Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2025umontreal.ca
A Step Above2This document is not just a celebration of accolades; it's a narrative stethoscope that delves into the heartbeat of our institution. Within these pages, you will encounter stories of individuals who go beyond the ordinary—workers, leaders, faculties and entire units navigating through and beyond known territories to make our university an exceptional workplace. Join us in discovering the inspiring working conditions, the invigorating physical spaces, and the collective spirit that propels us forward. Université de Montréal isn't just an academic hub; it's a community where dedication, innovation, and humanity intersect. As we showcase the efforts that set us apart, you'll witness firsthand why our institution stands 'A Step Ahead' in fostering an environment where excellence thrives in all its forms.An exploration of Université de Montréal's distinction as one of Canada’s top employers.
A Word from the RectorI am pleased to submit Université de Montréal's application for Canada's Top 100 Employers competition. Recent years have highlighted the pivotal role of universities in addressing contemporary challenges. Meeting the demands of our era necessitates a blend of knowledge, critical thinking, platforms for constructive discourse, creativity, and innovation. We need talented, imaginative, and future-confident generations. At UdeM, over 10,000 employees are entrusted with meaningful responsibilities, actively shaping the landscape of tomorrow while confronting the pressing concerns of today. In 2023-24, the UdeM community emerged as a formidable force driving societal transformation. Responding to the pressing demands of the evolving job market, we revamped our student admission process, introduced pioneering programs, and enhanced our educational pathways. In light of the escalating climate crisis, we intensified our efforts in sustainable development initiatives. And because we believe everyone should be able to recognize themselves and thrive within our university, we continued to foster an inclusive environment through ongoing measures in equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as in our engagement with First Nations Peoples. Being acknowledged for the third consecutive year on the list of top employers for diversity instills immense pride within our entire community.What truly distinguishes us as an employer at UdeM is our identity not just as an organization, but as a community dedicated to advancing humanity. Our dedication extends to inspiring endeavors that harness our collective capabilities, exemplified by initiatives like the philanthropic campaign "L'heure est brave," our most ambitious undertaking yet with a billion-dollar objective. Aligned with our strategic plan, we are steadfast in our pursuit of realizing a shared vision, aspiring to ascend as the foremost French-language university globally. Our solidarity was evident in 2023 when we united in support of the Carabins, our championship-winning football team.For the past seven years, UdeM has proudly secured its position among Canada's Top 100 Employers. This achievement stands as a considerable asset in a competitive job market, benefiting all employers seeking top talent as well as retaining it. I trust this year’s application illustrates our unwavering dedication to furnishing the UdeM community with an appealing work environment, distinctive learning prospects, competitive perks, and a work-life balance that meets their expectations.Thank you for considering our application.Rector3DANIEL JUTRAS
Table of Contents1 Contact82 About your Business103 About your Workforce224 Work Environment265 Work Atmosphere & Communications406 Health Benefits527 Financial Benefits & Compensation 618 Family-Friendly Policies699 Programs for Experienced Employees7510 Employee Engagement7911 Training & Development8912 Vacation Policy & Paid Days-Off10013 Community Involvement104Canada's Best Diversity Employer116Canada’s Greenest Employer 136One More Step 159Thank you167
Across the country, employers are contending with the challenges of attracting, nurturing, and retaining their workforce.At Université de Montréal, the determination to overcome such obstacles is deeply embedded In this Supplement, we share the narratives of our institution, its faculty and its staff members that surpass adversity, complacency, skepticism, and the status quo, or have gone the extra mile to extend a helping hand to others.
Our institution proudly bears the signature: L’Université de Montréal. Et du monde.(University of Montréal. And of the World.)And within it lies the commitment to provide our community not merely with a workplace, but with a whole world of opportunities.A World That is HumanA World That is EffervescentA World That is Larger Than Ourselves
1ContactInformation
9Université de MontréalP.O. Box 612, succursale centre-villeMontréal, QuébecH3C 3J7514-343-6111www.umontreal.caContactPascale CarrierSenior Director | HR Performance, strategic change and communicationpascale.carrier@umontreal.caAlternate ContactVincent LeBlancCommunications Officervincent.leblanc.2@umontreal.ca514-898-55671ContactInformation
2About your Business
Risinga StepAbove
2023-2024were times of challenges, opportunities and major developments.
Becoming the most influential French-speaking university in the world requires both hard work and consistency.
Here are some initiatives undertaken by UdeM this year:New Vision of Institutional FinancingInfrastructure InvestmentTalent AttractionCommunity InvolvementHealth and WellnessEquity, Diversity, and InclusionInternational OutreachSustainable DevelopmentUdeM takes a leadership stance for high-education in Québec.Funding the way we shape our futures.Major investments to renovate and reimagine spaces in the Roger-Gaudry and Marie-Victorin Halls and recruitment of researchers of international caliber.UdeM helps tackle personnel shortages and student housing inflation.Grand reopening the CEPSUM pool and making the UdeM campuses more accessible via active mobility.A renewed engagement to openness, free thinking and free speech.UdeM extends its influence and joins the most influential circles.Facing the climate crisis through observation and action.0105020603070408
New Vision of Institutional Financing01Addressing an audience of 700 people from the business and academic sectors, Université de Montréal Rector Daniel Jutras spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal. He then discussed with its President and CEO, Michel Leblanc, how philanthropy could strengthen the universities’ capacity for action.When it comes to philanthropy in Québec, it’s often said that the culture of giving is less rooted than elsewhere in America. According to Daniel Jutras, philanthropy has nevertheless evolved significantly in recent years, and it is time to update our perception. Quebecers are increasingly supporting causes that touch their hearts. Therefore, the Rector proposed connecting heartfelt reasons to the pride inspired by universities.His speech concluded with a call to support universities, which are working to address major societal challenges. «Let us make our universities the driving force behind our greatest aspirations. And let us give them the means to achieve our ambitions, those we have for Quebec and for our children,» said Jutras.A Powerful Call-to-Action by Rector Daniel JutrasFebruary 2024 marked the launch of L’heure est brave (Brave the Way), Université de Montréal’s most ambitious fundraising campaign yet. With the goal of raising $1 billion and generating 200,000 acts of engagement from alumni, the campaign aims to tackle global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and technological advancements.Rector Daniel Jutras described the campaign as an unprecedented initiative for a French-language university, emphasizing the need for resources to match the university’s vision. Despite the daunting target, the campaign has already achieved 60% of its fundraising goal and generated 131,000 acts of engagement.Significant contributions have already been made, including a historic donation from the Courtois Foundation for basic research, as well as support for entrepreneurship and dermatology research. New donations announced at the launch event include contribu-tions to pedagogical innovation and student scholarships.The campaign, led by a dedicated cabinet and supported by 13 influential alumni ambas-sadors, aims to enhance the university experience and promote research and innovation for the common good. “L’heure est brave” - UdeM’s Largest Fundraising Campaign Ever2About your Business
2Talent Attraction02A significant milestone was reached: after two years of preparatory work, the reconstruction and renovation of the future premises began in the Roger-Gaudry and Marie-Victorin pavilions. To renovate a building, large sections must first be deconstructed. No small feat, considering the physical and historical heritage aspects.With a budget of $390 million, this project was expected to be completed by 2026, but in some areas, the redevelopment could be finished as early as 2025. The project involves complex logistics, not only due to the size of the construction site - 40,000 m2 in total, equivalent to six football fields - but also due to the nature of the work, which is carried out in old or historic buildings and therefore presents numerous technical challenges related to bringing them up to code. These renovations will also enhance accessibility, thereby creating more inclusive study and work environments for our current and future employees.This fall marked the end of the preparatory work for this major project. The sight of the premises stripped bare was quite spectacular. It provided a rare opportunity to see the interior structure of these two iconic buildings on the mountain campus, as well as to envision what the future renovations will entail.Making UdeM’s Main Campus Buildings Accessible to AllThis year, the UdeM proudly appointed three new Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERCs) by the federal government, further enriching its esteemed community of top-tier scientists.Frédérique Le Roux (microbiology), Evelyne de Leeuw (public health), and Carlos Silva (physics) have been awarded grants totaling $20 million over the next eight years as part of the federal program initiated in 2008 to attract outstanding talent to Canadian research institutions.The three federal granting agencies overseeing the CERC program—SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR—announced a total of 34 new CERCs across 18 postsecondary institutions, representing an investment of $248M.Three New Canada Excellence Research ChairsUdeM remains committed to improving its labour relations. The institution is in the process of renewing collective agreements for SGPPUM and SCCCUM unions, reflecting our dedication to fostering positive and collaborative working environments for the entire working community.New Year, New Agreements16About your Business
2Health and Wellness 03After 2 years of renovations, the CEPSUM pool has reopened, boasting upgraded facilities to ensure the health and safety of all users. Improvements include updated air and water quality, with a new water filtration system reducing the need for sanitizing products, and enhanced lighting through energy-efficient LED fixtures, promoting environmentally responsible practices.Dive Back InThe main campus of UdeM is now more accessible than ever with the addition of a new pedestrian pathway and bike lane along Chemin de la Rampe, ensuring safe passage for all community members. These enhancements offer an eco-friendly transportation option and promote active living while accommodating the diverse needs of our campus population.Accessible Mobility to the Core17About your Business
2International Outreach04Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal hosted the 90th ACFAS Congress from May 8 to 12, 2023. This large-scale congress served as the culmination of a full year of celebrations for the Association’s centenary. It placed significant emphasis on Indigenous communities through colloquia, presentations, and activities, highlighted by Regalia’s photographic works and the presence of a dedicated Indigenous space providing Indigenous participants with a place for rest, work, or exchange. Notably, the UdeM organized a colloquium on Indigenous languages in the present and future, giving voice to Indigenous colleagues from various backgrounds to share progress, experiences, challenges, and aspirations for future actions.Hosting the Largest Ever ACFAS Gathering Based in Brussels, near the European decision-making centers, this network provides constant monitoring of various research and funding programs, and organizes regular meetings with key players in the innovation and public policy sectors at the European level.This membership comes at a time when Canada is on track to become an «associated country» of the Horizon Europe research program, the European Union’s framework program for research and innovation.This new status will enable Canadian research players to collaborate more closely on this prestigious and well-funded initiative (€95.5 billion, or over $137 billion Canadian dollars, for the period 2021-2027).The objectives of Science| Business align with UdeM’s commitment to science serving society and addressing major global challenges that impact our daily lives.Joining Science | Business to Extend International ReachThe G3 de la Francophonie, a partnership between the University of Geneva, Université libre de Bruxelles, and the Université de Montréal, expands its reach with the signing of a cooperation agreement with Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) during the diplomatic mission of Princess Astrid of Belgium to Senegal (Diplomatic Meetings, May 22-26, 2023). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in fostering academic exchanges and strengthening ties between institutions across the Francophonie, promoting mutual learning and collaboration in research and education.G3 de la Francophonie Expands Its Reach18Infrastructure Investment05A consortium led by UdeM has received a significant grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to invigorate the life sciences discovery and innovation ecosystem. The Université de Montréal and its partners have secured a $2 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to establish the Eastern Canada Pandemic Preparedness Hub. This hub, one of five established across Canada, aims to bring together stakeholders in the life sciences research and innovation ecosystem to enhance capacity to address future pandemics. Led by UdeM, with co-leadership from Université Laval and McGill University, the Eastern Canada Hub comprises 58 partners from the life sciences sector in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, including universities, public organizations, and numerous bio-innovation and biofabrication companies.Creation of the Pôle de préparation de l’Est du Canada (Eastern Canada Pandemic Preparedness Hub)The Courtois Institute was founded to revolutionize scientific research, emphasizing unbiased fundamental research and advanced infrastructure to foster free and ambitious inquiry. Positioned at the crossroads of new materials, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence, it pioneers exploration into the depths of matter, leveraging cutting-edge computing advancements to collaborate with experts in chemistry and physics. With its focus on innovation, the Institute serves as a hub for exchanging cutting-edge theoretical and experimental approaches, uniting esteemed researchers and promising scholars on the MIL campus of the Université de Montréal to push the boundaries of knowledge.Creation of Institut Courtois (The Courtois Institute) About your Business
