Celebrate nature on campus!
Join us for the three-year anniversary of McGill’s Biodiversity Plan launch on Tuesday, September 22, on the Downtown Campus, on Thursday, September 24, at the Macdonald Campus, and on Saturday, September 26th at the Gault Nature Reserve.
Connect with McGill groups and local organizations working on conservation and other biodiversity initiatives, learn how to identify and document species with biodiversity experts during guided nature walks, and meet other biodiversity enthusiasts for interactive workshops and activities.
As McGill celebrates its collective and coordinated efforts to protect and improve biodiversity, come discover how the Biodiversity Plan guides university-wide actions through to 2030.
Downtown Campus
Guided walks and activities
Tuesday September 22
Time |
Topic |
About |
Organization |
Details |
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10:00 am – 12:00 pm |
Guided Bird Walk on Mount Royal |
The McGill Students’ Birding Club is offering a guided birdwatching walk on Mont-Royal! Fall migration is underway, and many migratory birds can be spotted moving through urban greenspaces on their way south! |
Meet at the Peel Street Entrance of Mount Royal Park (intersection of Peel and Avenue des Pins) at 9:50 am. Participants need to dress appropriately for the weather. No registration is required. See the Facebook event for more information. |
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12:30 pm – 1:00 pm |
Biodiversity Garden Tour - Meet McGill's New Host Plants! |
Come learn about native plants, especially host plants that nourish pollinators and birds, at the Downtown Campus! Can’t make the tour? Come by our kiosk anytime to test your skills at identifying native seeds and plants! |
Krin Haglund (Jardin Buzz) |
Meeting point at the Jardin Buzz booth at 12:30 p.m. for a tour of the Jardin Buzz Downtown showcase gardens. No registration required. |
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Tour 1: 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm Tour 2: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm |
Tour of the Blacker Wood Natural History Collection |
From the earliest printed illustrations of animals in the Western world, to 19th century watercolours and botanical scrapbooks, the treasures of the Blacker Wood Natural History Collection in the Rare Books & Special Collections department span the histories of biology, ornithology, botany, and early scientific exploration. Join us to marvel at a selection of highlights from one of the largest natural history collections in North America. |
Registration required. Maximum 20 people for in-person event. Register for the tours here. |
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1:00 pm – 2:00 pm |
Campus Crops Garden Tour |
Join McGill’s Campus Crops team for a tour their Burnside Hall garden, learn more about their mission, and participate in a harvest! |
Campus Crops |
Meet at the Campus Crops kiosk. No registration required. |
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All Day |
Herbert Gerald Macklin: A citizen scientist of earlier times |
This new exhibition at the Redpath Museum features botanical illustrations by Herbert Gerald Macklin, whose works demonstrate a remarkable attention to detail. The paintings selected for the exhibition come from the McGill University Herbarium’s collection of botanical illustrations. Come discover these magnificent illustrations—including original paintings and reproductions—and admire actual specimens of the plants depicted by Macklin in this exhibition. |
Dr. Frieda Beauregard, Curator of the McGill Herbarium |
Find the brand new exhibit on the 2nd floor of the Redpath Museum! |
Wednesday September 23
Time |
Topic |
About |
Organization |
Details |
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11:00 am – 12:30 pm |
Speaker Series on Biodiversity Science (hybrid event) |
Join the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science and hear from McGill graduate students who will present their biodiversity-related research in quick 4-minute presentations. |
Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science |
The in-person event will take place in Burnside Hall, Room 426. Registration is required to attend remotely and strongly encouraged for in-person attendees. Pizza will be served after the presentations. Find the list of speakers, Zoom link, and registration link here. |
Friday September 25
Time |
Topic |
About |
Organization |
Details |
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11:00 am – 12:00 pm |
Guided Tour: Evolution and Extinction |
Join the Redpath Museum to explore the role of evolution and extinction in shaping life and the world as we know it today! After the tour, you will have time to discover the rest of the Museum independently. |
Redpath Museum (led by the Education Team) |
For McGill students, staff, and faculty. Meet in the Museum Lobby at 11 am. Registration required. Find more information and RSVP here. |
Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27
Time |
Topic |
About |
Organization |
Details |
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12:00 – 4:00 pm (both days) |
Miyawaki Forest Planting |
Join the student club Little Forests McGill to mark the beginning of their new microforest, a densely planted plant community suited for small spaces! Members of the McGill community are invited to help and plant the new trees. |
