Laval to shut down Centre de la nature farm despite public push to save it

Laval is closing the educational farm at the Nature Centre, saying the building is unsafe and too expensive to rebuild.

The City of Laval has confirmed it has no plan to save an educational farm located at the Nature Centre in the St-Vincent de Paul district, despite mounting pressure from citizens and activists.

The farm is one of the centerpieces of the city’s sprawling Centre de la Nature, and features typical animals such as horses, cows, bulls, rabbits, and chickens, among others.

But the city says the building where the animals are housed is in bad shape and needs to be shut down.

Laval, however, says rebuilding a new one up to code would cost millions it doesn’t have.

“It was a tough decision, but it’s part of a cost-cutting measure where several factors were taken into account,” a press release states. The animals will be relocated to other farms and animal refuges.

A former employee says this is a lost opportunity for the city.

“What’s interesting for children is that it’s basic educational knowledge — where do I get my eggs, where do eggs come from, and where does my milk come from? That’s what’s explained on the farm. Its purpose is to show the functionality of animals in our ecosystem,” said Naomi Panetta, who worked in every position at the centre over several years.

Panetta says the budget issue should be viewed in a broader educational context.

“Just like the City of Laval is investing in and building a huge library that’s going to cost several million dollars, I don’t see how a farm is any different. Municipal funds should broaden what they consider an educational expense and include a farm as a really good source of education for children and young adults,” she said.

An online petition is already circulating to save the farm, and has gathered more than 14, 000 signatures so far.

Its sponsor, Dennis Fievet, argues many parents take their children to the farm every year, the only place in Laval where they can have authentic contact with farm animals in an urban setting, and says it remains a major draw for the Centre de la nature.

The two opposition parties at Laval city hall have also expressed outrage over the closure of the farm and are urging the administration to revisit its decision.