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Welcome to Stéphane Febbrari Vermette, new CIRM practician member!

Stéphane is Director of the Peter-McGill Community Table, a key organization in the downtown Montréal area. The Table is also a CRIM partner in the "Portait de quartier" project, which will be officially launched soon. We spoke to him to find out more about the Peter-McGill Community Table, its contribution to Montréal and his personal vision of the city.

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How would you characterize the Peter McGill district? And just to situate everyone: where is this district located?

First of all, the Peter-McGill district is located east-west between Robert-Bourassa and Atwater streets, Avenue des Pins to the north and Highway 720 to the south, including the Bell Centre enclave, as far as Notre-Dame Street. This is the area with the tallest buildings and a high population density. More than 45,000 people live here, including thousands of families, young people and seniors, as well as many young adults and students. It's a place where the residential, knowledge, cultural and economic sectors converge.

Which organizations make up the Peter-McGill Community Table?

The Community Table is made up of members who live downtown, community organizations that serve different populations, and institutional members who work downtown. The organizations are mainly the neighborhood's family, youth and seniors groups, as well as those involved in homelessness, food security and support for immigrants.

What achievements would you like to highlight for the Peter-McGill Community Table?

Over the years, we have become a worthy spokesperson for the aspirations of neighborhood residents, who describe the lack of green spaces, social spaces, schools and affordable housing. Through our actions, we have been able to create new public spaces, a school project is in the works, activities for different populations have been developed and still exist, a neighborhood house has been set up and a will see the light of day in spring 2025.

What are the particular challenges facing the Peter-McGill Community Table?

Densification of the territory is one of the most important issues in the downtown area of our metropolis, as is the lack of public spaces. At present, we have no indoor or outdoor sports facilities south of Sherbrooke Street for our 45,000 residents. Real estate development also poses major challenges, with a cruel lack of social and affordable housing in the district.

How do you think CIRM could help the Peter-McGill Community?

By helping us to reflect on and document these issues affecting the downtown area. As these challenges are above all structural and complex, it is important to broaden the spectrum of thinking to find innovative and sustainable solutions.

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A perfect day in Montréal?

Taking a walk along the Rivière-des-Prairies, eating at a good restaurant on a terrace and catching a show afterwards.

3 indispensable symbols?

Cultural diversity, parks and joie de vivre.

Favorite neighborhood??

Villeray (because I live there!)