Technoparc: A Visit to a Montreal Ecosystem Under Threat

Local 514 walks through part of Technoparc, guided by conservationist group Technoparc Oiseaux, to understand how development in the area is potentially threatening the future of the ecosystem in the park.

The réseau express métropolitain (REM) is continuing development of the Marie-Currie station, which will tunnel underneath part of Technoparc. Technoparc Oiseaux told Local 514 that sink holes have occurred in the area and that they cannot confirm the REM is responsible, however, that sink holes began forming during development of the station. The Hypertec Group, known for its data centres, has plans to build their headquarters in Technoparc,

Local 514 reached out to the REM numerous times in the last month, but we did not receive a response. Local 514 also reached out to Hypertec. We were not given an official interview, but we spoke with the André Lamarre, the Executive Vice President of Hypertec. He told us that Hypertec doesn't need to use all of the property they own and intends to sell some of the land back to the city, hoping the city will conserve this land. Lamarre said that Hypertec intends to compensate for the trees lost during the development by replanting trees. He added that some of the trees lost by development are already dead.

Carly Ziter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University told Local 514 that we can't plant our way out of climate change and its impacts and that we need to think about retaining mature trees in our cities. She said planting new trees is great, but mature trees – which are larger – are able to sequester more CO2.

Join us as the Local 514 team learns about the risks Technoparc faces and the biodiversity that calls this park home.