"Early discussions" are underway to designate a new "national urban park" in Montreal, Parks Canada says. The federal agency is pursuing similar initiatives in the Edmonton area, Halifax, the Saskatoon area, the Victoria, B.C., area, Windsor and Winnipeg.
The national urban parks program is in its infancy. Parks Canada is still in the process of writing the policy that will govern it. But the idea is that it would generally involve partnerships with municipalities, provinces and First Nations to designate eligible areas and create a collaborative management structure.
The federal government first named Montreal as one of the program's target areas in 2021, but hasn't identified the land a new park could comprise. One summer 2022 suggestion from the Côte Saint-Luc municipal council is the federally-owned green space bordering Montreal-Trudeau Airport to the north, which today comprises the Technoparc, Golf Dorval course and butterfly migration stopping point known as the Monarch butterfly fields.
It's unclear what those "early discussions" look like, but, according to a process outlined by Parks Canada, they could involve deliberations with local governments about the size and administration of a potential Montreal park.
Candidate areas in the other provinces include Vancouver Island's Fort Rodd Hill-Fisgard Lighthouse "and nearby areas," the Meewasin Valley near Saskatoon, the Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor, and the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes area in Halifax.
Parks Canada announced in May 2023 that it had moved into the "planning" phase for Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes in collaboration with the Halifax Regional Municipality, Mi'kmaq, Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. These groups will next develop what the agency calls a "park vision," determine a budget and reach out to the public for input.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
What's better than a long weekend? Back-to-back long weekends!
With so much going on in Montreal this summer, what better way to take advantage of yet another long weekend than with an array of festivities that will certainly make it one to remember.
When: June 25, July 2, 9, 13, 16, 20, 27, Aug 3 and 6, 2022
Address: La Ronde, 22, chem. Macdonald, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Nothing says a long weekend quite like fireworks, but you can enjoy them almost every weekend this summer at La Ronde. Back after a two-year break, the festival is back to brightening the Montreal skies once again.
Why You Need To Go: Festivals are a way of being in Montreal, but none as iconic as the Montreal Jazz Festival, where 3,000 performers from over 30 countries will bring music and life to the city's most exciting neighbourhood. Celebrating its 42nd edition, the annual event is sure to be as spectacular as ever.
Why You Need To Go: NIKKEI MTL is the latest addition to Montreal's vibrant and eclectic food scene. Highlighting its namesake cuisine, the restaurant offers a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cuisine in a gorgeously sleek setting.
Address: rue Ste. Catherine E between Saint-Hubert and Papineau, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: 160 artists will bring some colour to our already vibrant city with exhibitions and displays of all disciplines. You can walk around and simply admire the works, or you can check out the lineup of activities, including interactive performances, live painting and kids' activities for any budding artists out there.
Why You Need To Go: A new mural has been revealed to join the many great works in the city, especially downtown. This one is dedicated to Parasuco, a Montreal-based apparel company, celebrating its 46th (or 45+1 as Parasuco puts it) year in business by helping to keep Montrealers as stylish as we are.
Address: Arsenal Contemporary Art, 2020 rue William, Montreal, QC
Why You Need To Go: Sometimes you just need something a little more chilled out on the long weekend, which is exactly where Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon comes in. The experience is dedicated to the famed Mexican artist in a one-of-a-kind exhibit that highlights her life, her legacy and her work from top to bottom... literally.
Address: Along rue Ste. Catherine from Guy to Phillips Square
Why You Need To Go: Celebrate Caribbean culture and tradition at this bright and colourful parade. A tradition that spans from Miami to New York, to Toronto, to Montreal, see the grandiose floats, also known as "mas bands,” make their way through the heart of downtown to honour this incredible region of the world.
Why You Need To Go: Certain national parks and historic sites are offering free admission on July 1 to kick start the long weekend with some fun. Here in Quebec, we are home to three national parks and 24 historic sites for you to discover.
Why You Need To Go: Raise a glass to long weekends in our favourite city at La Cantine from Aire Commune. You can enjoy beautiful views of Old Montreal and the canal with drinks and bites from a gourmet menu.
Unfortunately, the sun and warmth won't last much longer because in about a week the fall weather is going to kick in and we're all going to be wearing cozy sweaters, drinking our pumpkin spiced lattes, and eating as much apple pie as our hearts desire.
But we all know what the best part about fall is. Yup, it's the breathtaking fall foliage that's about brighten up our usual boring landscapes!
National Geographic recently wrote an article that ranked the Top 10 Places To See The Autumn Leaves in the world and the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec ranked 4th on the list!
The Gaspe Peninsula is home to Gaspesie National Park, Forillon National Park and the stunning Rocher Perce all located along the beautiful coastline of Quebec.
They say that the contrast of the bright blue waters of the St. Lawrence Gulf paired with the thousands of bright red and golden leaves give the illusion of the Canadian flag in real life!
