EXPERTS

A WHO’S WHO OF THE WEST ISLAND

This module aims to solve the obstacle that is the lack of collaboration and communication between experts and confusion on who to contact. In this section of the toolbox you will find a list of the usual professionals who work on affordable housing projects, an explanation and link to GRTs in Quebec, an introductory tour to partners of the community housing sector in Quebec and Canada, and finally a run down of who the political representatives are in the West Island and how they can support your project.

PROFESSIONALS

Urban Planners

What is an urban planner?
“Urban and land use planners develop plans and recommend policies for managing land use, physical facilities and associated services for urban and rural areas and remote regions. They are employed by all levels of government, land developers, engineering and other consulting companies, or may work as private consultants” (Planner, Urban And Regional in Canada | Job Description, n.d.). In Quebec an urban planner must be a member of the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec (L’Ordre des urbanistes du Québec, n.d.).

When to reach out to an urban planner?
If you are working with a GRT, they will let you know when and how to contact a licensed urban planner. Otherwise, you can contact an urban planner once you begin exploring site options more seriously for your community housing project.

Architects

What is an architect?
“Architects conceptualize, plan and develop designs for the construction and renovation of commercial, institutional and residential buildings. They are employed by architectural firms, private corporations and governments, or they may be self-employed” (Architect in Canada | Job Description, n.d.).

When to reach out to an architect?
If you are working with a GRT, they will let you know when and how to bring an architect on board to your project. Otherwise you can consult a private architectural firm at any point in the planning process. You will need to get all building plans and designs certified by an architect (approved by a certified architect who belongs to the “Ordre des architectes du Québec; OAQ”) .

Civil Engineers

What is a civil engineer?
“Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation. They may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. They are employed by engineering consulting companies, in all levels of government, by construction firms and in many other industries, or they may be self-employed” (Building Envelope Engineer in Canada | Job Description, n.d.).

When to reach out to a civil engineer?
If you are working with a GRT they will let you know when and how to work with a civil engineer or an engineering firm. Otherwise you can consult with an engineering firm at any point in the planning process.

Note: Under Bill 122 the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) has made building façade inspections mandatory for all buildings with 5 floors above ground and more by an engineer every five years (Façades – Entretien et inspection – Régie du bâtiment du Québec, n.d.). So you will have to work with an engineer at some point.

Land Surveyors

What is a land surveyor?
“Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys. They are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments, private sector land surveying establishments, real estate development, natural resource, engineering and construction firms, or they may be self-employed” (Land Surveyor in Canada | Job Description, n.d.).

When to reach out to a land surveyor?
It is best to contact a land surveyor before any development or construction is started. Again if you are working with a GRT or other partnering organization they can let you know when and who to contact for this job.

Contractors

What is a contractor?

“General contractors are responsible for the overall administration of a construction project and managing the day-to-day activities of the job site operation. They coordinate and supervise the work of subcontractors, trade professionals, and other workers involved in the project and often serve as a liaison between the customer and other parties. They are accountable for ensuring quality standards are met and all work is done safely and according to specifications. They oversee the ordering and delivery of materials and supplies and approve payments to vendors.” The amount of responsibilities general contractors take on for a project varies, reviewing their portfolios can give you a better idea of how capable they are of managing your project and to what degree!

When to reach out to a contractor?

Typically general contractors are brought on to a project when a site is ready for construction to begin. If you’re working with an engineering or architecture firm or a developer, they often have established relationships with general contractors and will bring one on when your project is ready for the next step!

GRTs

What is a GRT?
GRTs mean groupes de ressources techniques that are social economy enterprises dedicated to the development of community housing. Throughout Quebec, GRTs assist organizations or groups of citizens in the development of community housing projects, either as cooperatives or non-profit organizations. GRTs guide the groups in all aspects of the realization of their project: associative life, real estate and financing.

