In 2026, Mount Royal Park in Montréal marks the 150th anniversary of its design by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In this webinar, landscape architect Daniel Chartier will explore the origins of Olmsted’s vision for the mountain, tracing the ideas and design principles that shaped one of North America’s most beloved urban parks.

Chartier will also reflect on Mount Royal today—how the city and its communities protect and enhance the mountain—and examine the 2002 Declaration on Mount Royal, presented by the Olmsted Network (then the National Association for Olmsted Parks), as a roadmap for preserving this remarkable legacy for future generations.

About Daniel Chartier:

Daniel Chartier served as a landscape architect for the City of Montréal for 37 years (1977–2014), designing many of the city’s public places and parks. His work is distinguished by a deep sensitivity to the natural landscape and an ability to shape spaces in harmony with existing conditions, creating what he calls “lasting landscape experiences.” This approach is especially evident in several of Montréal’s large parks, including Visitation Island, Jarry Park, Lac des Cygnes on St. Helen’s Island, and most notably, Mount Royal Park.

For more than 50 years, Chartier has been a dedicated advocate for the protection of Montréal’s landscape heritage. He has successfully championed the preservation of key sites such as the de la Réparation and Thomas-Chapais woodlands and the city’s Old Port. Widely recognized as an authority on Frederick Law Olmsted and Mount Royal, he has written and spoken extensively in defense of Olmsted’s vision for the mountain—one that emphasizes its sense of breadth, natural character, and charm.

Chartier remains actively involved in advocacy related to environmental protection, public transit, urbanism, and organizations such as Les amis de la montagne. A natural teacher, he shares his knowledge generously, combining determination and perseverance with a contagious enthusiasm.

Chartier has received numerous recognitions, including Fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA), the Prix du Mont-Royal, the Frederick G. Todd Award, and an honour from the Conseil des monuments et sites du Québec. He previously served on the board of the Olmsted Network