Members of Little Forests McGill |
For McGill students, staff, and faculty. RSVP here. Meet at the planting site (near McIntyre Building, Davis House, and Hosmer House). Please dress appropriately for the weather. Bring water and closed-toed shoes. Food, gardening gloves, and shovels will be provided. Follow Little Forests McGill on Instagram for more updates. |
Kiosks
On Tuesday, September 22, McGill groups and local organizations working on environmental initiatives will host kiosks and be available to share their work and answer your questions. You’ll find them near the Roddick Gates from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Organization |
About |
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The Gault Nature Reserve, owned by McGill University, is located at Mont-Saint-Hilaire and protects more than 1,000 hectares of natural forest. |
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The McGill Office of Sustainability oversees the university’s efforts to monitor, protect, and enhance biodiversity through our research, teaching and operations, while raising awareness and engaging community members both on and beyond our campuses. |
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GUEPE is a non-profit organization offering educational and professional services to youth and the general public in the field of natural and environmental sciences, as well as in outdoor recreation. |
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Founded in 1986, the nonprofit organization Les Amis de la Montagne works to preserve and protect Mount Royal, this heritage gem that serves as both the heart and lungs of Montreal. |
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Founded in Montreal in 1917, Bird Protection Quebec is the oldest bird conservation charity in Canada and among the oldest in North America. We envision a world in which people appreciate the intrinsic benefits of birds and act to protect our planet and its wildlife. Our mission is to protect birds and bird habitat while fostering an appreciation of them through conservation, observation, research, and education. Bird Protection Quebec owns over 500 hectares of protected habitat for birds in the province of Quebec. |
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The Redpath Museum fosters an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of our biological, geological and cultural heritage through scientific research, collections study and education. |
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The Morgan Arboretum is a 245-hectare forest reserve, situated on the western end of the island of Montreal in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and has been part of McGill University's Macdonald Campus since 1945. A cherished local institution, the Arboretum serves as a hub for science communication, community outreach, and outdoor recreation. |
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Jardin Buzz is a Verdun-based non-profit with a simple mission: less grass and concrete, more biodiversity. We grow native plants and collect locally grown seeds to help turn parks, gardens, and urban spaces into lush, buzzing habitats for pollinators, birds, and people. Through workshops, planting guides, consulting, and educational and municipal partnerships, we make it easy for communities to improve the urban landscape. We choose hardy, perennial native plants that thrive in the city and support local wildlife. The result? Gardens that look great, need less fuss, and are alive with activity. |
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Project Bird Safe McGill is an initiative dedicated to reducing bird mortality rates caused by window collisions at McGill’s downtown campus. |
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McGill Students for Wildlife Conservation (MSWC) creates events, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities that give McGill students hands-on experience in local conservation. Our club mobilizes students to engage with the local urban ecology around our downtown campus. Canada faces a unique set of environmental issues amid the climate crisis, including arctic warming, marine and freshwater pollution, and threats to biodiversity. We work to protect and conserve habitats and populations of vulnerable species, with an emphasis on our local environment. |
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Through environmentally-conscious initiatives centered around adopting a sustainable relationship between students and nature, Little Forests McGill aims to: plant little forests in accordance with the principles of the Miyawaki method, adapted to the Canadian environment, on McGill campuses and/or around the city of Montreal; attempt to decolonise the way students and other community members view the world and, in particular, how we view our relationship with nature and with the beings that live within it; and promote a deeper connection to nature for members and non-members of the club. |
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Campus Crops is an urban agriculture initiative located at McGill’s downtown campus. As a student-led collective, our goal is to grow food on campus on our two garden sites and provide students and community members with space and opportunities to learn direct, hands-on farming skills. Through our activities and workshops, we seek to promote discussion of food politics and food security and to put our work into context within the global food crisis. |
