Field Trips

Intergenerational Climate Action: Urban Nature Walking Tour

Led by: Sustainable Youth Canada in collaboration with Leadership & Learning for Sustainability Lab

Site: Falaise St. Jacques – entrance at the parking lot of Quilles G Plus Bowling NDG (6510 Rue Saint-Jacques)

Conference Theme: Who wins, who loses, who decides: Equity & justice in adaptation

Overview: The Intergenerational Climate Action learning journey will explore how youth drive the environmental movement in their communities, and how this impacts policy decisions across the world. Sustainable Youth Canada (SYC) is a 100% youth-led environmental organization in Montreal with local projects and experience working with government. We hope to discuss the importance of our work as well as challenges we have faced in a system that was not designed for us. In this intergenerational setting, we hope to bridge conversations on the importance of supporting youth climate action and how non-youth can assist in creating meaningful participation for younger people.

Maximum number of participants: 20

Placemaking: An urban greenhouse approach

Led by: The Concordia Greenhouse in collaboration with Concordia Climate Change Adaptation Lab

Site: 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., 13th floor, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8

Conference Theme: The power of nature for climate action

Overview: The Concordia Greenhouse Project is a collectively run, consensus-based, non-profit organization. It uses the Henry H. Hall Building rooftop greenhouse as an all-organic space geared towards community, education and sustainable horticulture. The Greenhouse is a year-round green space that hosts workshops, projects and events raising awareness around food issues and alternatives to mainstream consumerism. In this learning journey, we will learn about how the Greenhouse Project strengthens the urban sustainability movement in Montreal by growing local products using ecological practices, providing experiential learning opportunities through volunteering, internships and jobs, and networking with other like-minded individuals and organizations.

Maximum number of participants: 25

Tree mapping as a transformative approach to climate change education

Led by: Concordia University Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability in collaboration with the Concordia Climate Change Adaptation Lab

Site: Loyola Campus, Concordia University

Conference Theme: Teaching and learning adaptation in a changing climate

Overview: The Concordia Tree Project launched in 2019 as part of the Concordia University Climate Action Plan. The initiative aims to build public understanding of native tree species and the ecosystem services they provide. Throughout the summer, students document each tree on Concordia’s two campuses. Information in Kanien’kéha, English, and French is then made available via a QR code affixed to each tree. During this learning journey we will discuss how the mapping project contributes to formal teaching and public understanding about nature-based solutions for climate action, the relationship between climate action and decolonization, and the importance of protecting urban biodiversity.

Maximum number of participants: 30

Funding Sustainability: A Reflective Tour of McGill’s Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF)

Led by: McGill Office of Sustainability in collaboration with Leadership & Learning for Sustainability Lab

Site: Starting and ending at 550 Sherbrooke Street West (MOOS’ office), with two to three additional sites on McGill’s downtown campus.

Conference Theme: Inclusive and Adaptation Governance and Finance

Overview: This learning journey uses the case of McGill’s Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) initiative as a conversation starting point to explore how innovative financial solutions at community level that can be scaled out. SPF is a McGill initiative that aims to build a culture of sustainability at McGill University through cross-disciplinary approach. It is the largest fund of its kind in Canada, and one of the largest in North America. Over 340 projects have been funded since 2009. In this learning journey, we will start with a general overview of the SPF, including its history, some flagship projects, the governance structure, challenges and opportunities. The second part will focus on the selected SPF projects on McGill’s downtown campus, with a view to exchanging learning and knowledge with AF2023’s participants.

Maximum number of participants: 30

Innovation by and adaptation of Quebec farms relative to climate change (Living Lab – Quebec and Agrisolutions climat projects)

Led by: Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA)

Site: Ferme Cristallina

Time: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Overview: The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) invites you to Ferme Cristallina, a family farm specializing in dairy production, operated by Mr. Michael Jeker, located one hour from Montreal.

Transitioning towards a sustainable agri-food sector requires innovations at different levels: technical, social, economic, etc. This multi-level approach to innovation and adaptation will be presented through the lens of lessons learned through two major agri-environmental projects run by the UPA in Quebec (Living Lab – Quebec and Agrisolutions climat). Joined by researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other specialists, farmers will share with you the innovative farming practices they have codeveloped and experimented.

Maximum number of participants: 50

*Note: This tour is not suited to people with reduced mobility. For more information, please see here. 

Tour of Tekakwitha Island & Bay Restoration Project (*NEW)

Led by: Kahnawà:ke Welcome Center

Site: Ile Tekakwitha

Overview:Tekakwitha Island located in Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory was formed by the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s. The artificial island was created by filling in a series of natural islands with rock and clay excavated to create the shipping canal. In the intervening years since its creation, the immediate significant impacts of the modifications have been compounded by additional changes to the landscape as the river seeks a new balance. The Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO) completed a naturalization project on this island and accompanying bay between 2020 and 2022 to enhance opportunities for wildlife and the community. This tour will take 1-1½ and introduce participants to the history of the island, environmental issues, and restoration project.

Maximum number of participants: 48

Palais des congrès de Montréal Rooftop Urban Farm : experimentation and research platform (*NEW)

Led by: Laboratoire sur l’agriculture urbaine

Site: Palais des congrès de Montréal

Overview: Montreal has 57 urban farms, including some rooftop urban farms. The Palais des congrès experimental urban farm is one of these. Opening in 2011, the green roof of the Palais des congrès de Montréal has become in 2016 one of the most important experimentation and research site to promote of urban agriculture. Its current surface area of 3,250 meters square (35 000 sq feet), allows it to accommodate a vineyard, a saffron plantation, a section of vegetable production in geotextile bags area and a section with an intensive green roof. Spaces are also provided to accommodate prototypes on roof, particularly vertical modules (installation in 2024). As part of this visit, it will be possible to see the different installations, to present the automated irrigation system and optimal nutrient management systems planned. The AULAB team will also be able to present and exchange some results of research projects that took place on site 2016.

For payment method and any accessibility note, Please see the registration link below.

Maximum number of participants: 25 per visit, 2 visits (a minimum of 10 for a visit)