DUC brings wetland education to urban youth in Montreal

Montreal, Q.C., October 15, 2025 — Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Wetland Centre of Excellence (WCE) at École secondaire de la Pointe-aux-Trembles in Montreal. The WCE will offer Grade 7 students hands-on, immersive experiences to learn about wetlands and the benefits of conservation. 

It is important to raise awareness among younger generations, particularly in southern Quebec, where wetlands are increasingly rare and vulnerable.  

Wetland Centres of Excellence are partnerships between DUC and local high schools that aim to engage and equip teens to understand these precious ecosystems. Through fun outdoor and interactive activities, students learn about the vital role wetlands play in biodiversity, water quality and the balance of natural environments.  

This initiative is especially valuable for youth growing up in urban areas, where opportunities to connect with nature are limited. As part of the education program, students complete school projects focused on wetlands and participate in various activities, the first of which took place at the launch. 

WCE field activities take place in the marshlands of Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies, located just one kilometre from the school. This setting will offer a tangible connection to nature where students will develop understanding of the importance of these rich and vital ecosystems. The new WCE in Montreal is the 27th in Canada and the third in Quebec, joining a national network of schools and community partners committed to conservation. 

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Pointe-aux-Prairies Nature Park so close to our school. Thanks to this new partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada, our Davantage Sciences program is taking on an even more concrete dimension. Our students will have the unique opportunity to deepen their classroom learning through tangible, motivating experiences that are directly related to their environment,” explains Patrice Benoit, principal of Pointe-aux-Trembles High School. 

“We would like to thank Ducks Unlimited Canada for this inspiring initiative. This partnership will help raise awareness of environmental sustainability among students at the Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île, while encouraging them to stay in school through unique and enriching projects,” added Martin Duquette, Executive Director of the Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île. 

“The City of Montreal is proud to support initiatives that promote environmental education among young people. Through its Regional Plan for the Protection of Wetlands and Water Environments, it is committed to preserving these essential ecosystems, which also involves raising awareness and encouraging citizen involvement. This new Wetlands Center of Excellence is perfectly in line with the spirit of the Nature and Sports Plan, which aims to offer Montrealers a special connection with nature in the heart of their daily lives,” said Marie Lafontaine, Division Head of Natural Environment and Biodiversity Management at the City of Montreal. 

“BMO is proud to partner with Ducks Unlimited Canada to support the launch of the Wetland Centre of Excellence in Montreal,” said Helen Seibel, VP & Head, North American Employee & Community Giving, BMO Financial Group. “Through our $500,000 commitment over five years, we’re helping expand access to nature for youth in urban centres like Montreal and Toronto. This partnership reflects our purpose to build a sustainable future and strengthen communities by fostering environmental education and stewardship. Together, we’re empowering the next generation to protect and preserve Canada’s natural ecosystems.” 

“With this new centre, we want to bring students closer to the richness of wetlands and give them the opportunity to take action for the environment today,” says Mélanie Deslongchamps, provincial operations director for Quebec, Ducks Unlimited Canada.  

Partnerships and Collaborations 

The establishment of this WCE was made possible thanks to the financial support of BMO, a long-time partner of DUC. BMO’s contribution will enable DUC to further expand WCE programs in Toronto and Montreal, giving more urban youth better access to nature. Learn more about DUC education.
 

Pointe-aux-Trembles High School
Located in the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough in eastern Montreal, Pointe-aux-Trembles High School is part of the Pointe-de-l’Île School Service Center. With more than 1,600 students in grades 7 through 11, it strives to be a school that is open to the world, inclusive, inspiring, and committed to instilling in young people a love and enjoyment of learning.

City of Montreal
The Service des grands parcs, du Mont-Royal et des sports (Large Parks, Mount Royal, and Sports Department) contributes to the city’s ecological transition. It offers a network of large parks and major sports facilities. Its mandate is to protect, rehabilitate and enhance natural environments, urban forests and public spaces. The Department contributes to a physically active lifestyle by supporting sports, developing and upgrading sports facilities, and supporting regional, national, and international sporting events.
 

BMO Gives. Good grows here.   

Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life.  In 2024, we directed more than $108 million to drive progress for communities, which included $101 million in philanthropic contributions to hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across North America.  Our colleagues spent over 54,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $39 million of donations through employee-driven giving in our annual campaigns.  For more information, please visit BMO.com.