192Community Involvement06UdeM put forward many initiatives including a fast track program for bachelor’s degreeholders seeking to transition into teaching, a qualifying master’s degree in early childhoodeducation and primary teaching, an undergraduate microprogram in nursing integration, a physiotherapy program at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) as well as increased cohorts in medicine, decentralized medical education in Mauricie, decentralizedveterinary medical education in Rimouski.Addressing Personnel Shortages in Québec In the midst of growing concerns over housing in an inflationary environment, the Université de Montréal has recently joined the ranks of the Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE) (Unit for the creation of student housing), alongside the UdeM campuses student association, which was already a member. UTILE is a unique social enterprise specializing in student housing across Quebec, from study to property management. It develops and manages affordable student housing projects while promoting access to housing for the student population.Students Get a Helping Hand with Housing InflationAbout your Business
2Equity, Diversity and Inclusion07In recent years, Université de Montréal has established a set of principles on freedom of expression in the academic context. A few months later, it joined Scholars at Risk, an international network of over 500 higher education institutions dedicated to protecting academics threatened in their home countries and promoting freedom of expression. By becoming part of this network, UdeM receives international support and positions itself as a university that stands with individuals whose academic freedom is at risk.Freedom of Expression – the Heart of UdeM’s CommitmentThe first week of racism and discrimination prevention took place from February 13 to 17, 2023. The event was organized by the Bureau du respect de la personne (Office of Respect for the Individual), in collaboration with FAÉCUM, AGEEFEP, and the ÉDI-RPP team. The program included five awareness booths on racism and discrimination set up across various university campuses, along with a hybrid conference featuring two speakers: Sophie Hamisultane, a professor at the School of Social Work of the Université de Montréal, and Bochra Manaï, Commissioner at the Office for the Fight Against Racism and Systemic Discrimination at the City of Montréal.A First Racism and Discrimination Week at UdeMA new role has been established within the Vice-Rectorate for Strategic Planning and Communication at the Université de Montréal to oversee relations with Indigenous Peoples, with Professor Annie Pullen Sansfaçon from the School of Social Work being the inaugural appointee. A distinguished researcher specializing in youth gender issues and co-director of the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intersectional Justice, Decolonization, and Equity (CRI-JaDE), she assumes the position of Special Advisor to the Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning and Communication and Associate Vice-Rector for Indigenous Relations.UdeM Appoints a Special Advisor to the Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning and Communication and Associate Vice-Rector for Indigenous RelationsA Bit More About Professor Annie Pullen SansfaçonAll-around wonderful person, Pullen Sansfaçon is also a full Professor of Social Work at Université de Montréal and the leader of the Canada Research Chair on transgender children and their families. She is also the co-founder and current co director of CRI-JaDE, the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intersectional Justice, Decolonization and Equity which brings together community and Institutional partners, over 40 researchers and their students. For years, she has been working to understand the experiences of oppression and resistance of trans children, youth and their families. Professor Pullen Sansfaçon applies her knowledge to implementing best practices to support trans youth and their families. She helped develop Sam, the first transgender toy, and is co-founder of Gender Creative Kids, a Canada-wide organization that supports parents and children. This year, UdeM has introduced a new training initiative aimed at supporting healthcare and social services professionals in implementing culturally appropriate practices for Indigenous communities. This initiative, titled Place aux réalités autochtones (Shining a light on Indigenous realities), is a collaborative effort by the Faculty of Continuing Education, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université Montréal. The program emphasizes the importance of adopting a decolonizing, reconciliatory, and culturally sensitive approach in delivering social and healthcare services. Developed in partnership with Indigenous communities, the training incorporates diverse perspectives and realities from various Indigenous nations across Québec.Dr. Samuel Blain, a clinical professor at UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine and a member of the training committee, underscores the significance of cultural competence in the ethical responsibilities of healthcare teams. He advocates for the integration of cultural competence into the training of all healthcare professionals, stressing its relevance beyond graduation to encompass the entire healthcare network.Understanding the Relationship between First Nation Communities and the Healthcare SystemAfro-Voix (Afro-Voice) is a serialized show resulting from a close collaboration between the Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre of Montréal (CCAM) and the Université de Montréal. Each episode will immerse you in a discussion between a black community author and a university faculty member. A significant literary work serves as the starting point for each encounter, allowing Gabriella «Kinté» Garbeau to explore various themes cherished by her guests... and by the listeners! Episodes are dropped monthly on this page and across all free listening platforms.UdeM is Proud to Present its new Podcast: Afro-Voix20About your Business
Sustainable Development08The Université de Montréal remains committed in its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. A verified carbon assessment outlines targets of a 20% reduction by 2025 and a 40% reduction by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. This commitment reflects the university’s dedication to environmental sustainability.Smaller Footprint, Bigger ImpactTwo new institutions, the Michael D. Penner Institute and the Sustainable Development Innovation Observatory, have been added to Université de Montréal and its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montreal and HEC Montreal. These institutions aim to explore environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors through observation and experimentation.The Michael D. Penner Institute, which focuses on multidisciplinary research, was founded with a donation from Michael D. Penner, Chairman of the Board of Partners Group Canada and Partner at the global investment firm Partners Group. The establishment of the Observatory was made possible by the generosity of Scotiabank.The trend of incorporating ESG factors into financial decision-making is on the rise. Isabelle Martin, Director of the Institute and Observatory and Professor at the School of Industrial Relations at the Université de Montréal, emphasizes that this approach promotes awareness that the economy extends beyond financial metrics, serving as a catalyst for a more balanced and sustainable society.The Sustainable Development Innovation Observatory, funded by a $1.5 million donation from Scotiabank, will be responsible for conducting research and offering training within the Institute.Climate Crisis: UdeM Creates Sustainable Development ObservatoryRecently, Université de Montréal has taken actions that, when multiplied across all campuses, buildings, and offices, send a clear message about the institution’s ecological commitment. Among these actions are the removal of single-use containers in food services, the implementation of compostable material collection on campuses, the establishment of a social-purpose greenhouse on the MIL campus, and the creation of the Darlington ecological corridor, linking green spaces to preserve urban biodiversity.Concrete Actions Towards a Greener UdeM2About your Business
3About yourWorkforce
inStrength Numbers
14 24846.9719 years oldTheNumbers88 years young18 11612677UdeM Employees Worldwide (permanent and contract)Longest employee contract (active at print time)Our youngest staff memberOur oldest staff memberInterviews with external candidatesProfessional glassblower on staffPositions filled last year
Diversity and InclusionTo learn more about UdeM’s engagement towards diversity and inclusion, please see the Canada’s Best Diversity Employers section at the end of this application. Université de Montréal’s purpose and mission entail that our employee categories are diverse and that the number of employees can vary over the course of the year. As our needs change constantly, some positions are created specifically to be temporary, such as lecturers as well as teachning and researching support staff positions.During our peak period, which occurs from September to May, the need for these two functions is greater and can represent more than 44% of our workforce. 24.8%Temporary Student Support Staff17.9 %RegularManagers and Professionals12.6%RegularSupport Employees11.2%RegularProfessorsand Researchers17.8%TemporaryLecturers8.0%TemporaryManagers and Professionals7.7%TemporarySupportEmployees3About yourWorkforceRegular and Temporary Staff
4WorkEnvironment
Striving to Remainthe Place to be
10100%1750 m23091st63329Fridays off in the SummerReal estate projects designed by Québec architectsOf real estate for food vendorsUnisex bathrooms across all campusesPlace for Campus MIL at the 2024 Sustainable Development AwardsFootball fields of renovated spaces at the Roger-Gaudry and Marie-Victorin campusesEV charging stations across campusesStudent-run cafés open to allTheNumbers
Firmly Engaged in Creating Sustainable Mobility.The “Summer Hours” OptionBetween mid-June and mid-August, regular employees are presented with the opportunity to work 32 hours across four days, with the option of having either Monday or Friday off. This arrangement enables them to condense their workweek into four days for a period of ten weeks. Alternatively, employees may opt to distribute their 32 hours across a standard five-day workweek. Université de Montréal covers the remaining three hours. Needless to say this benefit is greatly appreciated!Shortened Work WeekRegular unionized and non-unionized administrative and support staff (excluding management) have the opportunity to reduce their 35-hour workweek to a 32-hour week, with a reduction in salary. This program offers employees options for more flexible work arrangements. Through this program, they can choose to compress their regular workweek in fewer days (for example, 32 hours in four days or reducing the overall number of hours worked per day over a five-day period. Also, with the supervisor’s consent, the employee returning to work after a parental leave may choose a reduced work week as a flexible work arrangement to facilitate and integrate his/her work-life commitments. Flexing our Work HoursTo ensure the best of both worlds when it comes to work-life balance, the standard work schedule for the majority of UdeM employees is set at 35 hours per week. Depending on their role, managers are encouraged to be accommodating of their employees’ family commitments and support them in adjusting their schedules as needed to accommodate these obligations whenever feasible.Formal Hybrid Work Policy ContextSince 2022, Université de Montréal has expedited its remote/hybrid work policy project. The Human Resources and Pro-fessorial Affairs Vice-Rectorate established an institutional wor-king committee in winter 2021 to oversee its development, inviting Professor Tania Saba to join. Fortunately, she accepted despite her busy schedule. Professor Saba, founder and holder of the BMO Chair in Diversity and Governance, is a Full Professor at the School of Industrial Relations at UdeM. An expert in diversity management, workforce aging, intergenerational value differences, work organi-zation transformations, and future skills, she also coordinated the international study «COVID-19 crisis triggers teleworking: A global cure or a short-term solution» during the pandemic. The study was developed by Université de Montréal in collaboration with Université Laval (Québec), Toulouse Business School (France), Brunel Business School (UK), Bucknell University, and Macquarie University (Australia).Renewed Hybrid Work PolicyIn 2023, Université de Montréal continued to apply a Hybrid Work Policy, guided by Tania Saba’s research, aiming to provide employees with a flexible work model for improved work-life balance. This initiative reinforces the university’s commitment to excellence in advancing knowledge and maintaining vibrant campuses, vital for the nearly 60,000 individuals welcomed each trimester.Key policy elements include a minimum 40% on-site work across all faculties, schools, and services. For those engaged in teaching, research, and student interactions, a majority of work must be on-site, with a minimum 60% on-site presence during fall and winter-summer terms and 40% during the summer.The schedule, planned cyclically throughout the academic year, offers flexibility on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. On-site presence is optional, as remote work is neither imposed nor required. This policy is specific to support and administrative staff, recognizing the unique circumstances of professors and researchers. Faculty members have the flexibility to choose the modality that aligns best with their activities, ensuring constant adaptation to their distinctive needs.294WorkEnvironment
