Exploring Sustainability and Resilience Through Envision in Montreal

Over three days in Montreal, Envision leaders and practitioners convened to advance the conversation on sustainable infrastructure. The events included a public panel and a joint meeting of the Envision Review Board (ERB) and the Zofnass Research Program, held in Canada for the first time.

On October 15, an evening panel event hosted at École de technologie supérieure brought together Envision experts, consultants, and owners for an engaging discussion on how the Envision framework can be applied to make projects more sustainable, resilient, and equitable. The discussion provided both strategic insights and practical guidance for organizations at every stage of Envision adoption, from first-time users to experienced practitioners.

Special thanks to the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), Lourette Swanepoel, and Hélène Dubé for helping to coordinate the panel and networking event, which drew attendees that included local Envision Sustainability Professionals (ENV SPs), faculty and students, as well as members of the Envision Review Board (ERB) and Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Board (SIAB). We also extend our appreciation to ÉTS Montréal for hosting, and to Julien-Pierre Lacombe, Director of the Office of Sustainable Development, for his opening remarks and support with logistics for the event.

The panel represented the full project lifecycle — from education and owner initiation to planning, design and construction. Panelists included:

► Alexis Lautard, ENV SP, Société de transport de Montréal (STM), Corporate Sustainable Development Advisor
► Erik Poirier, Professor, Department of Construction Engineering, ÉTS
► Hélène Dubé, ENV SP, AtkinsRéalis Canada, Environment and Sustainability Manager
► Brad Moore, ENV SP, Stantec Consulting, Sustainable Infrastructure Team Lead
► Clément Boisselier, ENV SP, Aecon Group Inc., Sr. Advisor, Sustainability and Environment

Highlights from the Public Expert Panel

The conversation explored a range of key topics, including:

► Integrating Envision into overall organizational or project processes
► The role of universities in equipping students with the skills to incorporate sustainability into professional practice
► The growing use of digital tools and how they are reshaping our approach to analyzing and designing for sustainability and resilience
► Challenges to integrating sustainability into projects
► Examples of when sustainability and resilience considerations and the Envision framework have influenced project planning or design
► Construction phase perspectives on how Envision can be used in both in planning and site operations

ERB: Envision v4 Development

On October 16, more than 25 ISI staff, ERB members, SIAB representatives, CSCE staff, and professors from local universities met to discuss the next steps for Envision v4 development. ISI’s Anthony Kane provided context and presented data related to v3 projects and feedback collected throughout the year from surveys and listening sessions. The ERB discussed the plan to review challenging topics and draft framework updates throughout 2026. 

ISI wishes to thank AtkinsRéalis for hosting the meeting in their Montreal office and Hélène Dubé with AtkinsRéalis for facilitating meeting logistics.

Site Visit

On October 17 in the afternoon, Hélène Dubé with AtkinsRéalis arranged for a site visit to the Samuel De Champlain Bridge (Envision Platinum, 2018). Prior to the visit, the AtkinsRealis Project Director for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) provided an overview of the rail project, which crosses the bridge. The group walked to Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) and took the train to the bridge abutment, where operators provided an overview of bridge construction and operations.

Once again, ISI thanks all the organizations and individuals who made this event possible. We were thrilled to be in Montreal to explore Envision’s role in promoting sustainable infrastructure while celebrating local leadership!