Interest in urban agriculture, green roofs and food self-sufficiency has exploded with the pandemic. A sign of the times, a pavilion project for the Montreal Horticultural Trades School, near the greenhouses of the Botanical Garden, has been relaunched. At present, the school’s 250 students are spread over four locations in town, which is a headache to manage.
The practical courses of this vocational training school already take place in the Louis-Dupire greenhouses of the Botanical Garden. This emblematic green space in the Rosemont district, a stone’s throw from the Olympic Stadium, also hosts courses in landscaping and maintenance of trees, flowers and greenery.
The problem is that the theoretical courses are scattered in four places: at the Pierre-Dupuy secondary school, rue Parthenais, in the Centre-Sud district; in a building at 5600, rue Hochelaga; in administrative offices at the Botanical Garden and in modular classrooms at the Botanical Garden (which some call “caravans”).
“The school does not have a main building, which makes logistics a bit difficult,” explains Josée Péloquin, director of the establishment.
The enthusiasm for greening, the environment and urban agriculture is such that the school of horticulture no longer meets demand, specifies the director. More than 200 students are waiting for a place at the school. The groups for the next session are already formed.
“There is a huge demand not only from students, but also from employers, who are short of manpower,” says Josée Péloquin. More than 150 positions are currently posted for horticulture graduates, notably at the City of Montreal and the Botanical Garden.
Important needs
“The interest was there even before the pandemic. We have a lot of hope. We have the chance to give our practical classes in one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world,” says Josée Péloquin enthusiastically.
It is the only horticulture school located in an urban environment in Quebec. It is not easy to find a place in the middle of the city where the students can handle saws that can cut branches or concrete (for landscaping). The Botanical Garden is large enough that noise from practical classes is not a problem.
“The goal is to provide students and staff with permanent teaching spaces in one place for learning horticulture, floristry and landscaping,” confirms Alain Perron, spokesperson for the Center de services scolaire de Montreal (CSSDM).
The premises occupied by horticulture students at the Pierre-Dupuy school will eventually have to be freed up, because the number of secondary school students is increasing significantly, he specifies.
For a decade, the CSSDM has tried several times to bring this project, valued at $14 million, to fruition. Teachers, students and other stakeholders are crossing their fingers that this time is the right one. Because the needs are immense.
A flagship place
“Now is a better time than ever to do this extraordinary project. We must seize the opportunity, ”said Vincent Marissal, solidarity deputy for Rosemont. He notes that the School of Horticulture can become a flagship site for the CSSDM, which would introduce Montreal students to environmental issues during educational visits.
The MNA points out that the Rapid Bus Service on Boulevard Pie-IX, which is to be inaugurated in the coming months, will pass right next to the greenhouses of the Botanical Garden.
The Ministry of Education confirms that the project is under study, as are “all of the space addition projects submitted by educational organizations across Quebec. The projects prioritized and selected for funding should be known no later than the summer of 2022”.