Going the Extra Mile for CommutersPublic transitFor an easy access to the Montreal campus by public transport, five metro stations on the blue line serve our Montréal campus: Parc, Édouard-Montpetit, Université de Montréal and Côte-des-Neiges, Acadie, in addition to three bus routes (51, 80, 129). Interesting fact: almost 70% of our community commutes to work with a transportation mode other than solo driving.UdeM is also present on the outskirts of Montreal, Laval, Brossard, Trois-Rivières and Saint-Hyacinthe. The Laval and Brossard campuses both benefit from easy access by metro or bus with the Montmorency station to the Laval campus and Longueuil station to the Brossard campus.Bike pathsFor more active transportation, several bike paths cross the campus, including the Mount Royal belt, are also accessible to pedestrians. Bike commuters can also use the Réseau Express Vélo (REV) infrastructure, which is essentially a freeway reserved for active transportation. Cyclists can use various bike racks available to them or use the BIXI public bike system. Bike racksThere are now more than 2,500 bike parking spaces on the main campus (394 of which are sheltered) and 554 bike parking spaces available on our other campuses (72 of which are sheltered).BicikloA community bicycle repair shop located on campus is open year-round and offers occasional workshops on bike mechanics to the campus community.Cyclists on the campus can also make a quick fix to their bikes or inflate their bike wheels with the Fixit stations that have been installed nearby major pavilions. BIXIEight BIXI public bike stations serve our main campus, in which more than 180 BIXI bikes are available to the community. UdeM’s employees and students have a 10% discount on the annual membership fee.By carUdeM has approximately 35 paid parking sites on its main campus that can accommodate more than 2,700 cars. Employees may purchase an annual parking permit and travel by car to and from work or between buildings on campus during the day. Employees who own a hybrid or electric vehicle benefit from a 10% reduction on the purchase of an annual permit.Charging StationsUniversité de Montréal makes 33 charging stations for electric cars and plug-in hybrids available to community members and visitors. The stations are located on the Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe and Laval campuses. CarpoolingSince its launch in 2012, the web carpooling system has evolved into a high-tech and flexible app. Netlift combines carpooling and public transportation to provide commuters a more efficient, stress-free, and environmentally sustainable commute. Students and employees can easily browse their matches and route details, and book online using the in-app messaging system. UdeM is glad to promote Netlift and its many advantages to its community.CommunautoThose who wish to travel by car can also use the car sharing system, which has several stations in the vicinity of the University, as well as Flex vehicles - available in most Montréal neighborhoods.Sustainable Mobility AwardThis year, Université de Montréal received the Leaders in Sustainable Mobility award in the Prix Fédérateur category, from the Centres de gestion des déplacements du grand Montréal. UdeM is firmly engaged in creating sustainable mobility and such a recognition shines a light on our efforts across all campuses, especially on the mountain campus, to promote this.The University has implemented measures to facilitate and secure cycling on its campuses. This includes providing 255 bike racks, showers (with 13 more to be installed on the mountain campus), 9 repair stations, and 248 bike ramps for overcoming stairs. Signage, ground markings, cyclopedestrian paths, and secure bike shelters have also been established to enhance safety.NEW304WorkEnvironment
Committed to Sustainability and Heritage Preservation. NEW NEWLeading Head Offices Roger-Gaudry and Marie-Victorin Pavilions: Refreshing HeritageThe Faculty of Medecine Grows Into Downtown MontréalUniversité de Montréal undertook a significant renovation project, with a special emphasis on the historically protected Roger-Gaudry Pavilion. Over the past two years, meticulous deconstruction efforts involved replacing 1200 out of 3500 windows, preserving elements like terrazzo and Belden blocks, and ensuring asbestos removal in compliance with Quebec regulations. Sustainable initiatives, establishing a circular economy, as well as obtaining LEED certification for the design and construction of interiors (LEED C+CI), were also essential elements of the project. Approximately 80% of the redevelopment focuses on the Roger-Gaudry Pavilion, establishing it as a health hub by consolidating units from the Faculty of Medicine. This includes relocating the School of Rehabilitation and redevelopment for the School of Speech Therapy and Audiology. The Marie-Victorin Pavilion is undergoing renovations to create a social sciences hub, aligning with the University’s commitment to sustainability and heritage preservation while meeting modern infrastructure needs, as well as adding a government-subsidized daycare center.Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine is expanding its capacity for the fall of 2024, supported by a $17 million government subsidy. The new downtown facilities, located in the Latin Quarter near CHUM and other key affiliated practices, will enhance medical education and healthcare accessibility for Quebec residents.These redesigned spaces, occupying two floors totaling 6200 m2, will feature advanced technology, including auditoriums, classrooms, practical learning areas, a library, and a bookstore. The layout prioritizes brightness and a welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, rest areas will be designated for the 630 students in the first two preclinical years of the medical doctoral program. Collaboration among students from various program years will be fostered through activities held at the mountain campus, including those at the simulation center. The initiative reflects a holistic approach to medical education, ensuring a conducive environment for learning and interaction.UdeM Art GalleryNEWMIL Campus Wins International Sustainable Urban Planning AwardDesigned by architect Anik Shooner, the MIL Campus and its “sponge” neighborhood captured the interest of the jury of the 2024 Sustainable Development Awards. In itself, the project envisions a network of public spaces combining social and recreational areas with new biodiversity zones, all while enabling ecological rainwater management. The project is also noteworthy for having women in leadership roles in structural engineering and construction, as reported by the Université de Montréal in 2019.Established in 1998, the Université de Montréal Gallery is a museum institution that produces and showcases exhibitions and public activities focusing on contemporary art, interdisciplinarity, and the intersection of arts and sciences. Its programming values and fosters research-creation, aiming to reach diverse audiences, including the university community. In addition to exhibition openings, the Gallery offers a dynamic and free public program throughout the year, providing contact with contemporary art and addressing current issues.314WorkEnvironment
Nearby AmenitiesUdeM borders the vibrant Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood, situated less than a kilometer from our main campus. The Côte-des-Neiges street boasts a diverse array of cafés and restaurants, representing a wide range of ethnic cuisines, including Eastern, Asian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Russian, and more.In addition to the main campus, other areas like Parc Extension, Outremont, and Mile-Ex, housing the Science Complex and Parc Pavilion, also offer an abundance of exceptional dining options. These culinary choices cater to every palate and budget. From affordable delights like $0.50 samosas with spicy sauce at Bombay Mahal to upscale dishes of Restaurant Damas’ tasting menu, staff and students can explore a virtually endless variety of food experiences.Variety of RestaurantsCEPSUM remains the most accessible center, but other sports facilities are available nearby:• YMCA on Parc, 5550, avenue du Parc, Montréal• Centre Communautaire de Loisir de la Côte-des-Neiges, 5347, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges• Midtown Le Sporting Club Sanctuaire, 6105, avenue du Boisé, Montréal• Centre sportif du Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, 3200, chemin Côte-Sainte-Catherine• Le Gymnase, Training Center Mile-Ex, 6666, St-Urbain, Montréal• Fabrik8, Multisport rooftop facility, 7236 Waverly, Montréal• Anytime Fitness Gym, 7077 avenue du Parc, MontréalFitness Clubs And Local Recreation CentersThere are two daycare centers at Université de Montréal that can welcome up to 80 children each. Spots are reserved for infants from three to eighteen months. The daycare center is exclusive to UdeM’s employees and students. In addition, there are also a significant number of daycare facilities available to the community around the main campus. A state-of-the-art daycare center is currently being built, as one of the main parts of the Marie-Victorin pavillon renovation plan.Daycare CentersUdeM is a stone’s throw from the city center, located on the southern slope of Mount Royal, a must for shopping. The Outremont neighborhood, with its main shopping streets such as Laurier, Bernard and Van Horne, offers access to boutiques and delicatessens. These avenues are all designated to stroll or have a coffee. Bakeries, cafés, bistros and grocery stores can be found along the way.Major Shopping MallsTwo outdoor markets providing fresh, local and affordable goods can be found within a few minutes’ walk from the main campus: Trottier Market on Côte-des-Neiges (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) and the Jean-Talon Market, Montréal’s biggest and most popular outdoor public market, which is a quick walk away from the Parc Avenue pavilion.Outdoor MarketsSituated on Mount Royal’s north side, UdeM enjoys a unique environment within one of Montreal’s largest green spaces. Easily accessible from the main campus through footpaths, Mount Royal provides a serene living environment surrounded by nature. Noteworthy features include a campus comprising over 60% green space, spanning 15.6 acres, dedicated to UdeM’s commitment to ecosystem preservation.UdeM prioritizes development in harmony with Montreal’s geophysical conditions, adhering to sustainable development principles. The community actively engages in biodiversity promotion, reforestation, mushroom planting, and beekeeping. Recent initiatives include planting 300 trees of various species along Édouard-Montpetit Boulevard, fostering a habitat for 60 bird species and numerous butterflies and insects.The campus hosts over ten meticulously maintained gardens covering nearly 800 m2, where students and employees cultivate diverse plants, vegetables, and fruits. This green oasis also shelters a variety of wildlife, including rabbits, foxes, shrews, woodchucks, and star-nosed moles.For more insights into UdeM’s commitment to sustainability, explore the Canada’s Greenest Employers section at the end of this application.Green Spaces324WorkEnvironment
A Comfortable Lead in Employee ComfortActive WorkstationsIn a constant effort to contribute to the community wellness, UdeM Libraries offer a variety of active workstations: tables with adjustable heights for standing or sitting, balance boards, pedal bikes, pedalboards under work tables and ball chairs, and more! These stations allow students and employees to energize their work periods in the library through physical activity. Please note, however, that the goal is not to work out, but to break the sedentary lifestyle.Innovation Through CollaborationUdeM updates every year several of its installations in order to meet the needs of a modern campus. Many workspaces have been renovated in the last years to encourage better collaboration between teams and provide easier access to daylight, when possible. It is the case, for example, of our IT team offices which have been completely remodeled last year to offer a more open and collaborative workplace. Let’s also mention that all the new MIL campus workspaces are collaborative.Among many shining examples, the Center for Innovation on Beaumont street. This new collaborative space hosts forward-thinking initiatives such as the Quebecor Millennium programs, along with various partners such as IVADO (Institute for Data Valorization), UdeM’s Entrepreneurship Center, the technosocial innovation center Inven_T, and CreatiUM. Beyond the inspiring spaces, the Center offers state-of-the-art technology, including virtual reality equipment, will be available to facilitate the development of innovations.Meditation/Religious Observance RoomReligious observance room requests are treated on demand. The Buildings Direction receives the inquiries and generally, they can be accommodated. Some faculties and services also manage these requests independently. For example, local 142 of the sports and fitness center (CEPSUM) is available for Friday prayer.Gender-Neutral WashroomsUniversité de Montréal offers nearly 90 individual gender-inclusive washrooms to its community. Gender-Neutral Locker RoomThe new Science Complex on the Campus MIL includes a gender-neutral locker room with showers. This neutral space will facilitate the participation of everyone to the sports activities offered to our staff.A Continous Effort to Contribute to Community Wellness.334WorkEnvironment
An Offering Worlds Away From Processed, Carbon-Unfriendly Foods.The Cherry on Top: Onsite Lunch Options Cafeteria3Eating on campus is easy and convenient. On the main campus, the following choices are available:• The main cafeteria, located at 3200 Jean-Brillant, serves healthy daily dishes. In collaboration with Louis-Philippe La France, the Executive Chef, and nutritionists from Student Services, every meal served at Chez Valère can be described as a healthy choice. Recipes have all been reviewed and various changes were made recently to meet nutritional criteria. These dishes have also been tasted to ensure that besides being healthy, they taste good! • In the heart of Jean-Brillant Building (local B-2326), the Resto Bar La Brunante offers comforting meals to the campus community. • Five food counters in four different buildings. At our Laval campus, students and staff also have access to a variety of restaurants located in the lunch area. • Students and staff are also offered healthy lunch and ready-to-eat options with a new food counter located at the MIL campus. • Over 29 cafés are managed by students and serve faculty and staff, as well as students. These cafés usually offer a variety of snacks, salads and sandwiches. La Planck, the Physics Department café, is very popular! • 4 new cafés (one of which is 100% vegan!) on the MIL Campus. Bright and lively, they are the perfect spot for a quick bite or for an informal meeting. • Vending machines are available to employees in every building. More than half of the vending machines offer sensible food choices. • There are also many outdoor dining areas adjacent to most buildings. • Many campus buildings have outside terraces where employees may enjoy lunch with colleagues on warm days. • As part of the “Eau Secours” campaign launched at Université of Montréal a few years ago, disposable water bottles are no longer available on campus. UdeM promotes the use of reusable containers and improved accessibility to cold water fountains. Chez Liliane4Chez Liliane is a great initiative through which the Nutrition Department invites all employees and students for lunch during the winter months. Flavor and friendliness make this collective laboratory a unique place where participants are assured of a healthy and balanced meal, prepared by nutrition students. Chez Liliane also feeds the mind, since future nutritionists take advantage of this event to share their knowledge with employees.Local LocalLocal Local Food Market and Smart Refrigerators12Two outdoor markets providing fresh, local and affordable goods can be found within a few minutes’ walk from the main campus: Trottier Market on Côte-des-Neiges (open 24 hours, 7 days a week) and the Jean-Talon Market, Montréal’s biggest and most popular outdoor public market, which is a quick walk away from the Parc Avenue pavilion.Since the fall of 2020, students living at the Université de Montréal residence can stop by the convenience store located on the ground floor in a former study room to refuel on milk, eggs or bread without having to go to the supermarket. In the surrounding area, there are hardly any food markets. This new food store therefore offers a new option for residents and neighbors alike. Furthermore, smart refrigerators have made their appearance at Université de Montréal. They act as self-service vending machines, but with one important difference: UdeM can fill them with the products of its choice. In this case, the machines are supplied with fresh food prepared each morning by Local Local, the University’s food service. An offering worlds away from processed, carbon-unfriendly foods.Université de Montréal is the first post-secondary institution in Canada to acquire such smart fridges.344WorkEnvironment
