Projet Montréal demands concrete action for the Montreal Irish Monument Park Project

MONTREAL, May 28, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Projet Montréal reiterates its support for the Montreal Irish Community Park Project and demands that there be a significant place reserved on the site of the ancient burial grounds at Black Rock.

As Montreal celebrates its 375^th anniversary, Projet Montréal believes the Black Rock site holds significant importance that must be preserved. In 1847, 6,000 Irish immigrants – one of Montreal's founding people - died of typhus. 

"As we approach the Annual Walk to the Stone, I feel if we really want to pay proper homage to the thousands of Irish who lost their lives there and whose descendants helped build our city, the creation of a proper memorial would be a real legacy to our city," said Craig Sauvé, city councillor for Saint-Henri–Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles. 

The Coderre Administration has been dragging its heels on this file for the last three and a half years, and is now announcing that a committee will start working in a "couple months", which might again end up as a smokescreen. The city has to guarantee it will use its zoning powers to ensure the actual development of this project will happen in its historical space.

"Amongst all organizations involved in this work, the Montreal Irish Community Park Foundation have done important groundwork on this project and must be part of this dialogue", said Sterling Downey, city councillor for Desmarchais-Crawford.

Let's also recognize the heroic efforts of the Grey Nuns, volunteers and our 'Martyr Mayor,' John Easton Mills, who gave their lives tending to those sick with Typhus.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Opposition officielle à l'Hôtel de Ville de Montréal

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