Angrignon Farm is No More;

Promised Reopening Doesn’t Happen in 2010

by John Symon

Angrignon Farm was a favourite destination to take young children for many decades until it closed “temporarily” at the end of the 2008 season. But despite promises of a grand reopening in late June, 2010, the Montreal-operated facility remains closed. We made telephone calls to various municipal offices about Angrignon Farm and were told unofficially that the site would be closed permanently, but no official statement has been issued on this subject. A key municipal media relations official whom we tried to reach, Patricia Bouchard, is out of her office until next week.

Until 2008, tens of thousands of visitors filed past the entrance gates annually. Here, city kids saw 25 species of farm animals such animals as goats, geese, chickens, and llamas up close. There were animated sessions where employees would, for instance, demonstrate how to milk a cow. And kids could feed the goats with pellets from a coin-operated machine. And all this was free, making it a great budget outing for the family. But alas, ‘la ferme demeure fermée’ (the farm remains closed) as they say in French. And with the farm gates being closed, there is also no access to the magnificent onsite play area built by the Saturn car dealers. Those wishing to put pressure on Montreal to come back on its decision can try calling 311 to register a request that the farm be reopened.

The rest of Angrignon Park remains open including some 10km of walking trails, pedal boats on a pond one kilometre long, fishing (the ponds seem to be stocked with trout) and other play areas (albeit more antiquated). The paved chemin du Parc Angrignon roadway through the park is wide and quiet, making it a great spot to practice riding bikes with young kids. Fort Angrignon, a series of challenge games popular with school groups also remains open by reservation.

A similar venue, the Ecological Farm at Cap St. Jacques Park, remains in operation featuring all of the animal species named above, plus a few others (my favourite are the highland cattle there which are incredibly photogenic!). That West Island farm is free to visit, but parking charges of up to $7 per day apply. While Angrignon Farm was next door to Angrignon metro station, the Cap St. Jacques Farm is difficult to reach by public transport.

More information:

Fort Angrignon 514 872-3816

Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park Ecological Farm 514-280-6871

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