Conferences

Laval ZéN and Conseil régional de l’environnement de Laval collaborated again to present two  conferences for 2022, as part of the Climat de changement initiative.

 

Based on the great theme of land use planning, these two conferences explored different aspects of Laval territory. Each conference was a unique opportunity to hear experts from various backgrounds.

 

Two conferences were therefore be offered in 2022:
Laval, ville insulaire (''Laval, insular city'') (March 31, 2022)
Aménager le territoire: Ça commence dans ma cour! (''Land use planning: it begins in my yard!'') (May 5, 2022)

 

Themes

Conference 1 - « Laval, ville insulaire » (''Laval, insular city'')

The first conference was presented during the Semaine des actions ZéN (''Week of zero net emission actions'') on Thursday, March 31 at 7:00PM, at Collège Montmorency.

 

Unlike several other cities, Laval is... an island! This particularity influences its natural environment and the impacts that humans may have on it. Thinking of Laval as an island means reflecting on its place in a greater ecosystem - the St. Lawrence's, as well as the aquatic environments that support it -, but also on the representation and the territoriality of Laval. This conference therefore aimed to explore the insular character of Laval territory while highlighting its distinctive features, evolution and representations, as well as the challenges of this situation.

 

We had the pleasure to welcome skilled panelists from Fondation Rivières and Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.

 

 


 

Conference 2 - « Aménager le territoire: ça commence dans ma cour! » (''Land use planning: it all begins in my own backyard!'')

This second conference was held on Thursday, May 5, 7:00PM at College Montmorency.

 

If land use planning often involves urbanism, such as great parks and traffic lanes, it is also possible to do it at the citizen scale. On our balconies or in our backyards, we can as citizens help the nature and biodiversity by reducing the barrier effect that the built environment often creates. This conference was all about the solutions and ecoresponsible actions that we can all take to improve the quality of life in Laval.

 

Great panelists joined us - Emile Forest from the organization Nouveaux Voisins as well as Jérémy Bordages, landscape architect.

 

 


 

Watch (or rewatch!) on YouTube

May 5, 2022 - « Aménager le territoire: ça commence dans ma cour! »

March 31, 2022 - « Laval, ville insulaire »

 

Media publications (in French)

February 28, 2022 - Article in L'Echo de Laval - « Laval: entre terres et rivières », un nouveau cycle de conférences

 

Press release (in French)

February 28, 2022 - « Laval: entre terres et rivières », un nouveau cycle de conférences

 

 

Coalition Climat Laval, Laval en transition and Conseil régional de l’environnement (CRE) de Laval collaborated together during 2020-2021 to organize a series of free virtual conferences dedicated to eco-districts.

 

 

Several renowned speakers from various areas of expertise offered relevant and captivating presentations. The whole project was divided in specific sub-themes related to different aspects of eco-districts. Therefore, the exploration of one sub-theme per conference encouraged a multidisciplinary approach, allowing citizens to consider today and tomorrow's challenges regarding the implementation of eco-districts, in all their diversity and complexity. At the very end of each event, attendants were invited to share ideas with the speakers as to how we can all promote the emergence of many model eco-districts in Laval.

 

Themes

 

Conference 1 - « Let's develop together... inspiring eco-districts! »

What distinguishes model eco-districts in the present context of the essential ecological transition? What are the main elements we should find in them? How can cities develop their own models based on the proximity ecological issues as well as the global ones?

Our panelists were Mr Gérard Beaudet, urbanist emeritus and full professeur at the École d’urbanisme et d’architecture de paysage of the University of Montreal and Mr Louis Milis, associated architect at the Centre d’études et de recherches d’architecture et d’urbanisme (Belgium).

 

Conference 2 - « Let's develop together... eco-districts for health's sake! »

Eco-districts support « human health » to ensure its resilience and its dynamism by maintaining vital functions of society. In other words, healthy humans are the reflection of a healthy society and vice versa. What are the determining factors of health in an eco-district vision, particularly in the context of the climate emergency? What lifestyles should be promoted?

Our guest speakers were two health experts, Dr Sarah Bergeron and Dr Johanne Elsener. They demonstrated the interdependence between human health and environmental quality as well as urbanized areas. Dr Bergeron is a family physician and member of La Planète s'invite en Santé's Executive Board, while Dre Elsener, veterinarian, is the president of Santé Urbanité.

 

Conference 3 - « Let's develop together... eco-districts for a dynamic economy! »

Eco-districts must support their territory's economy in order to maintain good evolution dynamics and ensure its sustainability. However, it is essential to define new economical activity types that are respectful of the environment to replace obsolete economic models.

In this context, what are the types of enterprises that an eco-district should favour on its territory? How can we make sure that resources and biodiversity are protected, while also answering the needs of consumers?

For this conference, we had the pleasure to welcome Mr Guillaume Lavoie, public policy entrepreneur and collaborative economy expert, and Mrs Louise Hodder, managing director of Pôle régional d'économie sociale de Laval - our implementing partner for this event.

 

Conference 4 - « Let's develop together... eco-districts in motion! »

Eco-districts should promote human health and attract dynamic enterprises that are respectful of the environment to ensure its sustainability. In this context, what are the types of infrastructures that an eco-district should have to support human activities as well as enteprises and institutions' activities? What types of transportation, construction and municipal architectures should be encouraged? What strategic choices in the design and construction of an eco-district should be made?

Our guest speaker was Mr Pierre Barrieau, lecturer at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM) and University of Montreal (UdeM) in urban planification and transportation. We also had the pleasure to count on the support of the Société de transport de Laval (STL).

 

Conference 5 - « Let's create together... collaborative governance & citizen participation models! »

An ecodistrict must promote inclusion, solidarity and social cohesion, while also maintaining a focus on a feeling of belonging to the collectivity. In this context, what are the governance modes that encourage citizen participation and ensure the emergence of a vision of healthy, dynamic and resilient eco-districts? How can political actors of all levels and citizen groups collaborate to define an inspiring vision of eco-districts in their particular setting? And how can they maintain a cooperative, long-term relationship to help their eco-district grow?

Our two guest speakers were Mr François William Croteau, urban governance, ecological transition and resilience specialist, and Mrs Laurence Bherer, political science teacher at the University of Montreal.

 

Watch (or re-watch!) on YouTube (in French)

December 8, 2021 - Créons ensemble... des modèles collaboratifs de gouvernance et de participation citoyenne!

September 30, 2021 - Aménageons ensemble... des écoquartiers en mouvement!

April 26, 2021 - Aménageons ensemble... des écoquartiers pour une économie dynamique!

February 16, 2021 - Aménageons ensemble... des écoquartiers pour la santé!

November 19, 2020 - Aménageons ensemble... des écoquartiers inspirants!

 

Press release (French-written)

October 29, 2020 – Coalition Climat Laval, Laval en transition et le Conseil régional de l’environnement de Laval organisent une série de conférences virtuelles gratuites sur les écoquartiers

 

CRE de Laval can put together or take part in conferences that are relevant to our organization's area of expertise, from the promotion of natural environments to sustainable mobility, as well as land use planning and residual materials management.

 

Whoever your event targets (be it people that don't know anything about the topic or experts!), CRE de Laval may reach out to a vast network of professionals and researchers that will be able to answer your audience's needs. Schools are also welcome if they wish to raise awareness regarding local issues.

 

In the past, presentations, panels and even electoral debates have been presented to the public, always with the goal to offer tools to the population on current issues.