Onsite Fitness FacilitiesEncouraging Physical Activity and Healthy Habits in the Workplace.The Centre d’éducation physique et sportif de l’Université de Montréal (CEPSUM) is a fitness facility that ranks among major sporting complex in Canada. It is open to the campus community (UdeM, Montreal Polytechnique and HEC Montreal), but also to all Montrealers who wish to practice a variety of sports and physical activities. In addition to the winter stadium built in 1964, most of the CEPSUM’s infrastructures were built in 1976, in preparation for the Montreal Olympic Games. Sports equipment kits are available for free in six different buildings on campus to all UdeM employees and students. This initiative aims at encouraging physical activity and healthy habits in the workplace.Many employees enjoy running on the mountain or in the surrounding parks during lunchtime. Informal running clubs have been put together in several departments and services.Olympic swimming pool and diving poolExterior stadium (5,100 seats)Extensive training room (+ specialized training room for the Carabins)Multisport room with an indoor track, a climbing wall, a golf practice area and tennis courtsSingle and triple gym Arena (close to 2,500 seats)Badminton, squash, wallyball and racquetball courtsAerobics, dance, yoga and martial arts roomsOutdoor football, rugby and soccer fieldsGymnastics palestraShowers and locker roomsSpa, whirlpool and saunaCEPSUM Online Classes and ProgramsA healthy mind in a healthy body. This is the motto of the CEPSUM, UdeM’s sports center whose team is a valuable ally in helping our staff members stay in shape while keeping their spirits high! Over the past few years, the instructors have launched a host of online capsules to meet the various needs of members of our community. Their YouTube channel (which has thousands and thousands of views) is a must-have tool.354WorkEnvironment
Employee Lounge or Rest AreasThe MIL campus offers numerous rest areas where employees can take a break, get together for a quick informal meeting, read, grab a lunch or share a café with their colleagues. There is a bright and open “interaction zone” on every floor, as well as a lounge located in the front of the building with enormous windows overlooking the Outremont neighborhood. The agora, located in the building entrance, also offers space for employees to relax and enjoy the sun.Rest Areas at the MIL CampusThe Faculty of Nursing opened in October 2018 a lounge for its employees. The space allows informal meetings in a positive working atmosphere or breaks in comfortable chairs.Employee Lounge at the Faculty of NursingWith the support of her managers, an employee from the Faculty of Pharmacy with a clear talent in interior design has completely redesigned an unused room of the Faculty of Pharmacy to turn it into a beautiful employee lounge. Comfortable chairs, sofas, a television and a table for dining or playing board games... This lounge has everything a rest area needs. Employees are very happy with this new space and do not hesitate to use it every day!Employee Lounge at the Faculty of PharmacyAt the initiative of Dean Hélène Boisjoly and her management team, the Faculty of Medicine professors and managers have a friendly and multifunctional place to relax, work and socialize with colleagues. The lounge is located at Roger-Gaudry Pavillon. It is a beautiful space with many windows where employees can enjoy the natural light and the spectacular view of Montreal and its surroundings. Many sofas and armchairs can be found in the lounge, as well as a fully equipped kitchen, an audiovisual system and numerous plugs for computers.Professors and Managers Lounge at the Faculty of Medicine36The waiting area of the office was redesigned and furnished with a large oval table for quick meetings or organizing spontaneous discussion sessions. Employees sometimes use it at lunchtime to play board games. There is also a fully equipped kitchen where the entire team (administrative and teaching staff) gathers every noon for meals, discussions, and during collective coffee breaks.Faculty of DesignNEW4WorkEnvironment
More Unique Features A number of clinics surround the main campus and provide onsite services to employees and the community:• Psychology Clinic | La clinique universitaire de psychologie de l’Université de Montréal provides low-cost psychotherapy, psychological and clinical neuropsychology assessments to the general public in the metropolitan area. • Medical Clinic | Exclusive to employees and students: • A minor emergency service is available on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doctors and nurses work together to provide an immediate response to any urgent health problem. • Medical consultation with an appointment: Consultation for annual reviews, prescription drugs re-newals, minor surgeries, or any other health problems. Nurses also receive appointments, such as patient screening for STIs and other health issues. • Allergic desensitization: Service offered on weekdays, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.• University Vision Clinic | La Clinique universitaire de la vision is a state-of-the-art training center. Open to the public all year round, it offers all the services of a standard optometry clinic, as well as the academic expertise of professors. In ad-dition to comprehensive eye assessment, it offers specialized clinics. The University Vision Clinic has undergone major renovations in 2018 to modernize its facilities. The project includes the addition of exam rooms and the modification of their archi-tecture to make them more user-friendly. The new configura-tion also facilitates student-clinician interactions and impro-ves access to many specialty clinics. • Dental Clinic | La Clinique dentaire de l’Université de Mon-tréal where students, supervised by experienced dentists, provide a variety of care and professional services to more than 20,000 patients (employees and the community) per year. It is first and foremost a place of teaching and learning with a mission to: • train future dentists • contribute to the development of the dentistry practice• promote oral health Onsite Clinics and Health Centers37• Nutrition Clinic | La Clinique universitaire de nutrition de l’Université de Montréal offers employees and the commu-nity counseling and education on nutrition and healthy habits through lectures and on-site consulting services. • Kinesiology Clinic | La Clinique de kinésiologie de l’Universi-té de Montréal offers students practical and clinical training and provides professional services and expertise on how to improve health, physical and functional capabilities to em-ployees and the campus community. • Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Clinic | Located at UdeM’s Sports Center CEPSUM, this clinic is unique in its interdisciplinary approach to sports injury treatments in any active sports, regardless of age or class. This clinic offers physiotherapy, massage therapy, osteopathy, sports medi-cine, orthopedic and pediatric services to employees and the overall campus community. • Speech Therapy and Audiology Clinic | La Clinique univer-sitaire d’orthophonie et d’audiologie provides a wide range of hearing health care needs to employees and the campus community as well as invaluable clinical experience for audio-logy students working under faculty supervision. • Veterinary Teaching Hospital | Le Centre hospitalier universi-taire vétérinaire (CHUV) offers a range of services for animal care on an ongoing basis, 24 hours/day, 365 days/year to all employees and the campus community. • Legal Clinics | For more than 40 years, the students of UdeM’s Faculty of Law have offered free legal information services to the public, including the university community. There are 6 different clinics on campus, a general law clinic, a notarial law clinic, the PROFILE clinic, for the integration of immigrants into a professional order, a business start-up clinic, a legal intellectual property clinic, and a legal clinic for victims of crime, in collaboration with the Department of Criminology.4WorkEnvironment
More Unique Features 38The Centre d’exposition de Montréal opened in 1998 and showcases more than a thousand works of art that are also regularly exhibited in different public areas around the campus. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, The Exhibition Center allows employees as well as the community members to appreciate its impressive art collection for free, all year long.Many virtual exhibits are also offered for free to all members of our community and the general public. The Center also offers free conferences and workshops on various topics. UdeM’s Exhibition CenterThe Salle Claude-Champagne is UdeM’s most important venue for music. Opened to both employees and the general pu-blic, it hosts over 150 concerts and events offered by students throughout the year. Salle Claude-Champagne There are 14 libraries at UdeM. With more than 4,500 sitting spaces, they offer an innovative work environment that stimu-lates collaboration, promotes knowledge sharing and encourages development. In addition to offering an impressive collection of printed works, the Libraries also provide the UdeM commu-nity with a (very very!) wide range of free virtual resources and wellness activities. Meditation, zootherapy, stress management workshops, mandala breaks and more activities are offered throughout the year so that everyone can keep their anxiety out of the way and keep learning! The Science Library now offers a work room adapted for people with disabilities, which includes computers with a Braille touchpad, Zoomtext software (magnification software), remote magnification, optical recognition of characters and a voice syn-thesis system. A suitable multifunction device is also exclusively dedicated to them, and the furniture is adapted for people in wheelchairs.• Science Complex's State-of-the-art Library The Science Complex Library was conceived with the fresh vision of what a modern library should be. The digitalization of most of today’s resources and information, particularly in science, made it possible to rethink the spaces previously UdeM Librariesoccupied by printed collections, and use that space for other purposes. The library still offers what could be labeled as a traditional area, with books and silent reading zones, but most of its surfaces are now dedicated to collaborative work rooms and lounge areas. Students, professors, and support staff love the new facilities, and make the most out of the library’s different spaces. 4WorkEnvironment
Workplace SafetyIt is the Prevention and Security Department that is responsible for our community occupational health and safety. Étienne Dubé’s team goes above and beyond to make sure our employees and students stay safe at all times. Among other things, his team is responsible for:• Developing preventive health and safety programs in the workplace and the academic environment for members of the university community, particularly with respect to the use of hazardous substances or processes. • Ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation, regulations, standards and institutional policies (radiation protection, biosafety, chemical risk management, environmental protection, asbestos materials management, workplace prevention, environmental hygiene); • Acting as an expert on institutional committees and represent the University before regulatory agencies.They are also responsible for UdeM’s environmental hygiene planning. Environmental or occupational hygiene is a prevention discipline that consists of studying work environments in order to anticipate, identify, evaluate and control health risks. Risk analysis determines the severity of the risk and the means necessary to reduce it to an acceptable level if it cannot be completely eli-minated. Some of the tasks that fall under environmental health include:• determining indoor air quality,• sampling for contaminants,• workstation assessment,• noise environment analysis,• thermal stress assessment,• lighting assessment.Environmental Hygiene39UdeM's First Aid Program also depends on them. They make sure it meets regulatory requirements and are responsible for recruiting and training first aid attendants all around the campus (at all times, there are almost 600 first aid attendants ready to act in case of an emergency). Through a 16-hour training, they help first aid attendants acquire the knowledge necessary to apply a structured and effective intervention sequence and teach them basic resuscitation techniques (including the use of the automated external defibrillator) so that they have all skills required to provide first aid to people in distress in the workplace.First Aid Program4WorkEnvironment
5Work Atmosphere & Communications
Good Vibes,Great Experiences
1st400 m293,334,9768760 Hours$0UdeM Carabins football team won the Vanier Cup this YearOf space for our art galleriesFreely-available podcasts created by UdeM facultiesBooks available in UdeM librariesOf live streaming for the world-famousUdeM falcon couple nesting atop the towerFree Popsicles every hot summer day in the Libraries branchTheNumbers
5Work Atmosphere & CommunicationsOverall AtmosphereA Harmony Of Worlds43Being around Carabins (our student competitive sports team) members certainly adds some pressure to stay in shape! This is why, in addition to the numerous workout classes offered during lunchtime, there are several informal sports teams between colleagues and several running clubs around our campuses, notably at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Document Management and Archives Division.Employee Sports TeamsCasual attire is the most common among employees. Yet, with the hybrid work policy, it seems some employees make the most of the in-office days to step up their style. However, the dress code at the Rector’s Office is more formal, and it is generally the occasion to see colleagues all dressed up!Teleworking had some effects on our employees’ dress code. While working from home, many employees (and managers!) confessed to combining their nice shirt or jacket with their pajama pants for most of their Teams meetings.Dress CodeOutside of working hours, everyone has the right to disconnect and unwind. Therefore, no pressure is put on responding to emails or Teams messages. We encourage in-person interactions while remaining flexible on our communication methods. The well-being and mental health of our university community come first!The Right to DisconnectThe Well-Being and Mental Health of our University Community Comes First!
