Sustainable development

The Cercle carré housing co-operative in Old Montreal completed a project other co-operatives would love to undertake, inaugurating its green roof, on June 3.

Proud of an achievement that would not have been possible in the private sector, the head of the Project Committee "green roof" at the Cercle carré housing co-operative, the video editor and filmmaker Paul Neudorf, notes first that "the roof provides ecological space that brings biodiversity in an area where concrete and heat islands are the norm. "

"Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the roof is also rallying, he said, because it allows the members of the co-operative who are artists and cultural workers to meet and discuss all sorts of subjects, not just co-op business."

Carrying out the project also allows the co-operative to shine in the community by holding on-site greening workshops in collaboration with the St. Jacques eco-district and the organization Toiture nature. "About thirty people, not just members of the co-operative, participated in the workshops offered this year, says Paul Neudorf.

A place for meetings and cultural events, the roof of the Cercle carré co-op also contributes to the development of urban agriculture, since each member of the co-operative has his or her individual bin for growing vegetables and herbs. A hive is also to be installed to promote plant pollination.

The head of the project invites other co-operatives who wish to have a green roof to consider their options for funding. The Cercle carré project was made possible by, among others, a grant from Environment Canada's Eco-Action program, a popular fundraising campaign and from a reserve built up when the the co-op was under construction.

For more information, go to cerclecarre.coop