If you’re eating or drinking, use reusable containers and take everything you’ve brought along with you to sort out when you get home. You can use the bins and waste garbage cans on site, but if they’re already full, the waste can blow away with the wind and pollute the environment.

Whether you are on foot, biking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, please stay on the trails to avoid stepping on plants or breaking branches and shrubs. When you step on plants, it destroys them and compacts the soil, which leads to the deterioration of undergrowth areas. 

In winter, shrub branches and young shoots are the most likely to sustain damage. 

Observe the signs at all times. Certain trails have been configured specifically for walking and snowshoeing, while others are meant for cross-country skiing.

If your mode of transportation requires no physical effort, you are not allowed on the bike paths. 

• Bicycles, electrically assisted bicycles, skateboards, kick scooters and mobility scooters for users requiring mobility support, are authorized. 

• Electric or fuel-powered scooters, fully electric bicycles that require no physical effort, segways, electric kick scooters, ATVs and snowmobiles are forbidden. 

• It is forbidden to travel at speeds higher than 20 km/h or in a way that compromises the safety of others.

It is forbidden to install equipment on trees or shrubs to avoid damaging them. Use urban furniture with care.

Flowers and plants are more than just pretty to look at. They also serve as food and shelter for birds, and certain pollinizing insects such as butterflies and bees. 

Flower picking interferes with their reproduction and may hinder their survival. For instance, white trillium and mayapple, an endangered species, may take several years to flower. It takes 8 to 9 years for wild garlic to reach full maturity. Imagine if people went around picking them! 

Why not just take some nice pictures to share with your friends on Instagram instead?

It may seem tempting to pick up a long branch and use it as a walking stick or to build a hut. In addition to providing a habitat for wildlife, branches, wood and dead leaves play an essential role in forest regeneration. As they decompose, they transform into humus, which nourishes the soil. This is why our crews do not collect them.

Organic waste from flower or vegetable gardens, or from landscaping should never be disposed of in parks, even if it is compostable. 

Gardening waste, such as branches, leaves, soil, plants, or other such debris can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem when they are discarded in a natural habitat. They can namely affect plants or spread seeds from non-indigenous, invasive or harmful species.

To protect users’ privacy and to keep our parks peaceful, recreational drones or motorized models such as remote-controlled cars are prohibited.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is forbidden in parks, with the exception for picnic areas with a meal, or if you have obtained a permit as part of a special event. 

Federal and provincial laws regarding cannabis are in effect in all parks. The consumption of any type of cannabis products is strictly prohibited.

At night, parks are poorly lit, which increases the risk of accidents. What’s more, nighttime visits may generate noise and disturb the peace both in the park, and sometimes even in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Open fires are forbidden in parks, along with firework or pyrotechnics.

The following activities are prohibited: 

• Using a radio or sound system; 

•  Using glass containers; 

• Consuming alcohol or food; 

• Swimming outside of the area bounded by the buoys; 

• Swimming when there is no lifeguard present; 

• Swimming without a swimsuit; 

• Bringing a dog; 

• Bringing a bike, scooter or skateboard.

Avoid feeding wildlife 

Bread and cereal do not contain the nutrients or calories required for ducks, geese or other birds to stay safe and healthy. These foods can make them sick and disrupt some of their activities, such as their migration in fall. 

Food meant for human consumption is not adequate for squirrels, raccoons or other wild animals present in our parks. These animals find everything they need in their natural habitats. Moreover, their quest for food helps preserve their survival instincts and wild nature.

Observe animals from far, so as not to disturb them. Patting or feeding them may alter their natural behaviour and endanger them. 

Some animals may carry contagious diseases that may infect humans, such as rabies. 

Your presence may also be stressful to them.

• Stay on the trails; 

• Keep your voice down and limit conversations; 

• Stay away from their nests and refrain from disturbing nestlings or their parents; 

• Do not use recorded wildlife sounds and refrain from imitating birds to attract them; 

• Assess whether a bird can tolerate your presence, especially during their breeding period. If you notice birds becoming agitated or nervous, leave the premises; 

• If you take pictures, do not use a flash; 

• Be careful about reporting the presence of a bird on social media.

Dogs are welcome, provided that they are kept on a leash and that they stay on the trails, lawns or parking lots at all times. 

All dogs weighing 20 kg or more must wear a halter or harness attached to a leash, with the exception of guide or assistance dogs. 

Don’t forget to pick up your animal’s excrements. 

Share your experience 

This summer, our brigade will visit various parks to hear about your experience.