Does the wind whisper secrets of explorers? It does here on Île Montbrun. This small island sits in the Saint Lawrence River northeast of Montreal. Île Montbrun is part of the Îles de Boucherville.
Île Montbrun may be small but it has a rich past. It is a place where history and nature intertwine. Let me tell you more about this fascinating place.
Île Montbrun gets its name from Jean Boucher de Montbrun. He was an explorer and militia leader. Jean was the son of Pierre Boucher de Grosbois. Pierre founded the seigneurie of Boucherville in 1667. In 1693, Jean received a noble fief including the île Montbrun. Before being named after Jean, the island was once known as Île à Denis.
Île Montbrun is triangular in shape. It measures about 400 meters long and 175 meters wide at its widest point. The island is situated in the Saint Lawrence River. It lies northeast of the Island of Montreal. To the east, the chenal du Courant separates it from Île Grosbois. South of Île Montbrun lies Île aux Raisins. A marshy channel separates it from Île Lafontaine to the west. The degree of flooding in this area depends on the season.
Administratively Île Montbrun belongs to the city of Boucherville. Boucherville is on Montreal’s South Shore. Île Montbrun does not form part of the Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville.
In 1984, the Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville was created. Île Montbrun was not included in the park. The island is federal property. The port authorities of Montreal own and manage it. Discussions have been ongoing. Federal authorities, the province of Quebec, the city of Montreal, and Sépaq are involved. They are discussing ceding the island to the park administration. In 2008, port authorities stopped agricultural activities on the island.
Île Montbrun is grassy and not wooded. Like other Îles de Boucherville not in the national park, it is a hunting location. Hunters come here for migratory birds. Hunting authorizations come from the province of Quebec. Since 2020, Montreal port authorities have been trying to ban this practice.
Île Montbrun has flooded grasslands that separate it from Île Lafontaine. This makes it a fish spawning ground. The port authorities of Montreal are trying to develop it. They are deepening channels to maintain water levels during low water periods. They are also removing reed colonies. In 2020, they removed the agricultural road that connected it to Île Lafontaine.
Île Montbrun represents ongoing efforts to balance industrial activities and nature conservation. It is an important ecological site within the Montreal area. Its history reflects the changing landscape and priorities of the region. Île Montbrun remains a unique and contested space in the Saint Lawrence River.
As you leave Île Montbrun, consider its past and future. It is an island of discussion and natural beauty. Will it one day join the national park? Only time will tell.