mount Royal Park.

In fact, Mount Royal Park will be the subject of the conference’s demonstration project. As such, Smith House will be host to a park’s planning charrette, where the park’s landscaping from Smith House to Côte-des-Neiges Road will be analysed. Also, the historic preservation committee of the ASLA will conduct a mobile workshop on the park’s Olmstedian legacy, followed by a discussion at Smith House.

THE MOUNT ROYAL SUMMIT
March 2002

Throughout the anniversary year, Les Amis de la montagne will continue holding monthly public forums on the variety of projects planned in and around the mountain.

A committee is currently writing a charter for the mountain that will define the principles guiding the vocation of the mountain. Drafts of the charter will be made available for discussion at the forums, and will be presented to the candidates running in the November municipal election for debate.

The outcome of the forums, the charter and the electoral debates will be at the core of the Mount Royal Summit, held in March 2002.

SMITH HOUSE EXHIBIT:
MONTE REAL, MONTREALE, MONT-ROYAL, MONTRÉAL
January to December
Monday to Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission

The permanent exhibit on the main floor of Smith House gives a complete overview of Mount Royal: its history, its natural environment and its related conservation issues.

An interactive computer terminal provides more detailed information about the Aboriginal people of Mount Royal and about the works of art of the park, among other topics. A leaflet containing quizzes and games is available to guide visitors of all ages through the exhibit.