- December 17, 2025 - Espace pour la vie
In 2025, Espace pour la vie multiplied its initiatives to bring people closer to nature and to showcase science, conservation, and creativity. Explore the projects and standout moments that shaped this inspiring year.
Solidarity and sharing at the Jardin botanique
The Food Garden was especially generous this year! No fewer than 501 bins of fruits, vegetables, and herbs were donated to the organizations Bouffe Action Rosemont and La Corbeille. This concrete gesture reflects the Jardin botanique’s commitment to the community and to the fight against food insecurity. Learn more about the Botanical Garden’s harvests.
In Montréal’s youth centres, young people enthusiastically discovered the joy of growing fruits and vegetables thanks to a project led by the Jardin botanique. They learned how to plant seeds, water, prune, and harvest, while building self-confidence and forming a meaningful connection with nature. Read our blog to learn more.
The horticulture team shone in the #WaterLilyWeighoff25 competition organized by the Denver Botanic Gardens. This contest puts the giant leaves of Victoria waterlilies to the test to see how much weight they can support. We may not have taken home the prize, but the video created for the occasion showcased our team’s expertise, passion, and sense of humour. Watch the video on our YouTube channel.
Conservation and research: significant breakthroughs at the Biodôme
The Biodôme has launched an ambitious conservation project aimed at preserving three plant species at risk in Québec (long-leaved bluet, round-headed bush-clover, sticky locoweed). Spanning three years, the project includes reintroducing these threatened plants into their natural habitat, an essential initiative for local biodiversity. Learn more.
A new species joined the ecosystem of the Biodôme's tropical rainforest at the beginning of the year: emperor tamarins! Easily recognizable by their elegant white mustaches, these little monkeys quickly won the hearts of our visitors. Watch them in action in our video.
Another point of pride: our Western chorus frog recovery program was honoured with the prestigious CAZA Peter Karsten Award. In 2025 alone, more than 2,000 frogs were released into the wild, helping support the survival of this emblematic species. Learn more about the Western chorus frog conservation program.
And that’s not all: the Code Beluga project, carried out in collaboration with Génome Québec, allowed us to connect with more than 800 people who volunteered at one of the four targeted sites in the St. Lawrence Estuary. This citizen science project uses environmental DNA collected from a simple water sample to help better understand the estuary’s biodiversity. The analyses currently underway are expected to deliver results in 2026, with the hope of supporting multiple research projects and advancing our knowledge. Learn more.
The Biosphere: Two new exhibitions to reflect and take action
In 2025, the Biosphère expanded its offerings with two new exhibitions: Transform! Designing the future of energy and Emolab. These immersive spaces invite visitors to explore major environmental issues through a fresh and innovative lens. While Transform! Designing the future of energy encourages reflection on the changes needed to build a sustainable future, Emolab guides visitors into the world of climate emotions, fostering a deeper awareness. Together, these two experiences bring science, art, and civic engagement into dialogue. Read our two related articles: When the climate disrupts our emotions and Behind the scenes at the exhibition Transform. Designing the future of energy.
The Insectarium: Ethics and engagement
The Insectarium made a significant mark this year with the launch of its Charter on the ethical management of the live entomological collection, a first in Canada. Our Charter defines the parameters of arthropod welfare and identifies best practices for husbandry. It guides every step that allows our team of entomologists to acquire and maintain the desired species in our living collection and to present them appropriately to the public. Learn more about the Insectarium’s Charter on the ethical management of the live entomological collection.
The Insectarium was also honoured with an award from the Administration publique du Québec, recognizing its scientific collaboration on the Antenna project. Through an intersectoral collaborative approach, the Insectarium, MILA– Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, and the global Automated Monitoring of Insects (AMI) consortium developed this unique collaborative platform that is transforming insect monitoring through artificial intelligence. It makes it possible to process and analyze massive volumes of images, thereby accelerating research and biodiversity conservation. Learn more.
Another success: the Monarch Monitoring Blitz mobilized more than 9,000 people across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, a record level of participation compared with 2024. Over 33,000 monarch butterflies were observed and 71,000 milkweed plants recorded. These data will be extremely valuable to researchers as they map breeding sites and identify the habitats most critical to the species’ conservation. Learn more about Mission Monarch.
The Planetarium: discoveries that shine
This year, our specialists contributed to major scientific breakthroughs that were published in the prestigious journal Nature. Auriane Égal led a study on 2023 CX1, the first asteroid ever observed before, during, and after its impact. Meanwhile, Jonathan Gagné participated in a study that detected the silane molecule in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf for the first time, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. Learn more.
In 2025, three meteorite falls were detected by the cameras of the DOMe network (Detection and Observation of Meteors), operated by the Planetarium. Thanks to the scientific calculations of Auriane Égal, Scientific Advisor at the Planetarium, it was possible to determine the trajectories of these meteorite falls with precision. What makes these events even more remarkable is the public mobilization that followed, as citizens joined the search for these precious celestial objects. No fragments have been found yet, but we remain hopeful! Read our blogs on the topic:
June 2025: A new meteorite fall over Québec!
July 2025: Another meteorite fall over Québec!
Finally, our Perseid observation night drew more than 800 astronomy enthusiasts, confirming the undeniable appeal of stargazing. More Skywatch gatherings are planned for 2026, check out the details.
An inspiring year
From conservation and research to community solidarity and citizen engagement, 2025 was a year full of achievements for Espace pour la vie. These successes are the result of collective effort, driven by a shared mission: bringing people closer to nature and showcasing science. Our thanks go to our teams, our partners, and to all our visitors for their commitment and enthusiasm.
