Last fall, the Institut de Politiques Alternatives de Montréal made a big media splash, promising to unite thousands of independent citizens groups to develop an inclusive long-term vision for Montreal. Then they disappeared for over a year. Now they are back with the Citizen’s Agora on the Planning and Development of Greater Montreal, to take place this Friday and Saturday, December 3rd and 4th.
According to the press release, the event will include 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.
The discussion takes on a regional focus and their sponsors include Quebec’s minister of municipal affairs, the City of Montreal, and the CRÉs of Montreal, Laval and Longueuil.
Registration is open until November 30th and costs $30 for citizens or community organizations. For those who are curious but uncommitted, I’ll blogging on site Friday and Saturday.