Chomedey, Laval

The priority stated by the players in the community was clear: put citizens back at the heart of decision-making.

Sharing the learning of a neighbourhood

Chomedey is the most populated and most multicultural borough of Laval. The neighbourhood has a high level of economic and social marginalization compared to the rest of Ville de Laval, and since 2008 it has been the subject of an Integrated Urban Revitalization (RUI) initiative. Three major arteries surround the neighbourhood, creating feelings of insecurity and contributing to an urban heat island.

RUI stakeholders, the Ville de Laval, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux health centre and several organizations in the community had already carried out numerous diagnostics and planning exercises. Our priority, therefore, was to mobilize young people and families and develop activities different from those already held as part of the RUI approach.

Collective skills highlighted

Our goal in the Chomedey neighbourhood was to share all the learning we have accumulated over the years of undertaking similar participatory planning projects. We mapped the actors involved and, through a working committee, we strengthened the links between local partners and created a synergy of action around the participatory urban planning project. An exploratory walk enabled all stakeholders, including those from the public sector, to better understand and feel the issues residents identified.

As the community is very active in the neighbourhood, we took advantage of existing activities and venues to set up kiosks to validate the proposed design interventions. We then went on an exploratory walk with the citizens to discuss the best solutions. We can not wait to see how community players will take action for green, active, and healthy neighbourhoods!