News & Events

McGill's Urban Nature Information Service (U.N.I.S.) 

Montreal's free help-line for flora and fauna questions was up and running again for the 2008 summer season. U.N.I.S., which operates out of McGill University's Macdonald Campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue during the summer, is a non-profit service supported by generous donor contribution. This bilingual service aims to help urban communities coexist with local nature by offering information and, where possible, peaceful solutions to wildlife and horticulture-related problems such as lawn grubs and other pests, plant-devouring fungi, what to do with orphaned or injured birds and squirrels, and solutions for keeping raccoons and skunks at bay. Starting this year, U.N.I.S. also offers advice on general green living including the best products to use, how to compost, conserving water practices, and what is recyclable in today’s garbage can. 

You can reach U.N.I.S.in the summer from approximately the beginning of May through mid-August:

• Phone: (514)398-7882
• Website: http://unis.mcgill.ca
• E-mail: unis.macdonald@mcgill.ca (pictures related to your questions are welcome!)
• Office:  room R3-038, Raymond Building @ Macdonald/John Abbott Campus, Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue H9X 3V9.  Office hours (2008): May 5 - August 16, Monday to Friday from 9:00-12:30, and 1:30-4:30. Feel free to bring samples from your garden!

For more information: contact Ms. Christie Lovat.

Angell Woods in Beaconsfield

Angell Woods is a wooded area in the NW corner of the City of Beaconsfield, bounded by Highway 20 on the south, Highway 40 on the north, the Baie d'Urfé industrial park on the west and on the east by the housing projects built on the former Fresh Meadows Golf Course up to James Shaw Street.  The Association for the Protection of Angell Woods (APAW) lobbies and periodically organizes events to rally citizens and politicians in order to protect this natural area from further development.

The most recent event organized  was entitled Angell Woodstock, and took place on May 24th, 2008.  Local bands were featured, food and drinks were available and guided walks with a local naturalist were organized.

White Grub Information Sessions 

In June 2008 the Beaconsfield Environmental Advisory Committee (BEAC) invited an agronomy expert to give lectures on white grub which have infested many Beaconsfield lawns.   Here is a brief summary of the tips on white grub control in lawns.