Award for excellence in urban planning from the Canadian Institute of Planners for the Programme particulier d’urbanisme (PPU) for downtown Chibougamau

L’Atelier Urbain has been awarded the 2017 Prix d’excellence en urbanisme in the ” Aménagement rural / Petites municipalités (moins de 50 000 habitants) ” category by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) for the special planning program (PPU) for downtown Chibougamau. The award recognizes projects that stand out for excellence, innovation, impact on the profession and implementation.

Louis-Michel Fournier, urban planner and director of L’Atelier Urbain, and Mario Asselin, urban planner and director of the urban planning department of the City of Chibougamau, received the award at the CIP Annual Conference in Calgary.

Context

The town of Chibougamau, located north of the 49th parallel, has been devitalized by the closure of several mines in the area and the slowdown in the local and regional economy. The PPU was therefore created with a view to repositioning and revitalizing the area, based on Chibougamau’s new brand image ” Latitude Nordique “, which focuses on its northern character.

The strategic vision and orientations are translated into development projects that respect local particularities, including the northern, mining, forestry and aboriginal context. These developments will help to improve the atmosphere and experience for users, energize activity on the street, reduce commercial leakage, increase citizens’ pride in their downtown and enhance the attractiveness of the area.

Winter planning as a vector for urban development

The development of Chibougamau’s downtown PPU was based on best practices in Nordic landscaping: a four-season multifunctional trail in the heart of downtown, sidewalk projections to facilitate snow removal and travel, increased vegetation to reduce wind corridors, furniture to protect users from the elements, bright lighting and colors to brighten up the environment, and lively public spaces furnished with fireplaces, terraces and ice sculpture exhibitions. The aim of the proposed interventions is to attract people to the downtown area by making its public spaces lively year-round.

Community involvement in downtown revitalization

The PPU adopted a participatory, open, transparent and particularly inclusive approach. Planning was carried out in close collaboration with a working committee made up of committed citizens and elected officials. In addition to co-design sessions with the population upstream and downstream of the project, the city held a survey that was answered by nearly 14% of the population (i.e. almost 900 citizens). The importance given to public opinion in the development of the municipality is intended to help Chibougamois reclaim their downtown area.

For more information about the project

Project manager
Louis-Michel Fournier, urban planner and director of L’Atelier Urbain

Design team
Louis-Michel Fournier, urban planner and director of L’Atelier Urbain

Stéphanie Rocher, urban planner and project manager at L’Atelier Urbain

Patrick Lachapelle, Project Manager, City of Chibougamau