With a surface area of 540 hectares, Sainte-Thérèse Island is a natural jewel in the St. Lawrence River. Situated in Varennes, the island has a rare degree of biodiversity and historical heritage, making it an especially interesting place to create a nature park for recreational tourism.
Why protect this place?
Sainte-Thérèse Island is home to numerous at-risk wildlife and plant species, as well as varied natural environments and important nesting sites for waterfowl and other aquatic bird species. However, the island is threatened in several ways, most particularly by habitat degradation and by shoreline erosion, which have already cost it more than a hundred metres of shoreline.
Protecting Sainte-Thérèse Island would be a wonderful opportunity for biodiversity in Greater Montreal’s east end, where there are too few protected areas and where the pressure on natural spaces is significant. Access to these natural spaces on land belonging to the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) would also improve the quality of life of the region's residents, who experience a significant nature deficit.
Key information
540 hectares, between Varennes
and Montréal
An island with an incredible historical and
biological heritage
A potential ecotourism metropolitan park for the citizens of East Montreal
SNAP Québec’s work
For over 10 years, the municipal authorities and residents of Varennes have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Sainte-Thérèse Island.
In collaboration with the surrounding municipalities and the CMM, SNAP Québec is working to create a new greenbelt for the east end of Montreal for the benefit of its residents. SNAP Québec participated in public consultations and organized a citizens' forum in 2019, which once again confirmed the public's desire to protect Sainte-Thérèse Island.
SNAP Québec aims to revive the island through an ecological restoration project.
Tree Planting Project
Since the fall of 2021, SNAP Québec has been coordinating a planting project that will promote a gradual return of biodiversity. The first phases of this renaturalization project have resulted in the planting of more than 46,500 trees of some twenty different species. A close collaboration with the municipalities along the river, the Communauté Métropolitaine de Montréal, numerous actors in the field and the precious help of several hundred volunteers (citizens, students, partner companies,...) participate each time a little more in the ecotouristic park project.
You can review the Master Plan for the future Sainte-Thérèse Island Metropolitan Park, coordinated by the city of Varennes and unveiled in February 2024.
The next phase of planting will take place in the spring 2026, with the goal of planting 100,000 trees by 2030.
Project partners
The Île Sainte-Thérèse project is made possible thanks to the support of many partners, including the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Communauté Métropolitaine de Montréal, the City of Varennes, the borough of Rivières-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles, the MRC de Marguerite-D'Youville, Arbre-Évolution and many others.
Take action
Get involved as a volunteer
Join our team of volunteers for the next planting session
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more