McGill and the future of Mount Royal
Mount Royal is for all Montrealers, a distinctive and cherished feature of their environment. After the Sulpician Fathers, McGill University, which was founded in 1821, can reasonably claim to be the second oldest continuous resident of the southern slope of the mountain. Its relationship with Mount Royal is therefore a long and treasured one. Despite its limited resources, most of which must be dedicated to the academic mission, McGill has taken many steps to try and protect the natural and built environment so dear to us all.
"It is fair to say that McGill is the single largest owner of heritage buildings in downtown Montreal," reminded Vice-Principal Administration and Finance Morty Yalovsky in his presentation this afternoon of the University's brief at the hearing of the Quebec Commission des biens culturels. "Since 1976, when the Senate Committee on Physical Development adopted the Internal Report on Building Preservation, the University embarked upon a deliberate and conscientious stewardship of its physical heritage. Since 1989, when the Mount Royal protection zone was created, McGill's investment in the maintenance of historic buildings and properties has exceeded $20 million. And we have done so almost entirely with private funds."
The built environment is not the only physical heritage under the stewardship of McGill. There is also the University's natural environment to be protected and improved. The main campus is one of the most important green spaces of the city's downtown core -- used by the public and the campus community, all year round. The preservation of this green space as a mediator between Mount Royal Park and the urban environment of the city is considered an essential part of the mission of the University.
McGill is important to Montreal for many more reasons than its architectural heritage, and relationship to the mountain. It injects over six hundred million dollars annually into the Montreal economy and its world-class reputation reinforces the city's presence on the international scene. To this end, McGill finds itself once again in a period of intensive expansion, and at a level not seen since the great growth period of the 1960s. The majority of these buildings are being constructed on interstitial land. "There is every reason to assume this success will continue," stated Vice-Principal Yalovsky. "However, this continued growth would only add to the pressure on McGill's limited land holdings and both the natural and built patrimony."
In short, McGill needs some flexibility to allow it to grow responsibly and to continue to uphold its international reputation.
McGill University welcomes the recognition and protection of Mount Royal, which has been its home for nearly 200 years. However, there must be a planning structure that will be simple, direct and that will allow the University to plan for long-term needs. This structure must also remain flexible enough to allow McGill to react quickly to changing needs. "We are satisfied with the present mechanisms, and are uneasy about any new structure that would add additional layers of review and delays," said Vice-Principal Yalovsky.
"We would also ask that strong consideration be given to providing the University with financial help that recognizes the true costs of our stewardship," added Yalovsky before the Quebec Commission des biens culturels. "We would ask that there be a concerted effort on the part of the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications to coordinate with the Ministère de l'Éducation, so that the University is not effectively penalized for its stewardship. We are an institution with a long history and an international reputation. If we are to maintain this reputation, to continue to grow and remain competitive, the unusual situation of our physical and natural environment must be recognized and appropriately funded. We will continue to work toward achieving excellence and bringing pride to both Montreal and Quebec, but we cannot do it alone."
