The IUR takes its first steps

In charge of promoting improvement in cleanliness and garbage management in the neighbourhood, the Eco-quartier Cartierville hired two new people in charge of mobilization. Amin Zoubir and Nassima Atmani will be going door-to-door to speak with residents about recycling, garbage, and going green. “Mr. Zoubir has excellent experience in environment. We chose Ms. Atmani for her talents in communication. Both of them speak four languages each,” said Évelyne Boissonneault, their supervisor.

This sensitization campaign will prepare the area for projects in the spring. One of them will be a community cleaning duty. “We already have support from Écolo-boulot (a social rehabilitation organization) for spring cleaning,” said Boissonneault. In order to improve garbage management, Action-Rebuts should be helping them by organizing workshops about this subject.

Making the neighbourhood greener is also one of the Éco-quartier’s objectives, as part of the IUR. For this, the Amis du Jardin Botanique should be helping. They hope to plant gardens and trees, including fruit trees, on the properties. “It all depends on the cooperation we will get from the residents, the owners, and the superintendents,” said Boissonneault.

According to Éco-quartier coordinator, Élyse Rémy, this project will also contribute to strengthen the food security. Rémy also hopes to plant ivy in the area to reduce the temperature in the heavily paved zone, which becomes a hotspot in the summer, literally.

Both Atmani and Zoubir will be on the job for six months, about 20 hours per week. But, according to Boissonneault, the Éco-quartier Cartierville IUR mandate’s schedule will continue on a long term basis.

As the best players in and judges of the changes generally stay interested in the urban revitalization, the residents in the sector will be consulted. Monthly talks will be held – with the first one taking place next Sunday – in order to hear the residents’ ideas about the neighbourhood, what they like, and their suggestions for improvement. These discussions will be lead by another person responsible for mobilization, Jean-Pierre Kavégé, who is based at the Conseil Local des Intervenants Communautaires (CLIC).