The Centre for Sustainable Development will create a place in Montréal for reflection, innovation, education and the meeting of minds on sustainable development.
Through the economic choices it makes and promotes, the Centre’s goal is to contribute to the development of an economic model based on social values. As suggested by the expression “to buy is to vote,” choosing one product, partner, supplier or service over another reflects a desire to support a certain vision, or even a commitment, with the most obvious example being Fair Trade.
As such, the choices made by the Centre, as well as those offered to its users and visitors, will be geared toward:
Reinforcing sustainable development in Québec
By controlling the organization that owns the building and by sharing ownership of a portion of its assets, the Centre’s eight member organizations will be able to enjoy the many benefits offered by the property, allowing them to achieve greater financial independence. In addition, the sharing of physical space will not only create synergy between the organizations, but also with the visiting public.
Supporting the social economy
The choice of suppliers in the social economy sector reflects the Centre’s desire to support socially minded organizations such as Boulot Vers, which provides carpentry training to youth in difficulty and which will supply the Centre’s office furniture.
Encouraging responsible consumption
In addition to offering visitors a friendly gathering spot, with revenue from sales going to support Équiterre’s activities, the Centre’s café bistro will also play an educational role by raising consumer awareness of agricultural (organic products) and economic (Fair Trade and/or local trade) issues.
Informing as many people as possible
The building will house an information kiosk offering visitors one-stop access to comprehensive information on services available in the area of sustainable development in Montréal, including those offered by associations, private-sector firms, municipal bodies and other levels of government.
Providing a place to meet and exchange ideas
The Centre will house a forum on sustainable development. This forum will take the form of a physical space, a public square located at the heart of the building and intended to serve mainly as an awareness-raising and communication tool on sustainable development for the general public. This space will be designed for maximum flexibility and will be available for rental to external organizations. It will also provide a public showcase for the member organizations of the Centre for Sustainable Development.