Macdonald Campus
Guided walks and activities
Thursday September 24
Time |
Topic |
About |
Organization |
Details |
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9:00 – 10:00 am |
Guided bird walk at Macdonald Campus |
Join Dr. Kyle Elliott for a guided bird walk at Macdonald Campus. Fall migration is underway, and many migratory birds can be spotted moving through greenspaces on their way south! |
Professor Kyle Elliott, Department of Natural Resource Sciences |
Meeting point at 9:00 from shuttle bus pick up point, in front of the Centennial Centre. Wear walking shoes and outdoor attire. Binoculars are optional. No registration required. |
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10:00 am – 11:15 am |
Morgan Arboretum Biodiversity and Tree Identification |
Join Scott Pemberton, Manager of the Morgan Arboretum, for a guided walk through the forest reserve. Discover how to recognize emblematic tree species and learn about the fascinating ecology and hidden life of the forest. |
Scott Pemberton, Morgan Arboretum Manager |
The free shuttle will leave from the Centennial Centre parking lot 9:55 am and will be back on campus at 11:30am. Limited spots on the shuttle! Register here. |
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1:00 pm – 2:15 pm |
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Morgan Arboretum |
Join Dr. Jessica Ford, Professor at Dawson College, for a herpetology-themed guided walk through the forest reserve. Find out what forest habitats are important to reptiles and amphibians, why these creatures are so important for healthy ecosystems, and hopefully spot some reptiles and amphibians on the way! |
Dr. Jessica Ford, Dawson College |
The free shuttle will leave from the Centennial Centre parking lot at 12:55 pm and be back on campus at 2:30 pm. Limited spots on the shuttle! Register here. |
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2:00 pm – 3:15 pm |
Morgan Arboretum Biodiversity and Tree Identification |
Join Scott Pemberton, Manager of the Morgan Arboretum, for a guided walk through the forest reserve. Discover how to recognize emblematic tree species and learn about the fascinating ecology and hidden life of the forest. |
Scott Pemberton, Morgan Arboretum Manager |
The free shuttle will leave from the Centennial Centre parking lot at 1:55 pm and be back to campus at 3:30pm. Limited spots on the shuttle! Register here. |
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3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Bioblitz around Mac's gardens |
The student club ReWild Mac will be initiating people to iNaturalist and lead the exploration of one of the new gardens planted on campus in May 2026… or two if they have time! |
ReWild Mac |
Meeting point at the tables in front of the Raymond building (next to Watson field and the Sir William Macdonald statue). |
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3:00 pm – 3:30 pm |
Guided tour of the Lyman Entomological Museum |
Join Stéphanie Boucher, Curator of the Lyman Entomological Museum, for a guided tour of this remarkable insect collection. This is your chance to get a sneak peek at the specimens hidden inside the museum’s cabinets and learn more about the fascinating world of insects! |
Stéphanie Boucher, Curator of the Lyman Entomological Museum |
Meeting point at the Museum, which can be found in the Centennial Centre basement, in the lobby area, just down the stairs from the main CC lobby area. Places are limited! Registration is strongly recommended. |
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3:30 pm - 4:00 pm |
A treasure trove of biodiversity: a look at some of the collections in the McGill University Herbarium |
Visitors will get to view a selection of preserved plants and hear about their history and importance in preserving biodiversity from the curator of the herbarium, Dr. Frieda Beauregard. |
Dr. Frieda Beauregard, Curator of the McGill Herbarium |
Meeting point at the Museum, which can be found on the basement level of the CC, in the corridor next to room CC0-023 (best to enter via the back/shuttle bus side of the building). Places are limited! Registration is strongly recommended. |
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5:00 pm – 6:30pm |
Recognizing the signs of highly diverse forests at the Molson Reserve |
The Molson Nature Reserve is a highly diverse forest and wetland complex on Ile Perrot, a short distance from Macdonald Campus. A shuttle bus will provide transportation to the Reserve, where Dr. Beauregard, curator of the McGill University Herbarium, will take participants on a guided walk to view different plant communities. |
Dr. Frieda Beauregard, Curator of the McGill Herbarium |
The free shuttle will leave from the Centennial Centre parking lot at 4:45 pm and return to campus at 6:45 pm, with a stop at the REM station on the way back. Limited spots on the shuttle! Register here. |
Kiosks
On Thursday, September 24, McGill groups and local organizations working on environmental initiatives will host kiosks and be available to share their work and answer your questions. You’ll find them near the Ceilidh from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm.
