“Brossard is more than 80 parks and important green spaces and natural environments, including Bois de Brossard and the protected areas along the river, which we are committed to preserving and developing in a sustainable way for future generations.”
– Doreen Assaad, Mayor of Brossard
With the support of a municipal administration imbued with a concern for environmental issues specific to Brossard, the city wishes to affirm loud and clear, on this 52nd Earth Day, its commitment to developing and implementing numerous actions advocating the preservation of the environment, the collaboration of all local stakeholders and the well-being of its population.
The city is also taking this opportunity to recall the concrete actions it has already taken and those that will be taken in the near future, including the start of the Bioparc development project in the Bois de Brossard, the creation of a pilot biodiversity corridor project within the urbanized perimeter, the enhancement of a site dedicated to urban agriculture and the return of environmental subsidy programs.
A little-known balance sheet
- Over the past 10 years, the city has almost doubled the area of natural environments protected by municipal bylaws, which now represents 24% of the territory, exceeding the target set by the Montreal Metropolitan Community’s (CMM) Metropolitan Land Use and Development Plan (PMAD), which stands at 17%.
- Over the past 5 years, more than 8,000 trees have been planted in the region – that’s more than 1,500 trees a year!
- An agreement between the city and the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) will ensure the protection of a 178-hectare nature reserve in the Bois de Brossard. These lands will thus be added to the 230 hectares already having this status at this location, for a grand total of 408 hectares of nature reserves shared between the City and Nature-Action Québec in the Bois de Brossard.
- In collaboration with Nature-Action Québec, the city is helping to create a meadow in the Bois de Brossard that will encourage the presence and preservation of country birds, including meadowlarks and barn swallows, by installing nesting boxes, planting fruit bushes and using strict cultural practices that respect the protection standards for these species.
- In 2021, the city created a new funding program to encourage and facilitate initiatives by citizen groups, organizations and the industrial, commercial and institutional sector in favor of the environment and sustainable development. A total of $10,000 was awarded through this program to four (4) community projects. In 2022, this amount will be increased to $25,000.
- In 2015, Brossard was one of the first cities in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) to ban single-use plastic shopping bags in businesses on its territory. This initiative highlighted the need to reduce waste at source and consume resources responsibly.
- Through the development and adoption of policies and action plans, such as the Environmental Policy, the Environmental Action Plan 2020-2121 and the Urban Agriculture Policy, the city ensures that it acts to preserve the environment and includes this notion in all spheres of activity in its strategic planning.
- Aware of the importance of informing and raising public awareness of various environmental issues, such as urban forestry, natural environments, drinking water conservation and urban agriculture, for several years now the city has had a green patrol during the summer months, giving priority to meetings and discussions with the public.
Registration opens – Environmental grant programs
Starting today, April 22, citizens who want to save money while adopting new habits that benefit the environment can take advantage of the four (4) subsidy programs offered by the City. To support local purchasing, eligible amounts for several programs will be increased when products are purchased in a local business.
Here are the terms and conditions of the 2022 grant programs:
- Plantation d’un premier arbre en cour avant – remise de 50 % du coût d’achat de l’arbre jusqu’à concurrence de :
- 75 for purchases made in a business located in Brossard ;
- 50 for out-of-town purchases.
- Produits d’hygiène féminine réutilisables – remise de 50 % du coût d’achat jusqu’à concurrence de :
- 75 for purchases made in a business located in Brossard ;
- 50 for out-of-town purchases.
- Couches lavables – remise de 50 % du coût d’achat jusqu’à concurrence de :
- 100 for purchases made in a business located in Brossard ;
- 75 for out-of-town purchases.
- Home composters – $25 rebate.
As the number of grants available for these four (4) programs is limited, those interested in benefiting from these offers are invited to submit their applications today by visiting grants.
Increased funding for environmental and sustainable development projects
For the2nd edition of the program, Ville de Brossard is stepping up its commitment to encouraging and facilitating community initiatives in favour of the environment and sustainable development. With an overall budget of $25,000, up from $10,000 last year, the city is inviting citizens’ groups, organizations, institutions, businesses and industries to submit projects aimed at improving the area’s resilience and the population’s quality of life.
This enhanced envelope will enable a greater number of projects to be carried out (maximum of $2,500 per project), resulting in greater citizen involvement and a significant contribution to the environment and sustainable development of the region. Projects must be submitted by June 30, 2022.
See Grants to find out more about this program and access the registration form.
Major environmental projects for 2022
Here’s an overview of the major environmental projects prioritized by the City of Brossard for 2022. More detailed information will follow as the year progresses.
- The first step towards the Biopark’s realization: a mandate was granted at the March 22 municipal council meeting to produce the plans and specifications for the Biopark, obtain the necessary authorizations from the Ministry of the Environment, and oversee the construction of the first section of trails in 2023. The Bioparc is a large outdoor center covering almost 600 hectares (including trails and a reception area), set in an exceptional natural environment in the heart of the Bois de Brossard.
- Biodiversity corridor pilot project: Brossard is currently working with WWF Canada to create a biodiversity corridor within the urban perimeter. Located in sector S along the bicycle path between boulevard Rome and boulevard Rivard, this innovative project aims to offer the public access to an urban natural environment in the image of flower meadows, all in order to improve biodiversity and increase the coveted presence of pollinating insects and birds.
- Poursuite du développement d’importants plans et plans d’action en 2022 :
- Urban agriculture policy – Development of a first urban agriculture action plan: adoption in 2022.
- Climate change adaptation plan: over 500 respondents to the survey carried out at the beginning of the year. The plan will be drawn up in 2022 and adopted in 2023.
- Urban forestry strategic and intervention plan: to be drawn up in 2022 and adopted in 2023.
- Environmental action plan 2023-2026: public consultation in 2022 to identify priority issues and actions
To increase citizens’ awareness of the city’s environmental projects and activities, Brossard will be conducting a survey over the next few weeks, the results of which will be used to identify the approaches needed to further promote this subject in the community.
