At more than 50 hectares, Centre de la Nature is the largest urban park in Laval. No matter the season, there are always activities for the whole family to enjoy.

From Quarry to Park
Before becoming a park, the Centre de la Nature site was a quarry. In August 1915, a Montreal company bought the future-quarry site belonging to two farmers to begin excavating. In the 1940s, the Marist Brothers congregation bought part of the land to build a monastery that would later became a secondary school. The other part of the land would serve as a landfill.

In 1961, the city of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul bought a large part of the site to build a park with a large swimming pool and a baseball field. In 1968, Maurice Blain submitted a project request to turn Centre de la Nature into a public park. At the time, the site occupied ​​less than 100 acres.

In 1970, the site opened to the public and gardens were planted. In 1970, a stable was built and educational visits were organized. Even today, both young and old Laval residents go there to admire the animals on the farm. In 1971, a greenhouse of about 30 metres was built to accommodate a collection of tropical plants. Between 1975 and 1978, the access to the lake was built along with sheds nearby, trees were planted and outdoor activities began.

At the time, many festivities were celebrated for the first time at Centre de la Nature, like Neighbours' Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the 10 day-celebration of the City of Laval’s tenth anniversary.

The Peaceful Gardens
In 1984, the horticultural component of Centre de la Nature was coming together and has been improved on every year since. A garden of relaxation and a perennial garden were also added. A pond was dug out and many more trees were planted, too. In 1985, the garden of annuals and the garden of ornamental shrubs were planted. Over the years, many other thematic gardens have emerged; the urban forest, the alpine garden, the garden of relaxation, the garden of the annuals, the garden of the shrubs, the garden of the echinaceae, the garden of the birds, the garden of the sculptures, the garden of the perennials, the ephemeral garden, the nomadic garden and flowery carpets, and the tropical greenhouse. Centre de la Nature is one of the most beautiful places in the city to admire unique and beautiful plant life.

Regular Activities at Centre de la Nature
No matter the season, Centre de la Nature offers many outdoor activities and cultural events. Whether it's summer or winter, you can enjoy the farm, walking trails, children’s games and the tropical greenhouse. During the summer, you can ride the train, canoe, kayak or rabaska, enjoy the pony carousel, ride the bike path, visit the environmental stadium and the astronomy observatory and visit the 13 thematic gardens. In winter, you can go skating on the lake or go downhill or cross-country skiing. At Centre de la Nature admission is free as is access to wireless internet. Plus, there are picnic areas and a snack bar, playgrounds for children, meeting rooms and equipment rental. The site is also accessible by public transport.

Upcoming Events You Won’t Want to Miss
Centre de la Nature is hosting several major events organized by the City of Laval andother organizations. Come out to Centre de la Nature to celebrate the May Fishing Festival, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Canada Day. Enjoy musical performances from July to August,  and bring the whole family out for a day of fun for Family Day, Halloween, and the Laval Christmas Market. For more information, visit laval.ca.

Translated by Maria Barillaro