Protecting our trees

In a letter printed in the May 12th edition of the Mirror ["Tree talk"], Thomas Boyle decries the fact that the City of Montreal doesn't have an urban tree policy. However, I am pleased to announce that on April 21st Mayor Gérald Tremblay's administration tabled Montreal's first-ever tree policy.

The policy will help to better protect and develop the city's arboreal heritage, which includes more than 675,000 public trees. The policy outlines an 11-step action plan which includes the drafting of a tree plan for each borough within the next five years, the adoption or amendment by 2006 of urban development regulations respecting the felling of trees in the private domain, the setting up of specific maintenance programs for trees situated in the public domain and the introduction of a municipal program designed to recognize, protect and raise citizen awareness of noteworthy trees on both public and private land.

This policy, as well as other city initiatives including the adoption of an island-wide ban on the aesthetic use of pesticides, a decision to set aside $36-million over three years to protect and acquire natural habitats with important ecological value and my personal commitment to establish more Green Roof projects in Montreal prove Mayor Tremblay's administration has been extremely proactive in ensuring that Montreal remains a role model for other cities across the world in terms of protecting the environment. For example, before the 1994 municipal election, city services were mandated to formulate a tree policy by the former MCM administration. The plan subsequently gathered dust for seven years under the regime of ex-mayor Pierre Bourque.

After our administration was elected in 2001 we decided to recognize the importance of trees by including a stipulation in the city's new urban plan that requires all Montrealers to obtain the necessary permits for any front yard tree-cutting. Under our administration's watch measures have also been implemented to ensure that any trees that are cut as a result of development projects are replaced, as was the case recently at St. Joseph's Oratory. I invite everyone to learn more about Montreal's new tree policy, which is available on the city's Web site at www.ville.montreal.qc.ca

» Helen Fotopulos
Mayor of the Plateau Mont Royal Borough,
member of the City of Montreal's executive committee

Who you calling jazz?

While reading the Mirror's Best of Montreal, I was thrilled to see Kobayashi take fifth place in the Best Musical Act and third place in Best Electronic Act, and would like to thank all those who voted for us.

The point of this letter, however, is that I was rather embarrassed to be #3 (let alone included at all) on the list of best jazz musicians. I'm not even a jazz musician. Maybe one day I'll have the honour of using that moniker, and maybe one day I'll even be on that list deservingly, but only after years of practice and dedication.

I'm sure the best intentions were meant while voting, and I'm sure that not a single jazz musician in this city feels "threatened" or slighted by my inclusion on the list: they know who's who in Montreal more than any public poll.

However, I still felt the need to say something out of respect for all the cats in this city who have blown my mind over the years and who aren't on the list at all. I know my bandmate Chris Tauchner (also on the list at #5) feels very strongly about this as well. There have been so many shows featuring local talent that Chris and I have seen that have made us realize how much struggle and improvement lies ahead for either of us to be on a similar level.

So, again, thanks for supporting Kobayashi - but as far as jazz goes, go out and listen before you vote. Oh, and for what it's worth, in my opinion, Dave Turner should be way up on that list.

» Franco Proietti

Classifying comedy

Just a little friendly request, out of respect to myself and all the others guys and gals who write, perform, edit and improvise, would you please consider putting Best Standup Comedian ["Nightlife," Best of Montreal] in the art category for next year?

» Derick Lengwenus

Best campaigner?

I'm wondering about Zeke's Gallery. Did it come in first in the BOM poll because it's actually the best gallery in Montreal, or because it was the only gallery in town that mounted an e-mail campaign asking people to vote for it?

» Helen Shapiro

Correction

In last week's Best of Montreal, the wrong phone number was printed for Best Record Store (Used) No. 2, L'Échange. The correct phone number is 523-6389. The Mirror apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused. Further BOM corrections will appear in the June 2 issue.

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