Ephemeral public squares, guided historical walks in a neighbourhood, active and colourful routes in the back alleys, a tour promoting universal accessibility, intergenerational agriculture projects: the eleven living environments in the 3rd edition of the Citizen Participation Projects have gained momentum and are teeming with inspiring and promising initiatives. At the last Borough Council meeting, each of the living environments in the 2021 edition of the program was awarded $10,000 to carry out these projects, which were imagined within the community, developed in small groups and then prioritized during citizens' meetings.
"The success of the Citizen Participation Projects and the continued involvement of many Rosepatrians in this citizen action opportunity are a testament to the population's desire to transform their environment and to be active in the public sphere. These 50 or so projects will act as opportunities to shape neighbourhoods on an even more human scale, in response to the needs expressed by those who live, work or travel there. Their realization is directly in line with a perspective of sensible and inclusive development of our common spaces, in accordance with the borough's ecological transition plan," emphasizes François William Croteau, mayor of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie.
Accompanied to take action!
Over the next few weeks, the project committees of the eleven participating boroughs, as well as anyone who lives in these sectors and would like to get involved, will be able to pitch in. Accompanied by the Centre d'écologie urbaine de Montréal, the Borough's partner in the deployment of the program, the neighbourhoods will hold various action workshops and begin planning and carrying out the projects.
To support participants in their actions, a multitude of tools are available on the RéalisonsMTL platform, where each community has its own page.
Inclusive and unifying projects
Within the framework of the Citizen Participation Projects program, an advisory committee made up of community actors (CDC de Rosemont, Solon and Regroupement des tables de concertation de La Petite-Patrie, La Pépinière | Espaces collectifs) is periodically meeting. This committee ensures a link with the community, participates in the choice of living environments and identifies opportunities of connection with other innovative and inclusive initiatives. Last year, the program was also guided by the organization Relais-femmes, in collaboration with the Service de la diversité et de l'inclusion sociale, regarding gender-based analysis from an intersectional perspective (ADS+).
The Citizen Participation Projects also earned a place among the finalists for the Union des municipalités du Québec's Ovation municipale 2020 award in the Socio-Community Development and Interculturality category. The results will be known in the next days.
Creating your living environment
The Citizen Participation Projects program encourages the development of spaces for meetings, creation and citizen ownership by promoting the emergence of projects that allow the population to intervene directly in their living environment. The territory of a living environment corresponds to a sector located within 500 m of one's home where one can live, work and play. Anyone interested in participating can, at any time, get involved in the living environment closest to their home by visiting realisonsmtl.ca/ppc.
● Check out some of the projects completed in 2020 on video.
