In preparation for the UITP Global Public Transport Summit that will be held in Montréal in 2017, on Nov. 26, the summit's hosts, the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), unveiled the members that will make up its honorary committee, chaired by Montréal mayor Denis Coderre. The presentation was held at Montréal City Hall as part of a prelude to the 2017 summit and brought together the leading members of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).
"Montreal moves, Montreal is rebuilding, Montreal shines more and more internationally and the World Summit of public transport in 2017 is an eloquent testimony. As for all major cities of the world, public transport still plays an important role in the development of the Montreal metropolitan area. I thank them for agreeing to serve on the honorary committee. I am convinced that their contribution will be exemplary and that the organization of the 2017 Summit will benefit, " said Coderre.
"We are very proud to be organizing the next Global Public Transport Summit — a not-to-be-missed event for all stakeholders involved in public transportation development. It will be an opportunity to discuss and take inspiration from best industry practices," explained Paul Côté, AMT president and CEO.
"From our first efforts to host this prestigious summit in Montréal, we have had the support of various Montréal stakeholders, and this new step confirms their commitment. In fact, the committee will support the STM and AMT in their responsibilities as local hosts of the event," added Philippe Schnobb, chairman of the STM Board of Directors.
On the honorary committee, Messrs. Coderre, Côté and Schnobb will be supported by Robert Poëti, Québec minister of transport and minister responsible for the Montréal region, and by Alain Flausch, UITP secretary general. They will also be able to count on the following public personalities from the business, transport and tourism sectors:
- Daniel Beauchamp, general manager, Association du transport urbain du Québec
- Pierre Bélanger, director general, Association québécoise du transport intermunicipal et municipal
- France Chrétien Desmarais, president and executive committee member, Committee for Montréal's 375th anniversary
- Steven Guilbault, Cofounder and senior director of Équiterre
- Florence Junca-Adenot, associate professor at UQAM and director of the FORUM Urba 2015
- Dominique Lacoste, president and CEO, Association québécoise du transport et des routes
- Yves Lalumière, president and CEO, Tourisme Montréal
- Raymond Larivée, president and CEO, Palais des congrès de Montréal
- Michel Leblanc, president and CEO, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
- André Leclerc, president and CEO, Kéroul
- Patrick Leclerc, president and CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Association
- Éric Martel, president and CEO, Hydro-Québec
- Catherine Morency, associate professor and chairholder of the MOBILITÉ chair, Polytechnique Montréal
- Ève Paré, president and CEO, Hotels Association of Greater Montréal
- Michael Sabia, president and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec