Visiting Le Parc Michel-Jasmin / Michel Jasmin Park: Close to a Large Airport, the Greening of Dorval, Québec / Quebec

The significance of Dorval's Parc Michel-Jasmin / Michel Jasmin Park is not its size but rather its location and proximity to a large airport, namely, Aéroport international Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau de Montréal / Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and to the 520 Freeway. Named for the veteran Québec / Quebec television presenter (1), the Park operates as a small, green lung to an immediate environment characterized by the presence of often heavy road traffic and flights to and from Canada's second busiest airport. It is also close to a number of busy hotels, businesses drawn logically by the proximity of the airport and freeway system.

The planting of the Park's deciduous trees has actually been part of a wider program of greening within the City of Dorval. A group called GRAME (Groupe de recherche appliquée en macroécologie) has a program Un arbre pour mon quartier / A Tree for my Neighbourhood, with which Dorval's public works department is collaborating. Tree species being planted around the city under this program include Canadian serviceberry, red oak, red maple, black walnut and others (2).

In 2015, through the program Un arbre pour mon quartier / A Tree for my Neighbourhood the City of Dorval was hoping to plant over 7500 trees every year over the next decade. For all its reputation as the site of a fine airport (3), Dorval would become 'populated' by well over twice as many young trees as its population of 19.000, if this plan comes to fruition.

Airport, people, trees: in Dorval it is all a matter of proximity.

April 4, 2016

Notes

(1) The adjacent road, Avenue Michel-Jasmin / Michel Jasmin Avenue, and a nearby pumping station are also named for this personality.

(2) See also: http://www.ville.dorval.qc.ca/en/environment/tree-planting

(3) The City's motto in Latin: 'EGO PORTA MUNDI' suitably emphasizes both Dorval's cosmopolitan nature and its status as an aerial gateway to the Montreal area (see also:http://www.ville.dorval.qc.ca/en/information/coat-of-arms-and-flag ). The City's coat of arms exhibits symbolism of a particularly herbaceous nature.

In Dorval itself, the City's Museum is situated at 1850 Lakeshore Drive; known as the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage, it is housed in a heritage property — a former coach house — dating from 1874 and originally belonging to Alfred S. Brown. (See also: http://loisirs.ville.dorval.qc.ca/en/arts-culture/museum ; contact: email, musee@ville.dorval.qc.ca ; tel., 514 633-4314.) In 2016 an exhibition about Dorval's history was held.

The architectural and cultural attractions of neighbouring Montreal are too numerous to mention here, but of special note, among many others, are the domed Bonsecours Market (Marché Bonsecours), dating from 1847, which was a venue used to house the Parliament of United Canada, prior to Confederation. The Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal) was built mainly between 1824 and 1829; many Montrealers attend annual performances of Handel's 'Messiah' there. The Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique) in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district, used for the 1976 Olympics, has the the world's tallest inclined tower, at 175 metres.

Mont-Tremblant (distance: 133 kilometres), in the Laurentian Mountains (Laurentides) is ideal for scenic excursions, golf and skiing; its boutiques attract many shoppers.

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How to get there: Air Canada flies to Montreal (Aéroport international Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau de Montréal ) from Toronto-Pearson, and from New York-Newark and New York-La Guardia, with wide connections. A number of car rental companies offer service at Montreal-Trudeau airport. VIA Rail maintains regular services with Toronto and Windsor. You are advised to check with the airline or your travel agent for up to date information.

MJFenn is an independent travel writer based in Ontario, Canada.