Press Release

The first Citizens’ Agora on the planning and development of Greater Montréal: A rendez-vous not to be missed!

Montréal, 23 November 2010 – Phyllis Lambert, President of the Institut de politiques alternatives de Montréal (IPAM) and Dinu Bumbaru of Héritage Montréal are pleased to announce a Citizens’ Agora to help forge a vision of sustainable development for Greater Montréal, with a focus on prosperity, mobility and the quality of living spaces.

“We invite members of the greater Montreal civil society to participate in the Agora so that together, we can examine the issues and lay the foundations for the vision of sustainable development for the metropolitan region. There have been several planning exercises in the past, but this is the first time civil society will hold such a gathering at the metropolitan level, in order to reflect on our region’s future,” the spokes persons for the two organizations sponsoring the Agora stated..

The Agora will benefit from lessons learned from other major metropolitan areas: Lyon, Boston, Vancouver and Portland (Oregon). The Agora also anticipates the first draft of Metropolitan master plan to be presented by the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal next June, which will be followed by public consultations and adoption in 2011..

The Agora will take place on December 3 and 4 at UQAM`s Complexe des sciences (200 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Métro Place des Arts), with government representatives in attendance. After remarks by the representative of the Minister of Municipal and Regional Affairs and the chair of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, Mr. Gérald Tremblay, the Agora will proceed in two components:

• Presentation of model metropolitan planning efforts by those who have championed their success: Mike Burton, former Chief Executive Officer, Portland Metro regional government; Ken Cameron, Manager of Policy and Planning for the Greater Vancouver Regional District; Timothy G. Reardon, Senior Regional Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Boston); and Franck Scherrer, a former member of the regional development council of greater Lyon and director of the school of planning at Université de Montréal;
• Workshop discussions on current issues focussing on prosperity, mobility, in order to contribute to the analysis of the problems of the Metropolitan region, to identify its opportunities, and to propose the directions, actions and the indicators for the planning activities of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

“This first Citizens’ Agora offers a new forum where civil society can inform itself about issues, discuss and debate them, and propose elements of a sustainable vision for the Greater Montréal area’s future. With challenges to come, we envisage the possibility of a permanent forum,” said the spoke persons.

Registration is open until November 30. For further information or to register, download the register form here or contact agora@ipamontreal.org.

The Institut de politiques alternatives de Montréal (IPAM) was founded in September 2009. Its mission is to contribute to viable urban planning for Montréal and the greater Montréal area. Favouring a multifaceted approach focused on civil society, IPAM seeks to play a key role in the debate on the creation of a vision for Montréal and its region for the next generation, and on policy decisions leading to a just and prosperous society.

Founded in 1975, Héritage Montréal works to promote and to protect the architectural, historic, natural and cultural heritage of Greater Montreal. This private non-profit organization is at the heart of a vast network of partners, working through education and representation to celebrate, develop and preserve Montreal’s identity and uniqueness.