Virage

Collectively imagining innovative and sustainable urban solutions

Rethinking
the City

Our mission

Understand to take better action

In the context of the major challenges posed by climate change, we are bringing together citizens, researchers, and decision-makers to collectively imagine innovative and sustainable urban solutions that promote greening, sustainable mobility, and access to housing. Let’s create resilient, equitable, and healthy cities for all.

The project

A project constructed collectively

Virage is an action research project that mobilises citizens, community organisations, and various institutions across the Montreal region to collectively explore ways to green the city, promote sustainable mobility, and facilitate equitable access to housing, with a particular focus on improving physical, mental, and social population health. Through interactive participatory methods and computational modelling, we assess the impacts of intervention scenarios and provide decision support for sustainable and inclusive development.

Our research areas

Virage explores several key aspects of urban transformation to better understand how to create more sustainable and equitable living environments.

Sustainable mobility and physical activity

Which transportation initiatives most effectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, or most effectively encourage active transportation? Which integrated transportation network meets the needs of everyone?

Greening, biodiversity, and well-being

What role should nature play in our cities? What form of greening contributes the most to well-being, and to biodiversity? Can planting trees eliminate urban heat islands?

Housing, placemaking, and social cohesion

What housing policies promote better access to housing for all? How can we invest in our neighbourhoods while limiting gentrification? What living arrangements best support social cohesion?

A collaborative and experimental approach

Listening and gathering

Using participatory tools including concept mapping and causal loop diagrams, we organise consultations and participatory workshops with a diversity of citizens, researchers, and community, municipal, and institutional actors across the Montreal region, and develop a collective vision.

Organizing knowledge

Harnessing the insights and knowledge gained during our participatory activities to inform simulation tools, such as fuzzy cognitive mapping and agent-based models.

Simulating scenarios

Developing models to test different intervention scenarios for greening, active transportation, and housing policy, which will help decision-makers choose the best solutions for urban sustainability and equity.

Discussing and guiding action

Discussions and feedback on the proposed scenarios with project partners, decision-makers, and the wider community, with the aim of building strong consensus.

Who can participate

We want to hear from you!

Virage invites people from all walks of life to join the discussion on the future of urban environments.

Do you live in Greater Montreal?

Help design innovative solutions to urban challenges
Make your voice heard in new and innovative ways
Have a say in decision-making for your community
Connect with others who care about the issues that matter to you

Are you a community or municipal representative?

Gain access to new strategic planning tools
Rethink public consultation
Engage with a network of experts, public servants, and citizens from diverse backgrounds
Benefit from academic support to address your urban challenges

Are you a student, postdoctoral researcher, or researcher?

Join a dynamic team
Contribute to methodological innovations to build the city of tomorrow

Partners

Virage is a project led by the University of Montreal, in collaboration with many partners across the Montreal region, and supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Contact us to learn more

Are you interested in our project and want to be kept informed about opportunities to get involved? Do you want to work with our team to tackle major urban challenges?

Participate