Celebrations And Social EventsOur campus buzzes with an array of vibrant social events. From spirited back-to-school celebrations to festive Halloween and Christmas gatherings, as well as lively picnics, end-of-year bashes, retirement parties and sport gatherings – our community knows how to celebrate! Numerous services and faculties go the extra mile by organizing cocktails, breakfasts, or coffee & viennoiserie breaks, aiming to recognize and express gratitude to our hardworking and dedicated employees. In fact, some departments’ social committees plan and execute exciting events throughout the entire year.The majority of services and faculties have social committees to enhance employee engagement and create a friendly work atmosphere. For example:Faculty of Pharmacy (yearly bazaar, bake sale, BBQ, Christmas party, etc.)Finance Service (book club, running club, Christmas party, snack bar, etc.)Nursing Faculty (fall luncheon, a sugar shack, the Christmas party, line dancing lunches, etc.)Registrar’s Office (Christmas party, lunches, etc.)Human Resources (bake sales, secret Valentine, Halloween activities, Christmas party, etc.)Biological Sciences Department (Summer BBQ, Christmas party, etc.)Libraries Department (Campus tour for new employees, Free Ciné-Campus passes, etc.)Faculty of Veterinary Science ( Team lunches, happy hour, pétanque tournament, etc.)44Right People, Right Place, Right TimeSocial Committees5Work Atmosphere & Communications
Institutional Activities45On November 25, 2023, everyone bled blue - the day the Carabins won their second Vanier Cup in history against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Throughout their four-game playoff journey, the defense didn’t concede a single touchdown and held opposing offenses to less than ten points. These are two new team records for the unit expertly led by Denis Touchette.This feat marked the culmination of a season that not only galvanized the UdeM community but the entire province of Quebec. Thus, over the past year, it was customary to display one’s colors both at the stadium and in classrooms, offices, and Teams meetings.Beyond football, UdeM sports teams actively engage with the community, consistently bringing pride through their performances both on and off the field.Annually, a September BBQ event provides an opportunity for the community to express its passion for our sports teams and rally behind our athletes before the playoffs. This event attracts hundreds of people each year, fostering a sense of unity and celebration.Allez les Bleus! / Go Blue!UdeM threw its second edition of the Fest’hiver (Winter Festival)’, a full week of activities including concerts, conferences, photo exhibitions, ice sculpture contests, quizzes, First Nation artisanal workshops, free ice skating, events on the Place Publique, a Cine-Campus screening and - of course - warm wine and beaver tails! The Fest’hiver is aimed at the entire university community as well as the neighboring communities of the district. Here are some details about the activities offered during that week. • Poet, storyteller and filmmaker Josephine Bacon welcomed families to the MIL Campus Atrium during the first weekend of the festival. She shared Aboriginal life and culture through poems and stories filled with wonder and gave the opportunity for the participants to learn some Innu words. • An exhibit of the best photos from the interuniversity photography competition took place all week in the ramp connecting the subway to the main pavilion. • A cultural exchange kiosk exploring the richness of Black cultures; celebrating Black History Month. • A conference by slam artist, poet, novelist and ex-social worker David Goudreault who combines light and darkness; talking about psychological distress with a healthy dose of sunshine.Fest’hiver Lights Up Winter5Work Atmosphere & Communications
UdeM en Fête is the traditional holiday cocktail reception held by the Rector, inviting all members of the UdeM community to celebrate the holiday season together. On that day, all employees are invited to end their workday one hour earlier in order to join the celebration. Once again this year, the event took place at the newly renovated Place Publique. Hot wine and prosecco, wood fire, and food trucks helped employees stay warm as they celebrated the upcoming holiday season together. ChorUM, UdeM Choir, was also invited to sing some Christmas Carol and other fun songs to create a festive ambiance. UdeM en FêteIn Québec, it’s not springtime without a Sugar Shack! This is why in March 2023 UdeM decided to launch a new yearly reunion for its community and transform its Place Publique into a real Sugar Shack for a whole afternoon. Traditional music, dancing, maple taffy, all the ingredients were reunited so that everybody could have a great time while eating way too much taffy! A Sugar Shack activity that doesn’t end up with a tummy ache isn’t a successful Sugar Shack activity.UdeM Sugar ShackAlmost 300 people - employees, students, alumni, residents of surrounding neighborhoods, local officials - attended the Fête des récoltes (Harvest Festival), held at the Ephemeral Projects site on the MIL campus. It was an opportunity to celebrate the end of the agricultural season, the beginning of autumn, and to bring together all the communities involved in these projects. Some discovered the place and the gardens with wonder, while others joyfully reunited with them. Throughout the afternoon, participating partners offered several activities centered around urban agriculture themes such as the relationship between insects and fungi, the hidden world of pollinators, or best prac-tices in natural environments, allowing participants to explore the gardens and what can be found within.Harvesting Good Times At The Fête des Récoltes46Learn the Ukrainian language, violin, and natural textile dyeing and so much more in the many cultural workshops offered by Cultural Activities at the Student Life Services of the Université de Montréal this winter. Over a hundred workshops are available to staff, graduate communities, as well as the general public, either virtually or in person. These workshops span across various sectors such as visual arts, cinema, communication, creation, dance, languages, media, music, photography, and theatre.Embrace the Warmth of Winter culture NEWIt was the astronomical event of the century in Quebec! During a brief moment in the afternoon of April 8, the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun, completely hiding the Sun. The Université de Montréal had the best seats in the house. Moreover, the entire UdeM community was given half a day off to gather and experience this rare phenomenon together.The grand gathering took place in the outdoor stadium of CEPSUM, allowing participants to witness the eclipse, narrated by science journalist Marie-Pier Élie. Astronomy-the-med activities and a photo booth were planned to brighten the day for those present. Front Row to the 2024 Solar EclipseNEW5Work Atmosphere & Communications
47Company-Wide Communications Other Institutional Communication Keeping Everyone On The Same PageThe Communications and Public Relations Office is responsible for all of UdeM’s institutional communications. Mon UdeM, is UdeM’s very own intranet. This institutional internal communication tool presents information tailored for each user according to its professional affiliation and to the faculty or service he belongs to. It is the go-to place to find any work-related topic: working conditions, benefits, compensations, professional development, and more. Mon UdeM is also the official communication channel as it is used by all faculties and services to share important messages and news with employees. Mon UdeM, The Institutional IntranetThe system referred to as “Synchro” at UdeM allows employees to view and/or update their home and mailing addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, bank account information, email addresses as well as view paychecks, tax slips, benefits they have enrolled in and health plan beneficiaries. Synchro - The Employee Self-Service By Oracle UdeM Nouvelles is a news website showcasing articles produced by our Communications and Public Relations Office writers. A wide variety of topics related to our University community are covered, such as sustainable development initiatives, university affairs, internal projects, awards and professors’ recognition. But mostly, it is the work of our researchers that is highlighted in these scientific, yet accessible, articles. UdeM NouvellesWhen Office 325 and Microsoft Teams were launched at UdeM in 2019, very few people saw their value. Emails were a perfect way to communicate between colleagues, why use a new channel to interact? Yet, today it seems no one could live without it anymore. Microsoft Teams is not only the preferred way to interact with colleagues, it is also used by almost all faculties, services and schools as the perfect channel to talk to their employees. Different channels are created to make communication with smaller groups easier, and many are also using the SharePoint technology behind Office 265 to build microsites to share meaningful information and build engagement among team members. Microsoft Teams And Other Office 365 Collaborative ToolsThis daily newsletter produced by the Communications and Public Relations Office is sent to every member of our community to keep them posted about the latest news at UdeM. It is a great channel to divulge the work of our researchers, to share institutional instructions and recommendations, to promote the services and activities offered to the community, and to showcase the articles published on the UdeM Nouvelles website.La QuotidienneWith regard to any crisis or emergency – including winter storm announcements, fire, gas leaks, suspicious packages on campus, etc. -, urgence.umontreal.ca is the official communication channel of Université de Montréal. It is there that students, professors, lecturers and support staff will find all they need to know (and, if applicable, what to do) in case of an emergency. The site has recently undergone technical changes making it more user-friendly and easier to consult. It is also connected to the Alertus Software, which can, in the case of a life threatening or dangerous event, relay alert messages directly in our employees’ computers screens, ensuring they are immediately seen. In 2019, UdeM also launched its Rave Guardian App. Members of the community are invited to download the app on their mobile devices so that the Alertus messages can also be delivered automatically to their phones. This represents an important step ahead for the security of everyone on campus. urgence.umontreal.ca And UdeM Emergency AppIn March, the What’s New On the Campus section of UdeM Nouvelles was launched. This new editorial space is primarily aimed at Université de Montréal staff members and is intended to be a bulletin board for the university community. Employees can visit it to find announcements, promotional offers, information of interest to teaching staff, a selection of not-to-be-missed institutional activities, reminders, etc. Every Monday, a selection of articles from this section are published in the La Quotidienne newsletter. Quoi de neuf sur le campus? (What’s New On Campus)At UdeM, we are fortunate enough to have a Rector who wishes to stay close to the community. Every semester, he invites the community to a in-person/virtual event during which he shares the evolution of current institutional projects and answers the questions of employees and students. During these events, Rector Daniel Jutras gives answers to dozens of questions on a variety of subjects, such as the status of research at UdeM, working conditions or our new hybrid work policy.Conversation with the Rector This blog was created to allow the Rector to talk directly to UdeM’s community on topics related to higher education in Québec (and beyond!). Every time the Rector posts a new article, it is emailed to subscribers. Rector Jutras is very much invested in his blog, and if you speak French, we strongly recommend you subscribe to it because his posts are highly insightful and help to reflect on the world of education today.The Rector’s Blog5Work Atmosphere & Communications
Faculties And Schools Initiatives Laval’s Campus Internal NewsletterIt may be a few kilometers away from the main buildings, but that doesn’t mean that the Laval campus is not an important part of the University community. In order to keep the information flowing despite the distance, an internal newsletter for the Laval campus employees was launched two years ago.The Faculty of Medicine’s Newsletter The Faculty of Medicine also has its own newsletter to share news and updates with its members and the community. Readers can choose to read the news feed or subscribe to the monthly newsletter. Facinfo+, Faculty of Nursing’s NewsletterFACInfo+ is a biannual publication for the UdeM community, as well as nursing students, faculty alumni and donors. It provides a thorough overview of undergraduate, graduate, and research news within the faculty. Both nursing students and employees are featured in this publication, which was completely redesigned in 2017. Factuel, Veterinary Medicine Faculty’s Internal NewsletterThe Veterinary Medicine Faculty publishes every week a newsletter intended for its employees and members of the faculty community.Communiqué Aménagement, Faculty of Environmental DesignThe Faculty of Environmental Design publishes a monthly newsletter intended for its employees and members of the faculty community, promoting the upcoming events, as well as the successes of its professors and students.HR Newsletter for the Libraries Branch EmployeesThe HR Manager at the Libraries Branch writes twice a year a newsletter for the employees on a variety of subjects, such as recognition and engagement.The HR BlogHR employees have a new and friendly communication tool, the HR blog. The goal of this new tool is to centralize internal communications, to improve the information we exchange and to share information between teams. The Registrar’s office loves it so much that it has also adopted the formula!Sustainable Development Unit Newsletter Our wonderful Sustainable Development Unit Team developed last year a newsletter sent periodically to all employees on campus. It is a great way to learn more about all their many initiatives. They can also promote tools and resources or upcoming events.48In addition, many faculties publish their own newsletters or journals in which news and topics of interest for faculty members are communicated. Over the last year, Management teams have also used this channel to keep in touch with their employees and share videos or special activities with their teams.Newsletters And Blogs5Work Atmosphere & Communications
