Classic Montreal bagels won't be affected by the wood-burning stove ban

Following the lead of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal borough will ban new businesses from cooking with wood-burning stoves.

All existing businesses that fall within the borough, however, will remain status quo (for now).

Which is good news for the city’s famous bagels.

Iconic bagel spots like St-Viateur and Fairmont Bagel will be permitted to continue to cook with wood-burning stoves despite the city’s desire to ban all stoves and ovens that release polluting particles into the air.

According to the Ville de Montreal website, burning wood is a detrimental source of fine particle emission (PM2.5) and behind transportation, it is one of the main causes (39%) of wintertime smog.

The effects of such ovens are more noticeable in densely-populated areas where residents breathe in polluted particles.

Besides the impact to the environment, pollutants from burning wood can affect health, aggravate asthma, childhood bronchitis, lung cancer and can lead to chronic heart and/or lung disease.

The city’s plan is to switch all restaurants to gas-burning grills, ovens and stoves. Le Plateau is home to many businesses that use wood ovens to cook. The Projet Montreal administration has promised to sit down with new business owners to discuss a timetable and appropriate measures to make the transition from wood to gas or electric ovens.

See also