Montrealers care about Mount Royal and always have.

More than 20 years ago, a dedicated group of citizens joined forces to defend the mountain against a construction project that would change the face of Montreal. Thus was born Les Amis de la montagne with the mission to protect and make known the enormous value of Mount Royal.

As we welcome the New Year, Les Amis de la montagne presents eight wishes for Mount Royal in 2008:

1. Admit that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
   Piecemeal decision-making has always had a negative outcome for Mount Royal. We must stop squandering portions of the mountain territory for momentary gain and treat Mount Royal like the majestic and irreplaceable site it is.
2. Find harmony between the mountains’ past and its contemporary needs.
   It’s sometimes easier to build from scratch than to breathe new life into existing buildings. But the preservation of our built heritage is in keeping with our reduce-reuse-recycle way of life. Let’s create incentives to encourage the maintenance, restoration and reuse of remarkable buildings, such as the former Sisters of the Saints-Noms-de-Jésus-et-de-Marie Convent, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the former Marianopolis College.
3. Maintain the uniqueness of Mount Royal’s landscapes.
   The landscapes that surround us tell the story of our origins and evolution. Changes in the way we live, work and play make our landscapes vulnerable to misuse and neglect. Recent proposals for construction on the site of the Montreal General Hospital and modifications in the landscaping of the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery put the physical limits and historic context of these sites at risk.
4. Prohibit development in natural zones.
   The preservation of ecosystems is globally recognized as a pillar of sustainable development. Mount Royal’s ecosystem provides habitats for a surprisingly rich biodiversity and benefits our urban environment. Let’s stop measuring the replacement value of individual trees and consider the larger impact on the mountain’s ecosystem.
5. Improve accessibility to the mountain.
   Concerted efforts have been made to reduce the use of automobiles in Montreal. The mountain is considered the heart of the city and the green lung of Quebec’s most important metropolis. It needs to be better integrated in the city’s network of pedestrian and bicycle paths, and public transportation, especially ones that connect the mountain’s three summits, the institutions on its flanks and the park, to one another.
6. Guarantee appropriate use of the mountain territory.
   Mount Royal is a Historic and Natural District, decreed by the Government of Quebec. A territory of this importance requires that it be used in an appropriate manner. Activities held within its perimeter must not conflict with its protection objectives and should in fact, contribute to its identity.
7. Preserve heritage properties through maintenance and restoration.
   Properties that are allowed to suffer from poor maintenance are often the victims of neglect and eventually, the bulldozer. With support from our governments and municipal administrations, every property owner on the mountain must develop a responsible attitude towards the maintenance and restoration of our collective architectural heritage.
8. Provide an integrated and transparent management framework.
   Mount Royal consists of 10 km2 of protected territory divided between two municipalities and four boroughs. All levels of government must work to harmonize the regulations and criteria that govern this unique and distinct mountain territory. A management model that ensures an effective and transparent process to oversee projects, while ensuring the involvement of citizens, must be instituted.

I invite you to benefit from the brighter side of winter by enjoying the snowy slopes of Mount Royal and extend wishes of health and happiness to all in the New Year.

Peter A. Howlett is the founding president of Les Amis de la montagne.