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Carried by all the major print and electronic media, the news travelled quickly. At a press conference on February 17, 2003, Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communications, Diane Lemieux, with André Boisclair, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Greater Montreal, the Environment and Water, and Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal, by her side, announced that a new statute would now protect Mount Royal. With the Cultural Property Act, the Quebec government announced its intention to classify Mount Royal as an historic and natural district.
The news came one year after the Mount Royal summit, organized by Les Amis de la montagne and its partners, Heritage Montreal, the Centre de la montagne and the City of Montreal. The summit marked the closing of the 125th anniversary of parc du Mont-Royal, and brought together over 200 participants to discuss the future of Mount Royal. The proposals that came out of that meeting were repeated at the summit organized by the city in the spring of 2002. A clear message was sent by the community to the municipal and provincial authorities:
- Ensure long-term protection, through provincial legislation, of the entire area of Mount Royal outside of the limits of the park; this area should include the large institutional properties and residential districts on its slopes that help to define the unique landscape of the mountain;
- Delegate management of this protected area to the city and ensure the participation of the five boroughs, institutional landowners and the Montreal community in the planning and decision-making process.
A first in Quebec
The creation of the historic and natural district by the Quebec government was welcomed with enthusiasm and satisfaction. A decision unprecedented in the history of Quebec, it is the first time that an area has been designated under this double status.
According to the Cultural Property Act, the status of historic district refers to territories in which historic monuments and sites are concentrated (e.g., Old Montreal, Old LaPrairie) and natural district recognizes the high level of aesthetic, legendary or scenic interest of an area (i.e., the Saraguay Woods, the Mingan Archipelago and Percé).
The Mount Royal district as proposed follows the same perimeters as the heritage site constituted by the former city of Montreal in 1987, to which have been added portions of the territory of the former municipalities of Westmount and Outremont, Summit Park and the ravine that links it to parc du Mont-Royal, and Mount Royal Cemetery and its surroundings.
A process in evolution
While everyone applauded the government's decision, grey areas remain and some adjustments must be made over the coming months.
Notice of Classification
Following the announcement and publication of the notice of classification in the Gazette officielle du Quebec, citizens have 30 days to comment on the proposal submitted by the Minister of Culture. It is therefore possible that changes may be made after comments have been received.
Delegation of Management
Management of the territory is as important as the status itself. No existing management model fits Mount Royal perfectly. It is a complex area spread over five boroughs, with many institutions, public and private properties, involving a multitude of municipal services. And the history of one hundred and fifty years of community commitment to the mountain cannot be overlooked.
The City of Montreal is therefore committed to setting up a management structure that will include an integrated approach to ensure the active participation of all stakeholders and transparency in the decision-making process.
The next steps
Several steps remain to ensure that the municipal regulations complementing the status, project evaluation criteria, consultative and collaborative processes, stakeholders' roles and action priorities are well defined.
An important advance has been made, however, and it is a great victory for the Montreal community, Montreal and its mountain. There is still much work to be done, but we seem to be headed in the right direction.
by Sylvie Guilbault, Executive Director
Les Amis de la montagne
Discover the historic and natural district of Mount Royal by participating in the Three Summits Walking Tour. Click here for details.
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