This gorgeous area of Quebec was the only Canadian location mentioned on the list, so we should be pretty proud of that!
If you're planning on making some trips this fall to see the amazing foliage that's about to come our way, this should definitely be at the top of your list!
Guys, what's your absolute favourite summertime activity? Is it discovering new spots in your own province? Is it biking through the most beautiful spots?
Is it both? I bet it's both, friend, because to me, nothing sounds better than biking through the most beautiful spots in our province, and discovering new ones along the way.
One of the most glorious bike paths in Quebec, though, has to be the biking trail through Montmorency Falls.
Montomrency Falls is situated in Quebec City, and about a two hour drive out of Montreal. You can hike, bike, chill, walk, and go over a super cool suspension bridge in the park.
And if biking's the name of your game, then you're in luck. You can go on biking tours, or through biking paths, that lead you right to the falls. Check out how pretty they are, guys!
For Canada's 150th birthday, Parks Canada is making entrance to every National Park 100% free. All you have to do is sign up to get a (free!) Discover Pass, and bam. You're all set.
You might not know exactly how many gorgeous National Parks Canada has, though. And if not, no worries. Although we have literal tons of beautiful, breathtaking National Parks, here are just a select few that'll be totally free for 2017.
So what exactly is this 150th anniversary? What are we celebrating? And most importantly, how are we celebrating?
Fear, not because this article is here to answer all of these questions and more.
Quick History
The colony of Canada was established in 1534, so some of you may be wondering why we're celebrating 150 years. That's because we're actually celebrating the Canadian Confederation, which is when the colonies of Canada (Ontario and Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united as the "Dominion of Canada" on July 1, 1867.
You are a part of Canada, so of course, you're invited to participate. You can get involved as a volunteer, an organizer, or a participant. There are various festivals, Canada-wide signature projects, special events, as well as a ton of activities you can take part in.
This is definitely the year to get out there and explore this amazing country of ours. For 2017 all of Canada's national parks, heritage spaces and national museums are 100% free to enjoy. You just need to register for your Discovery Pass.
Crazy celebrations are taking place all across the country. There will be a lot of new special activities and parties planned this year. Additionally, our normal annual celebrations will be bigger and better than ever! Some of the biggest ones include: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Quebec, The Winterlude, the Ottawa-Gatineau 150 Kick Off, and of course the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa.
The gift is valid for all Canadian and international visitors. So you don't need to have been born in the true north strong and free to take advantage of this offer.
The pass gives you unlimited opportunities to enjoy every National Park, National Marine Conservation Area and National Historic Site across the country.
Special“Red Chairs” have been placed in various sites around the country and if you find them, it means you’re standing in one of the most spectacular places in the country.
You can go hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and ice climbing... and you can also do more unconventional things, like their riverboat discovery cruise, exploring the river on rabaska, and much, much more.
Canada also has a ton of National Parks, so we decided to make our own road trip map to link as many of them as possible.
We had to skip over 7 of them in British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut and The Northwest Territories. Either because reaching them required you to cross over water or because Google was simply unable to find uninterrupted driving routes to reach them.
But we did managed to link 40 of them together in one continuous line. (The rest are listed on the map in case you want to find your own route)
Of course because we're from Quebec, we couldn't help ourselves, so we linked 17 of Quebec's provincial parks as well.
Now all you need to do is to choose how many you want to see and how far you're willing to drive.
Don't stress if you missed camping this summer because you can have just as much fun, or even more, camping this fall! Quebec is home to stunning Provincial Parks that are all perfect locations to go camping at this fall with your friends. Not only can you basically do all the summer activities but you can also enjoy the red and orange views.
Camping with your friends is always fun but it is honestly even better in the fall! It is cooler and even more stunning! So get packing and don't forget your sweaters and blankets because warming up areound a cmapfire in the fall is the best feeling ever!
1. Enjoy The Crisp Air At Mingan Archipelago National Park
Instead of simply camping in the forest, why not check out camping near these amazing rocks! These rocks have eroded over time to are these beautiful natural landscapes.
If you enjoy nature at it's finest and love animals, then I suggest going camping in Saguenay with some of your friends this fall! Not only is the landscape beautiful in the fall but you can even go whale watching!
If you want to explore over 150 lakes, then this is the park for you! Not only do they have gorgeous lake views, but they also have waterfalls and multiple places to go kayaking through the golden leaves of fall.
For a park that is beautiful no matter what the season, this is the place for you! Not only is it gorgeous in the fall, but it is honestly a lot of fun! You can go sledding, cross-country skiing, fishing, canoeing and, brace yourself, black bear watching!
For a beautiful boating experience through the oranges and reds of fall, I suggest checking outRouge-Matawin Wildlife Reserve. It is absolutely stunning and fun more everyone.
For some beautiful hiking trails and observations of over 7 species of whales, the Forillin park is drop dead gorgeous! This park includes stunning views of cliffs and if you are up to it even more stunning views from cliffs over looking the water!
