Morgan Arboretum 80th Anniversary Celebration

October 2025 – A Fall Photo Walk in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
Captured with Fujifilm X100VI

October 2025 marked a special milestone for one of Montréal’s most treasured natural spaces — the Morgan Arboretum celebrated its 80th anniversary as a centre for community, conservation, and outdoor education.

As someone who’s spent countless weekends exploring Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, this felt like the perfect reason to visit again — camera in hand, walking shoes ready, and that familiar mix of curiosity and calm that autumn always brings.

The Arboretum was alive that day — families gathered for food and cider, music floated through the trees, and volunteers guided small groups on birdwatching tours and maple syrup demos. There were lectures on tree identification, a scavenger hunt for kids, and an exhibit tracing the 80-year history of the Arboretum’s work in conservation and research.

Everywhere I turned, there was something to capture: the golden canopy above, the laughter by the Sugar Shack, the way sunlight fell across the path leading to Chalet Pruche where the history exhibit was set up. Even the small details — warm apple cider steaming in the cold air, or the texture of fallen leaves underfoot — felt like gentle reminders of how nature anchors this community.

What stood out most wasn’t just the celebration itself, but the sense of continuity. For eight decades, the Morgan Arboretum has been more than just a forest — it’s been a living classroom, a gathering place, and a quiet refuge for everyone who steps through its trails.

By the time I packed up my Fujifilm X100VI, the late-afternoon light had softened into that unmistakable October glow. The music faded, but the feeling lingered — gratitude for a place that has given so much to its community, and for moments that remind us why we keep returning to nature.