Organization |
About |
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McGill Bird Observatory (The Migration Research Foundation inc.) |
The McGill Bird Observatory is a member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. The observatory is run by the non-profit The Migration Research Foundation Inc. Operations at MBO emphasize birds migration monitoring, research, conservation, education and volunteer training. |
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The Gault Nature Reserve, owned by McGill University, is located at Mont-Saint-Hilaire and protects more than 1,000 hectares of natural forest. |
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The McGill Office of Sustainability oversees the university’s efforts to monitor, protect, and enhance biodiversity through our research, teaching and operations, while raising awareness and engaging community members both on and beyond our campuses. |
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The Ecomuseum Zoo is the only outdoor zoo on the Island of Montréal and is dedicated exclusively to Québec wildlife, housed in living spaces inspired by their natural environments. Its residents, often orphaned, rehabilitated, or born under human care, live according to the zoo's mission of environmental education, wildlife conservation, and animal well-being, backed by CAZA-AZAC accreditation, which ensures excellence in animal care and management across Canada's zoological institutions. |
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Technoparc Oiseaux is a fully volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the conservation of 215 hectares of forests, meadows, wetlands and green spaces located between Technoparc Montréal and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. Since 2016, citizens, ornithologists, naturalists, photographers, scientists and nature enthusiasts have worked together to document the area’s biodiversity, raise awareness of its ecological importance, and advocate for its protection and continued accessibility for present and future generations. |
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Are you passionate about ecology and community-building? ReWild Mac aims to encourage native biodiversity on Mac Campus via project-oriented design and environmental education. Join us in facilitating rewilding efforts by developing campus greenspaces such as wildflower gardens and pollinator meadows. See you at our next meeting! |
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The Morgan Arboretum is a 245-hectare forest reserve, situated on the western end of the island of Montreal in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and has been part of McGill University's Macdonald Campus since 1945. A cherished local institution, the Arboretum serves as a hub for science communication, community outreach, and outdoor recreation. |
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Élèves des Champs is a youth-run farm that provides training and jobs in ecological agriculture on our 2-acre market garden located on the Mac Campus. Our mission is to engage more youth in sustainable agriculture and champion sustainable food systems as a way to make positive impacts both in our local communities and across Canada. We grow over 40 types of crops and distribute the food through a mixed-model of sales at farmer’s markets and donations through local and campus food security organizations. |
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MacMOC is an outdoors club run by and for students of Macdonald Campus that offers subsidized trips in the great outdoors, like day hikes, rock climbing, skiing, and multi-day canoe camping trips. |
Gault Nature Reserve
As part of McGill’s Biodiversity Festival, join us at the Gault Nature Reserve on September 26 for Gault’s biggest science event of the year: Gault Open Day! Meet experts, discover ongoing scientific projects, and explore the biodiversity of Mont Saint-Hilaire. You’ll also have a rare opportunity to tour select research facilities through guided visits.
A free shuttle will bring McGill students and staff from the Downtown Campus to Gault, where you’ll have free access to explore the Reserve and take part in the Festival’s activities. Space is limited - reserve your spot today!
Land Acknowledgment
McGill University's campuses are located on un-ceded lands with a long and rich history of occupation and environmental stewardship by many Indigenous peoples. McGill's downtown and Macdonald campuses sit on the traditional lands of the Kanien'kehá:ka nation, while the Gault Nature Reserve is situated on Abenaki ancestral lands. We recognize, honor, and respect these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and waters where the Biodiversity Festival's activities take place, as well as the critical role they hold in protecting the rich biodiversity inhabiting these territories.