Mémo is UdeM’s official communication channel, used to communicate with its academic and administrative managers. It is through Mémo that all institutional instructions are sent to our managers, before being shared on other platforms.Whenever a new message is published, a notification system sends automatic emails to all executives with the content of the post. Furthermore, all messages are automatically archived so that managers can easily browse through their previous messages and access all the documents and files that were shared with them. MémoInspired by the HR Department initiative, the Finances Service started in 2019 their own gatherings. About three times a year, they invite the financial administrators to join them to discuss the financial activities, brainstorm about possible future developments and get to know the managers’ reality. Meetings Le Forum des administrateurs financiers Most faculties and schools also hold monthly meetings with their management teams. Those meetings are a great way to share news or on-going projects and discuss new institutional rules or processes. Faculties and Schools Management Meetings Twice a year the HR Department invites all UdeM administrative managers to discuss HR-related topics. The HR Department takes this opportunity to share information about new or ongoing HR projects, to better explain some HR procedures that may be misunderstood or require further explanations, or to discuss the HR strategic developments, among others. The idea behind this event is to have a direct interaction with the managers, hear their point of view, and answer their questions. Very much appreciated, these meetings are almost always full house. Meetings - La DRH vous rencontre 49People are at the heart of management practices at UdeM. In this regard, to facilitate the integration of new managers, the HR team offers personalized support aimed at creating the conditions for an optimized integration into this new role within 100 days. Upon their arrival, new managers are required to take actions ranging from understanding the various aspects of their role, to establishing a short-term action plan, and familiarizing themselves with institutional communication tools. In the following days, the designated HR partner for the unit will contact the new managers to plan the next steps. This privileged moment with the HR partner provides an opportunity to receive advice and ask any questions that may arise during the first few weeks within their new team.For Newly-Hired Managers - The 100 Day Manager’s RoadmapNEWThe forum brings together communication professionals - from all units - into a single Teams channel. This allows any directives, campaigns, or communication tools to be shared firsthand with those responsible for UdeM's messaging. It's also notable for its impressive mastery of emoji usage! Le Forum des communicateurs NEWCommunication with Management Teams5Work Atmosphere & Communications
50Other InitiativesEveryday, more than 10 conferences on a variety of subjects are offered to UdeM’s community. Most of them are free and make you feel very smart afterwards! All of them were offered virtually this year. A few examples: • Lunchtimes for Research (Les midis de la recherche) • The Faculty of Arts and Science’s Public Conferences • UdeM Research Institute of Public Health conferences • Knowledge Conferences at the Laval Campus (Conférences du savoir) • Mathematics Research Centre • Legal Appointments (Les rendez-vous juridiques) • Conférence de la montagne | Launched in 2015, the Conférences de la montagne aims to provide access to knowledge to as many people as possible. These public conferences are open to all and bring together attendees to discussions related to social and scientific issues. • Conférences Beaux-Midis organized up to 10 times a year but the The School of Speech Therapy and Audiology • The Dean’s Lecture Series | Every fall, Patrick Cossette, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, invites the community to a public conference that highlights health research from here and elsewhere.ConferencesA Step Above | 2023-2024 marked a new chapter in terms of outward-facing HR communications. The employee shortage is very real in Québec and its repercussions can be felt in all UdeM campuses. Thus, an employer branding unit was formed within the HR department, tasked with helping the Université to attract, retain and empower talent. This unit added a rich, constant and inspiring “life at work in the UdeM” content series across all platforms. This series boasts a revamped visual signature, paired with a bold messaging mechanic.L’UdeM : Acteur de changement (UdeM: A Force for Change)As part of the effort to reinforce the UdeM employer brand, the HR and communications department co-created an inspiring short film. Showcasing a diverse range of environments, actions and professionals, the film is an ode to the people that make the UdeM “world”. From beginning to end, the film positions UdeM as a “force for change” and invites the viewer to be a part of the mission. Discover the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQvA1T-Biqi8Employer Branded Social Media ContentAn Anthemic New Recruitment Video NEWNEWFor many years, the 620 professors distributed among the 25 Faculty of Arts and Sciences departments, schools and institutes didn’t have many opportunities to come together and see how their expertise and knowledge may interconnect. But that era is over! Frederic Bouchard, the Faculty’s Dean, decided to put an end to it. He created, in 2019, the FAS à FAS events, a special moment for all the faculty professors to get together, exchange their views and listen to two of their colleagues from different departments discuss a subject common to both their expertise. A much-appreciated gathering that may lead to more knowledge interconnection. The FAS à FAS Professors Get-Togethers5Work Atmosphere & Communications
• Afro-Voix (Afro-Voice) | A serialized show resulting from a close collaboration between the Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal (CCAM) and the Université de Montréal. Each episode will immerse you in a discussion between a black community author and a university faculty member. A significant literary work serves as the starting point for each encounter, allowing Gabriella «Kinté» Garbeau to explore various themes cherished by her guests... and by the listeners! Episodes are dropped monthly on this page and across all free listening platforms.Afro-Canadian Cultural Centre of Montréal (CCAM) and UdeM• Arrêt sur le monde | Hosted by professor and CÉRIUM director Frédéric Mérand, Arrêt sur le monde is a series where CÉRIUM’s experts and their guests analyze and decipher international news. • Sans escale| More than a podcast, Sans escale is a conversation between two friends who are passionate about international affairs: journalist Laura-Julie Perreault and researcher Laurence Deschamps-Laporte, who is well-versed in the mysteries of foreign policy. In each episode, they discuss with their guests multiple issues around the world, through various angles, drawing on their experiences. • Les capsules du CÉRIUM | Les capsules du CÉRIUM explain in a few minutes a current international issue. Our researchers and guest speakers share their knowledge in a brief interview with Jean-Frédéric Légaré-Tremblay, Fellow and Communications Advisor at CÉRIUM.Center for International Studies And Research (Cérium)• La politique en questions ! | On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, the Department of Political Science launched its podcast Politics in Questions! The podcast series presents the research of the Department’s professors and researchers in order to illustrate the quality and diversity of the existing expertise in political science at the Université de Montréal.Department of Political Science• Ça a changé ma vie | Ça a changé ma vie gives the microphone to these people for whom an encounter or experience has influenced the rest of their lives by giving them the confidence to take risks. The common thread in their stories is of course UdeM, but also boldness and collaboration.Alumni and Donators Network• Associations Libres | Associations libres is a fun and academic podcast about mental health. Student Life Services• Les Balados On prend soin de nous | The On prend soin de nous podcasts focus on a variety of health-related issues and feature experts from our community who are generous enough to share their knowledge with us. From sleep to nu-trition to psychological health, these podcasts are intended to be entertaining, yet rigorous tools to help our community members to take good care of themselves.Human Resources Department• Voix croisées | The CRI-JaDE podcast explores the diversity of perspectives and reflections on diversity, inclusion and decolonization in research and practice settings. With an intention to popularize scientific knowledge and valorize all types of knowledge, the guests represent a variety of backgrounds and paths.CRI-JaDE51Over the last years, many faculties, schools and services have launched their own podcasts. Most of them are offered to everyone, but some are specifically designed for our own community. Here are some examples. PodcastsMignardises littéraires (Literary Delights) | This new podcast is a shared initiative between UdeM Français and the Department of French Language Literatures at UdeM. In each episode, an original literary creation by a student is read by the performers of the Université de Montréal Theatre troupe. Diverse, creative, entertaining, these short texts have been conceived to delight the audience with an auditory treat.Numerous high-quality texts were submitted, among which fifteen were selected based on various criteria such as narrative richness, inventiveness, coherence, and language quality.UdeM FrançaisNEW5Work Atmosphere & Communications
6Health Benefits
AlwaysIn OurPrime
32,800 m2500+$12501000+30+$8Of sports & fitness space at CEPSUMEmployees received a discounted flu shot this yearAnnually to cover mental health practitioners feesEmployees involved in the On prend soin de nous well-being programFree annual wellness programs and conferencesCost of a full, balanced meal at chez LilianeTheNumbers
6HealthBenefitsHealth Plan Benefits People working at UdeM may be required to travel for their work. Whether it is for their research activities, to take part in international events, conferences, or training, to develop relationships with their peers or to participate in award ceremonies or recognition events, they often have to travel internationally, sometimes in risky locations. Extended Business Travel Insurance for EmployeesTemporary employees working at UdeM are entitled to a payment of 4% of their salary for each hour worked as a way to compensate for the health benefits coverage they are not entitled to, given their temporary employee status. This compensation is a great way to help them pay for their medical, dental or private insurance services and is very much appreciated by our contract staff. 4% Compensation for Temporary EmployeesGuaranteed income is provided for employees on short-term disability leave due to illness or disability, with indemnity ranging from 85% to 100% of salary, depending on the work group. After 17 weeks (unionized support employees) or 6 months (staff employees), long-term absence is covered by the insurer, offering 75% to 80% of regular pay for two years. Post this period, an evaluation determines continued compensation, potentially extending coverage up to the age of 65 for continuous disability. UdeM prioritizes early and safe return to work, providing Human Resources Health and Well-Being Advisors from the start of sick leave. Regular support includes access to paid professional services if needed and accommodating the employee’s return needs, such as gradual return and adjustments to the workspace.Supporting Employees on Sick LeaveEmployees who resign from UdeM can maintain their medical care insurance coverage by transforming the UdeM collective contract into an individual contract at the time of their departure. This conversion application must be received by the insurer within 31 days of the end of the insurance coverage with the UdeM. This plan is then paid entirely by the employee who may choose to include his/her spouse and dependent children in his/her insurance coverage. This conversion privilege does not include dental or travel insurance.Resigning Employees – Insurance CoverageSee detailed insurance plans for all employee groups on our website. 55Modulo offers participants three options of medical care, as well as two options of dental care. The plan has also been completely updated in 2016 based on best practices as seen in other large organizations.Highlights of the plan:• Option 3 of medical care now covers vision care (glasses, examination, etc.)• Option 2 of dental care now offers orthodontics for the insured’s children• Optimized reimbursement of healthcare professionals’ expenses• No franchise for medical careModulo was offered to each of our various unions. At their discretion, some chose to keep their current plan and did not switch to the options plan. Modulo therefore covers professors, as well as managers and professionals, which represent close to 40% of our workforce. The HR team is working with UdeM’s Insurance committee to upgrade the support offered by our insurer to employees of all unions struggling with fertility issues or that are going through a sex transition, as those services are not covered by Quebec public health system. Hopefully by next year we will be able to share the positive outcome of their hard work with you!Modulo | Group Insurance PlanUPDATEYour Organization is as Healthy as the People Who Make it.