For a magical camping experience along red and orange filled mountains, I suggest checking out Jacques Cartier National Park. This park features moose, deer, foxes, wolves, bears, and over 100 different types of birds.
be adventurous and camp on the side of a mountain in this fantastic park! Not only are the views amazing, but the hiking is great and perfect for adventurous friends!
For a completely great fall camping experience, I suggest looking into Oka! Oka isn;t only a natural beauty, but it is also stunning historically! You truly can't go wrong camping here this fall
For beautiful fall sunsets, campfires, and marshmallow roasting, then this is the park for you! The views are stunning and you will have a magical fall time with your friends!
Since you have seen surreal places in Montreal this summer, I think that it's about time you check some out in the fall! Anticosti offers huge cliffs, ocean views, canyons, water falls and much more to give you a majestic camping experience.
When you are desperate for that ocean smell but summer is far gone, don't worry! Bic National Park is open for camping in the fall along the ocean. You can enjoy some of the worlds most beautiful sunsets.
Hike your life away this fall and be sure not to fall in some of the deepest gorges East of the Rockies. Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park is known for their stunning views and intense hiking trails that are perfect for the fall.
Once again, if you enjoy stunning views and camping along mountains then you can also hit up Mont Megantic National Park for a wonderful fall camping experience.
For some simple tent camping along a lake, Mont Saint Bruno is the place for you and your friends. You have 5 lakes to choose from and several activities to keep you and your friends busy on your fabulous camping trip.
It's summertime and it's the perfect time to explore some of the amazing natural places super close to Montreal. In summer, nature is abundant and flourishing. There are some beautiful hiking trails, grottos, and lakes that are just calling your name.
Insanely gorgeous waterfalls are surprisingly abundant near Montreal and so much fun to explore with your friends or a significant other! If you've been looking for the perfect waterfall to adventure to, this is the one for you.
The falls flow over a large cliff, 400 feet above a refreshing gorge that you can swim in! A hiking trail through the National Park will take you past stunning views above the falls and at the end of the trail you'll reach the bottom.
The falls are located a 5 hour drive from Montreal. If you want to make it a weekend trip, they also offer summer concerts on the lake and there's many things to explore in the nearby towns.
The end of summer is near, and we've got to make the most of what we have left while we can. We make so many plans at the beginning of the summer of cool things we want to try and crazy things to see, but sometimes life just gets in the way.
Maybe you got busy with work, or maybe it was too difficult to coordinate time with your friends. Whatever the reason, you and your best friends shouldn't wait any longer to take a summer road trip.
There are some amazing places to visit in Canada but there's also some magical spots right across the border that you don't want to miss!
Caused by a small gas emission, a flame underneath this waterfall can be seen all year round. The flame is located in a cave just beneath the falls. This is one unique place you've got to road trip to this summer.
Dubbed the world's largest and deepest granite quarry, it stretches over 600 feet deep. With milky green water this is one cool spot you don't want to miss. You can also go quarry jumping here!
One of the clearest pools of water that Maine has to offer, Rattlesnake Pool is a magical location. The perfect place to take a dip in some cool glacier water it's the perfect summer spot to hit up and cool off. You can hike around Evan's Notch to find many more hidden spots like this one too!
If you're looking for a road trip filled with peace and tranquility you should head down to these falls. It's a short distance from Ithaca, this place is like no other. The most beautiful falls you'll ever see!
Road trip to this magical lake with your friends or family this summer. You can rent a cottage or pack up your tents and set up camp. Enjoy a weekend of swimming, sun bathing and watching beautiful sunsets!
Actually located on the Canadian side of the Saint Lawrence River, this island is home to the shortest international bridge! It's only 32 feet across crossing over from the Canadian side to the American side.
More magical waterfalls! These falls are located in Stowe Vermont and feature a large gorge perfect for waterfall swims with your bffs. So pack up the car and head over to Vermont for a beautiful getaway.
If you're looking for a fun place to hike this summer than you've got to come to Whiteface Mountain. They have rocky stairs leading up to the peak of the mountain and beautiful views once you reach the top! So come out and get some good exercise at this scenic spot.
There's so many beautiful things to see in Acadia National Park. Hike the trails, bike along the harbor or star gaze at eagle lake! It's truly a magical spot that you don't want to miss this summer.
Spend some time chilling at this adorable pond located in New Discovery State Park. Enjoy a relaxing dip and hang out by the water's edge for a few hours with some of your closest friends.
This is the coolest place you can road trip to this summer. This chasm offers so many cool activities like tubing, ziplining and rock climbing! If you're feeling adventurous then you've got to try this place out right now.
A perfect spot to come for a day trip from Montreal, located right on the border of Quebec and Vermont. Pack up your hiking boots and your bathing suits for a fun time hiking the trails and swimming in the falls!