In order to have access to some funding programs, provided by the provincial government, community organizations have to work with a GRT on their community housing project. Examples of funding programs inaccessible to community groups unless they are working with a GRT registered to the AGRTQ (Association des groupes de ressources technique du Quebec):

Le Fonds d’acquisition québécois (FAQ)
Capital Social d’Investissement Immobilier (CSII)
Le Fonds Immosocial Québec

Atelier habitation Montréal

M. Robert Manningham

55, av. Mont-Royal Ouest, bureau 300 Montréal (Québec) H2T 2S6

Tél. : (514) 270-8488 Fax : (514) 270-6728

Courriel : info@atelierhabitationmontreal.org

Site web: www.atelierhabitationmontreal.org

Bâtir son quartier

Mme Édith Cyr

1945, rue Mullins, bureau 120 Montréal (Québec) H3K 1N9

Tél. : (514) 933-2755 Fax : (514) 933-7802

Courriel : grt@batirsonquartier.com

Site web: www.batirsonquartier.com

Groupe CDH

Mme Murielle Laurence Kwendé

1000, rue Atateken, bureau 201 Montréal (Québec) H2L 3K5

Tél. : (514) 849-7800 Fax : (514) 849-1495

Courriel : info@groupecdh.com

Site web : www.groupecdh.com

ROMEL

M. Mazen Houdeib

6555, ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges, bureau 400 Montréal (Québec) H3S 2A6

Tél. : (514) 341-1057 Fax : (514) 341-8404

Courriel : grt@romel-montreal.ca

Site web: www.romel-montreal.ca

PARTNERS

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

The CMHC is Canada’s national housing agency. It is a crown corporation, governed by a board, responsible to parliament through the minister of housing and diversity and inclusion, currently Ahmed Hussen (The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, 2017).
The CMHM provides housing market data, project funding, mortgage financing and advice on the housing industry at large (About-CMHC, n.d.).

Community Housing Canada

Community Housing Canada is a research center composed of 6 research teams across Canada, addressing complex questions to ensure that the renewal and expansion of community housing is sustainable and resilient in Canada.

Société d’habitation du Québec

The provincial government agency responsible for housing in Quebec, the SHQ is responsible for implementing housing programs and services for the population.
Currently oversees 24 programs that help house citizens, subsidize rent, subsidize renovations and repairs, help with emergency evacuations and develop emergency, temporary and community housing.

Community Housing Transformation Centre

The CHTC is a newer pan-Canadian non-profit organization with the goal of transforming the community-housing sector in a long-lasting way.
The center currently operates multiple funds that deal out grants for transformative, green and community housing projects.
Recently launched the PLANCHER project in Quebec, “A collaborative effort to nurture growth in Québec’s community-housing sector.”

Réseau Québécois des OSBL d’habitation

“The Réseau Québécois des OSBL d’habitation (RQOH) is made up of 8 regional federations representing 1,200 autonomous non-profit housing organizations that are independent of government. Throughout Quebec, these offer nearly 55,000 housing units” (Le RQOH – Réseau Québécois Des OSBL d’habitation, n.d.).
The network’s priorities are to build visibility, recognition and funding for community housing in Quebec at large and for its members in particular.

Fédération des OSBL d’habitation de Montréal

One of the eight federations found in the RQOH, the Fédération des OSBL d’habitation de Montréal (FOHM) has clear objectives:
1. Bring together non-profit housing organizations pursuing purposes related to providing social and community housing;
2. Contribute to the creation, development and consolidation of non-profit housing organizations;
3. Promote community mobilization on social housing issues and the practices of non-profit organizations;
4. Act as a spokesperson for its members with regard to social housing with any organization, the provincial and federal governments and their authorities, local public administrations, and more generally, the public;
5. Develop services to facilitate the management of these organizations;
6. Provide subsidized housing to underprivileged people on the island of Montreal;
7. Facilitate the collective management of tenants;
8. Promote the advancement of education and knowledge in the field of management and development of Housing NPOs;
9. Encourage, promote and support research and propose avenues of study in the field of practices of non-profit housing organizations;

Table de Quartier Sud de l‘Ouest-de-l’Île

A non-profit organization that’s been serving the southern part of the West Island for the past 10 years. The TQSOI works with municipalities, community members and its partners to facilitate collaborations within the community over affordable housing. The TQSOI also hosts workshops, panels and webinars on various housing topics, has a dedicated committee to discuss current housing issues, is establishing a tenant’s rights group that will serve tenants of the West Island and has produced and supported numerous other projects that aim to confront the growing list of housing issues in the West Island but also in the greater area of Montreal.

POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES

HOW POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES CAN SUPPORT YOUR PROJECT:

Retrieve statistical data on the affordable housing situation in your community
Solicit the mayor and other city councillors from your municipality on the urgency of your community’s situation
Identify and connect you with supporting partners or groups that could help promote an affordable housing project in your community
Help identify potential sites that could accommodate your project
Lobby your MNA and MP on the urgency of the situation in relation to the need of funds

TOOLS FOR MUNICIPALITIES

Page last updated: October 2022