Optional & Extended Health Benefits More than 600 employee rescue workers are active across the campus to respond to emergencies and recover quickly from unexpected disruptions. Each faculty or administrative service unit has several designated and trained employees that may assist colleagues in the event of an accident in the workplace. https://dps.umontreal.ca/services/secourisme-et-acci-dents-sur-les-campus/First AidUdeM’s employees have direct access to several campus clinics (dental, vision, kinesiology, nutrition, etc.) with discounts on the care provided. You will find more information about our clinics in section 4 of this application and on our website. https://www.umontreal.ca/activites-et-services/ClinicsA dedicated telephone number is available to all employees and students facing conditions of extreme hardship, emergencies or distress.http://cscp.umontreal.ca/ConsultationPsychologique/index.htm343-1psy56Each fall, an on-site vaccination clinic for seasonal flu shots is opened during working hours to all employees. This year, almost 500 employees throughout the campus received a flu shot at a reasonable price. Onsite VaccinationAlso, for their protection, all employees in direct contact with non-human primates are part of a health program managed by the Prevention and Safety Department, which includes a vaccination follow-up. Moreover, in case of an accident, employees have access to medication without having to pay the treatment fees. Université de Montréal pays upfront and submits the claims directly to the insurer, thus facilitating access to care while simplifying the process for the employee.Other AdvantagesTo ensure the well-being of employees, UdeM conducts noise assessments in the work environment to evaluate excessive noise level exposures. Employees affected from on-the-job noise exposure have a medical file at UdeM’s Speech Therapy and Audiology Clinic. An evaluation is conducted every two years. Additionally, noise control is tested in different work areas to verify levels and if necessary, intervene accordingly. NoiseUdeM’s Occupational Health and Safety team conducts assessments to evaluate employees’ workstations. The assessment provides employees with information on potential improvements that can be made to their workspace. They may also obtain guidance from an occupational therapist on ergonomic risks, training, equipment recommendations and required adjustments to avoid injury. Working from home has its advantages. However, our home office spaces sometimes bring their share of challenges. With this in mind, UdeM’s Occupational Health and Safety team shares tips and best practices to make our home offices as feng shui and ergonomically-suited as possible. They provide the UdeM community with a complete set of assessment tools to assess the ergonomics of their temporary home offices set-ups, and quickly fix small beginners’ mistakes.When Working From Home, Ergonomics Is A Priority!Ergonomics6HealthBenefitsIn order to help prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the Prevention and Safety Department (DPS) provides an extensive online tool: a virtual binder on office ergonomics. Adapted specifically to UdeM employees, this helpful tool assists employees with a step-by-step method that allows them to analyze their workstation and proceed to adjustments. Tools for an Ergonomic Working Space
57A Holistic Health and Wellness ProgramUdeM is taking a stand against rising mental health concerns. Recognizing the needs of its community, the university launched On prend soin de nous (We Take Care of Us) in 2020. This tailor-made, data-driven program empowers staff, managers, and professors to thrive with extensive resources. Set up to promote overall health and help develop healthy lifestyles, the program is based on data coming from an annual survey of UdeM staff members in collaboration with OSMET, the Health and Well-being at Work Observatory, and responds to the needs and challenges experienced by the members of the UdeM community.On prend soin de nous (We Take Care of Us) in a nutshell :• A range of activities: From conferences and workshops to fitness challenges and podcasts, the program addresses four key areas: • Healthy lifestyles (diet, exercise, smoking, stress) • Work / life balance (work schedule, balance, support) • Improving the working environment (atmosphere, health and safety, community support) • Management practices (communication, recognition) • Community-wide engagement: The first campaign alone saw over 1,000 employees participate and countless new projects implemented with HR support. • Ongoing commitment: New campaigns continue to roll out every trimester, ensuring ongoing support and adaptation to evolving needs.Throughout the year, the program offered more than 20 online conferences and workshops, 10 training activities, a whole month of sport challenges in collaboration with our Fitness Center, many live training sessions, articles, videos and books recommendations and a chat platform - spanning from “How to perform psychologic CPR” to “Tips to help you get a good night’s sleep”. Employees were also invited to submit health and wellness projects, many of which the Human Ressources helped implement in the past months.One of the community’s most popular conference was Ne pas se tuer : Argumentaire et méthode (How not to kill yourself: Rationale and method), given by famous social worker-turned novelist and slam artist David Goudreault. Capturing the hearts and minds of the UdeM community with Wellness For All2023 was the setting for two editions of Udéfi – a popular month-long activity during which employees are invited to form teams (many of which include people meeting for the first time) and to take on challenges that are as fun and creative as they are physically demanding. Teams share their results (and pictures of their physical exploits) on Facebook and make bonds over the weeks, improving their physical and mental health.Udéfi - A Repeated SuccessTo build a wellness program that addresses the real problems of its community, an organization needs tangible and accurate information on their health and well-being. In order to do so, Université de Montréal has established a collaboration with OSMET, the Health and Well-being at Work Observatory. OSMET is currently conducting a wide study with 100 Canadian organizations. This study aims to:• Understand, prevent and intervene on the work and family environment elements, as well as on the individual characteristics that influence the health and well-being of employees. • Identify working conditions and human resources practices that promote physical and mental health.Annual Survey MethodologyIn 2023, On prend soin de nous («We Take Care of Us») also launched the Mon kin («My Kinesiologist») program in partnership with the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences.Exclusively designed for UdeM staff members who want to enhance their physical fitness while having fun, the program provides free access to sports expertise on campus. By signing up, participants are paired, advised, and guided by experienced kinesiologists or kinesiology students/interns under the super-vision of clinical supervisors. The program spans over 10 weeks and includes a motivational conference, a personalized fitness program and on-campus workout sessions.Mon Kin “My Kinesiologist” ProgramNEWhis there-is-light-even-when-things-seem-darkest approach, Goudreault provided practical tools to help navigate the bleakest situations.A wellness podcast is also freely available to all employees.NEW6HealthBenefits
58The OSMET’s independent study will be conducted over a five-year period. The first of the five surveys was sent by the OSMET to a representative sample of UdeM’s employees in April 2019. The second survey was sent in spring 2020, after the COVID-19 crisis started. The third survey was sent in November 2021, providing us with important data about our employees physical and mental health after almost 2 years of pandemic, helping us adapt the activities and resources offered to our community. The fourth survey was sent last Fall. Our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) was updated in 2021. Once again, Université de Montréal chose the services of Telus Santé (formerly known as LifeWorks and Morneau Shepell), the largest employee and family assistance program (EFAP) provider in Canada. Telus Santé’s EFAP offers UdeM employees and their family members a wide range of free resources and tools, such as psychological assistance, legal services and financial advice. It is confidential, accessible 24/7 and employees can choose a location close to home to meet a counselor. The 2021 service renewal also enabled us to improve the services offered to employees, by giving access to several new interactive resources and free apps, and by offering the possibility of online counseling, helping employees to get access to resources from their home. Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)Additional Health and Well-being ResourcesUdeM has a web space called “Être bien” to better support its community well-being. The website lists all the services, resources and tools offered to employees and students online or on-campus, and gives advice on how to rely on the UdeM community to feel less isolated, even when working or studying from home. Many services and faculties have also launched special online toolkits to promote wellbeing. It is the case of the Réseau des diplômés et des donateurs, the Libraries, the Student Services, the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Human Resources. UdeM Wellness WebsiteIn partnership with the Unité du développement durable, the Réseau Écoambassadeur and the Écoescouade, UdeM offers workshops and activities designed to promote community ecological commitment. In this way, people concerned about their environmental impact can channel their energies into concrete green actions.Tackling Eco-AnxietyNEW6HealthBenefits
Bureau du respect de la personne (Harassment Prevention Office)59The Bureau du respect de la personne is at the service of all our community members and its role is to prevent and intervene to ensure security throughout the campus. The neutral and impartial status of the Bureau allows it to act as a neutral third party in the context of a conflict. It offers mediation, facilitation, conciliation and other tools, such as assessments in conflict situations. These prevention methods help to deal with conflicts as they emerge and to engage the involved parties in the search for solutions, in the best interest of everyone. This philosophy of intervention is a valuable tool to promote a healthy and respectful workplace and the Bureau’s proactive approach develops a respectful work environment at UdeM.In April 2022, the Harassment Prevention Office became the Bureau du respect de la personne in order to clearly state the inclusion of discrimination and racism to its mandate. Every year, the Bureau du respect de la personne organizes a Sexual Harassment Awareness Week to raise awareness on the concept of consent to prevent sexual harassment and assault on the campus, and beyond.Sexual Harassment Awareness WeekThe “L’important, c’est d’agir” (The Important Thing is to Act) campaign was created by the Bureau du respect de la personne and UdeM’s Federation of Student Associations (FAÉCUM) to raise awareness on the concept of consent to prevent sexual harassment and assault on the campus. The Ministry of Higher Education, as part of its Government Strategy to Prevent and Counter Sexual Violence 2016-2023, requires Quebec colleges and universities to implement, among other things, mandatory training to raise community awareness of issues related to sexual violence (VACS).Training objectives :• Understand the concept of sexual violence.• Be aware of the different VACS contexts.• Be equipped to act as an active witness.• Know the resources available.A new obligatory 20-minute online training was launched last February. Available on StudiUM to all employees both in French and in English, this workshop aims to raise awareness in the UdeM community in order to prevent the trivialization of sexual violence.L’important, c’est d’agir (The Important Thing is to Act) CampaignNEW6HealthBenefits
