oel Goldenberg

Montreal buys massive West Island site to preserve wetlands

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Plante administration has decided to buy land from the technology firm Hypertec, located near Trudeau Airport, for over $30 million. As a result, wetlands and urban forests at the Technoparc in St. Laurent will be preserved and the boundaries of the Sources Nature Park will be expanded.

“Thanks to the pressure from Ensemble Montréal and the St. Laurent team, the lands of the Sources Nature Park will be protected,” St.Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa stated. Mayor Valérie Plante told a press conference that “thanks to an important collaboration with the Hypertec company, the City of Montreal will acquire and protect the equivalent of 15 soccer fields in the Parc-nature des Sources.”

As reported by The Suburban‘s Dan Laxer last year, DeSousa had pressed the Plante administration, through a series of amendments he presented to Montreal city council, to commit to its promise to expand the boundary of the nature park.

Hypertec had announced at the time that, as a result of public pressure, it would sell the land to the city for the price it originally paid. DeSousa, in 2023, described the proposal as “elegant” as the alternative site Hypertec was seeking for its facility was in a part of the Technoparc located in St. Laurent. The Mayor, last year, also praised the company for its plans for a green building.

The conservation group Technoparc Oiseau rejoiced at the news and congratulated the city.

“This action – the result of citizen, scientific and union mobilization – constitutes a major victory for conservation,” the organization stated. “Today marks a remarkable step towards the near future where the entirety of the Sources Nature Park, including all remaining federal and private lands, will be fully protected and restored, for the benefit of all. We would like to emphasize that this collaborative work must continue to protect the rich biodiversity of this site. We particularly encourage the Canadian federal government to become more involved in protecting this space. Indeed, while we applaud the recent listing of the monarch butterfly as an endangered species, we would like to point out that the most effective way to preserve this species is to protect its habitats, including the Monarch Field.” n

Montreal buys massive West Island site to preserve wetlands Read More »

MoWest, Exo, CPKC launch rail safety campaign

Local Journalism Initiative / / /

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Montreal West, along with the commuter train operator Exo and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), launched a rail safety campaign recently as part of Rail Safety Week.

The railway crossing on Westminster has been a concern over the years, with cars being trapped between barriers on some occasions. As well, a 70-year-old man died this year after being struck by a train at the crossing at Westminster near Sherbrooke.

The town says the initiative “aims to raise public awareness and encourage safe behaviours at the Montreal West train station as well as at the Westminster crossing. This collaborative effort emphasizes the safety of the hundreds of pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists who cross the railway tracks daily. The Montreal West train tracks see nearly 100 train passings daily and around 2,500 passengers who transit through the Montreal West station on the average workday, making it amongst the busiest in the exo network.”

Mayor Beny Masella pointed out that “rail safety has always been a priority and an enormous concern for the town. We are grateful to our partners, including the SPVM, exo, and the CPKC for the actions they have taken to improve safety. We are committed to taking ongoing measures with our partners to ensure maximum safety at crossings, including initiatives like this one.”

Councillor Lauren Small-Pennefather, who was at the Montreal West train station last week, said that “as part of Operation Lifesaver’s national campaign, I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with CPKC police, exo officers and Montreal West Security, to promote the Look. Listen. Live. campaign at the Montreal West Station.

“Our collective goal was to increase and raise awareness about railway safety to commuters. It is essential to stay vigilant when near a rail crossing, respect all signs, lights, and barriers, and stand behind the yellow line when on the platform. We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout and positive reception from all users, including students from Royal West Academy, Loyola and Collège Prep International….We want everyone to reach their destination safely.”

On Sept. 24, 25 and 26, Exo representatives were at the train station “disseminating interactive and informative awareness material. Representatives from the CPKC police were in nearby Davies Park also raising awareness about rail safety.

A town statement also pointed out that as part of the overall safety efforts, the Montreal West train station “underwent significant renovations.

“Improvements include a new pedestrian tunnel, completed in 2024, that connects Sherbrooke Street to Broughton Street, providing a safer way to cross the tracks. Additionally, modifications to road configuration and traffic have been made at the Westminster crossing to enhance safety.”

MoWest, Exo, CPKC launch rail safety campaign Read More »

Scroll to Top