60Once again last year, UdeM’s Prevention and Safety Department (DPS) invited all employees to participate in UdeM’s Health and Safety Week. Four different conferences were offered via Zoom and on campus during lunch time to discuss various issues such as mental health, work-life balance and air quality. Health and Safety Week Chez Liliane | Eating Healthy all Winter for as Little as $8!Our Department of Nutrition’s team believes the training of our future nutritionists should focus not only on the nutritional value of foods, the metabolism of nutrients and their clinical aspects, but also on the behavioral dynamics that influence food choices. It is with this in mind that they have established Chez Liliane, a food service laboratory where students can observe the complex web of cultural, social and personal influences that determine consumer food choices.Chez Liliane offers students an opportunity to put into practice all the knowledge related to their profession by allowing them to integrate the sciences of management, food and nutrition while ensuring that customers receive a meal that provides pleasure and flavor in every bite. And all winter, Chez Liliane invites all employees and students for lunch during the winter months. Flavour and friendliness make this collective laboratory a unique place where parti-cipants are assured of a healthy and balanced meal at a cost of approximately $8, prepared by our nutrition students. Chez Liliane also feeds the mind, since future nutritionists take advantage of this event to share their knowledge with employees.Nutrition and Lifestyle A healthy mind in a healthy body. This is the motto of the CEPSUM, UdeM’s sports centre who’s team is a valuable ally in helping our staff members stay in shape while keeping their spirits high! Over the past few years, the instructors have launched a host of online capsules to meet the various needs of members of our community. Their YouTube channel (which have thousands and thousands of views) is a must-have tool.CEPSUM Online Classes and CapsulesThe Faculty of Medicine’s Mindfulness Center offers support to members of our community who are looking to explore some of the less traditional areas of medicine in order to find a better balance in life. In addition to offering lectures and workshops to members of the community through the Institutional Health and Wellness Program, the Center offers to the public a dozen mindfulness meditation exercises through videos shared on their website. We invite you to watch them and enter into the adventure of the present moment. Who knows where it might lead you!Faculty of Medicine’s Mindfulness Center6HealthBenefits
7Financial Benefits & Compensation
Cultivating Benefits For All
25%$6000$410%$7,500Employee discount on CEPSUM (facilities & programs)Annual covered work expenses for professorsMovie nights on campus for UdeM staffEmployee discount on BIXI passesStart-up fund for professors during their 30 first working daysTheNumbers
64UdeM provides employment security for its employees in a regular position. An employee, with 24 months of service or more, cannot be terminated, laid off or suffer a reduction in salary, except for a legitimate reason. If his/her position is abolished, the employee with employment security is relocated without loss of salary into a position with similar working conditions, within the University, at a level equal to his/her previous position. If it is not possible, a new position is provided at a lower level without a salary reduction, if he/she meets the qualifications required.Employment Security On May 1st of each year, the salary of UdeM’s support and administrative staff is indexed according to the terms of the different conventions and agreements. Usually, the indexation follows Quebec’s PSG (Government wage policy), but it may also include an additional percentage, depending on the context. The same applies to our faculty members on June 1st of each year. UdeM support and administrative staff are also eligible for a salary progression or a “rank” increase, depending on their status, on May 1st of each year. This exercise allows them to progress within their salary scale, until they reach its maximum.Annual Indexation and Salary ProgressionThe Université de Montréal employees’ pension plan is offered to all regular and temporary employees. Regular employees are eligible to participate in the pension plan as of their date of employment while temporary employees participate after fulfilling one of the following conditions: 1. he or she has worked 700 hours at UdeM or 2. his or her earnings at UdeM has reached 35% of the maximum pensionable earnings (MPE - $ 68,500 in 2024). Temporary employees who fulfill the above conditions start contributing to the pension plan the following January 1st. UdeM’s pension plan is a defined benefit pension plan to which the employer contributes 11.4% of total salaries. An extended benefit plan (EBP) is automatically offered to all employees. UdeM pays about 0.5% of earnings in EBP benefits.Defined-Benefit Pension PlanTuition Waiver UdeM’s regular full-time employees, their spouse and dependent children are entitled to a tuition waiver for un-dergraduate and graduate for-credit courses offered at UdeM and its two affiliated schools, HEC Montreal and the École Polytechnique based on the following years of continuous employment:• Less than 1 year: 20% • Between 1 and 3 years: 50% • Three years and more: 100% This benefit continues to apply once the person retires.Discounted Company Products or Services7Financial Benefits & Compensations
65Everyday, more than 10 conferences on a variety of subjects are offered to UdeM’s community. Most of them are free, and for the ones with a fee, employees usually receive a 50% discount on the regular price of conferences.ConferencesThe clinic provides a comprehensive range of vision services to employees, students and the general public throughout the year. Optometry students work under close supervision by profes-sors and experienced practitioners. The clinic offers services in multiple specialties: pediatric optometry, eye health, low vision, visual ergonomics, etc. The clinic also offers full optical on-site services, including a wide choice of eyewear and products at a lower cost. UdeM employees receive a 10% discount.The Optometry Clinic(Université de Montréal Sports and Fitness Education Center)• 25% discount for all employees at the CEPSUM • $ 80 discount on an annual subscription at Énergie Cardio Sports and Activity Center for employees who work at the St-Hyacinthe regional campus. CEPSUMRegular and temporary employees are offered a free consultation at the CEPSUM’s Kinesiology Clinic. During the meeting with a kinesiologist and an intern, the employee who consults can identify the factors that influence how he approaches exercise. The goal of this meeting is to develop an action plan tailored to the employee’s needs and provide him with relevant advice. Free Kinesiology ConsultationThe CEPSUM makes employees with children happy by offering them, and the general public, a 25% discount on summer day camp registration.Sports Day CampsTraining and Workshops – The Cultural Activities Service of the UdeM Student Services offers a wide range of activities to the community for which employees have a special discount price. Over 150 different workshops and activities are held on campus: visual arts, cinema, media, communication, photography, dance, languages, fashion, music or theatre. Most of the workshops’ length is between 8 and 12 hours and cost less than $ 90 for employees.Cultural Activities ServiceThe Faculty of Music produces and offers more than 600 public events per year in its three music halls. The concerts, lectures and seminars presented by students and professors of the Faculty cover a wide variety of musical genres (classical, opera, jazz, electronic music, world music) and are offered mainly admission-free. Most large ensemble performances are offered at affordable ticket prices (majority of concerts under $ 12).Live ConcertsLecturers and professors captivate and inspire the audience on a variety of subjects through conferences, workshops and themed trips aimed both for employees and the general public. Employees benefit from a 50% discount at Les Belles Heures.Les Belles HeuresFor over 40 years, members of our community have had free access to the consultation services of the Legal Clinic of the Faculty of Law. Under the supervision of an experienced team of lawyers and notaries, the Legal Clinic offers legal advisory ser-vices to all members of our community. An internship at the Legal Clinic allows students to acquire the skills required when a lawyer is asked for legal advice. Free Legal ConsultationA few times a year, UdeM’s Libraries hold a special “Employees Discount Day” during which they offer a 25% discount on their products. It is the perfect moment to treat yourself to that Carabins scarf that was missing from your collection or to get that lovely UdeM sweatshirt that will be perfect for your Saturday morning runs.UdeM’s Libraries7Financial Benefits & Compensations
the participant does not have 30 years of employment, an additional proportional reduction in the number of years of employment will be applied. For Service Acquired Starting January 1, 2013 When retirement is taken between 55 and 60 years of age and the participant has: Less than 35 years of pensionable service but more than 30 years of employment service, the bridge benefit will be reduced by 0.25% for each month before 60 years of age. Less than 35 years of pensionable service, less than 30 years of employment service on December 31st 2012, but more than 30 years of ES on the date of retirement, the reduction will bethe sum of: ((1/4% for each month before age 60 * the ES on December 31, 2012)/30)+((5/12% for each month before age 60 *(30-the ES on December 31, 2012))/30). Less than 35 years of pensionable service and less than 30 years of ES on the date of retirement, two reductions apply: (bridge benefit *ES)/30; on this result, a second reduction is applicable, i.e.: ((1/4% for each month before age 60 * the ES on December 31st, 2012/total ES)) + ((5/12% for each month before 60 years of age * the ES after December 31, 2012)/ total ES). Between ages of 60 and 65, if the employee has 30 years of service and more at UdeM, the bridge is payable in full. However, if the employee has less than 30 years of service, a reduction (bridge * number of years of service / 30) will be applicable. 7. Indexation for accumulated pension credits: Before 2006: 100% of the CPI After 2006: 75% of the CPI 8. Transfer agreements with various Quebec and Canadian university pension plans, as well as with the Bureau de cooperation interuniversitaire (BCI), the Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d’assurances (CARRA), the Government of Canada and other public and private sector plans. Possibility of transferring another registered pension plan even without an official and established transfer agreement. 9. Possibility of a service purchase plan. 10. Increase in cost sharing and program surpluses (50% em-ployer/50% employees) are provided. UdeM Offers1. A defined benefit plan. 2. Basic pension (2% - coordination). 3. Pension calculation based on the three highest annual salaries for service acquired before 2013. For service acquired starting in 2013, the pension calculation is based on the five highest annual salaries but must be at least equal to the smallest of the following amounts: 1) the average of the three highest salaries or 2) 1.5 times the average of the MPEs for the three years of pensionable service (entitling the employee to pension) for which the salary was highest. 4. Possibility of early retirement at age 55 with a reduced pen-sion of 2% (see below): For Service Acquired Before January 1, 2013 If retirement is taken between 55 and 60 years of age: 3% reduction per year is applied, i.e. 0.25% per month preceding the 60th birthday or the 59th birthday, if the person has 35 years of pensionable service. For Service Acquired Starting January 1, 2013 If retirement is taken between 55 and 60 years of age: 5% reduction per year is applied, i.e. 5/12% per month for the number of months between the time of the the time of retirement and the employee’ 60th birthday. 5. Bridge if retirement is taken before 65 years of age: The application of the coordination amount is postponed to 65 years of age. In addition, participants are entitled to a bridge benefit equivalent to the pension from Old Age Secu-rity for which they are eligible on the date of their retirement. However, certain reductions apply to this benefit according to the retirement date. 6. Applicable reductions to the bridge benefit: For Service Acquired Before January 1, 2013 If retirement is taken between 55 and 60 years of age: 3% reduction per year is applied, i.e. 0.25% per month preceding the 60th birthday or the 59th birthday, if the person has 35 years of pensionable service. Furthermore, if Defined-Benefit Pension Plan11. Retirement preparation courses are offered.12. Employees are invited to an individual pre-retirement meeting approximately 3 months before they retire for explanations on options, insurance, etc. 13. An active pension committee is in place. Meetings are held at least ten (10) times per year. Includes 19 members, 9 of whom represent employees and retirees (7 employees and 2 retirees). • Two subcommittees of the pension committee: 1) audit committee (governance report produced each year) and 2) investment committee. • Training program (up to eight (8) days of off-the-job training) for employees who want to serve on the pension committee. 14. Communications and information: • Planning tools are online on the pension plan website to help employees better plan their retirement. • Your file – online section that allows employees to consult their annual statement. Visit UdeM Pension Plan website to learn more about the benefits offered to our employees: https://rrum.umontreal.ca/accueil/66
UdeM OffersLife InsuranceEvery UdeM regular employee is covered under a group insurance plan with Industrial Alliance. The employer and employee each assume 50% of the premium. In the event of death, the amount of coverage received is equivalent to 3.5 times the employee’s salary under the age of 65. At age 66, the coverage is reduced by 5% per year and remains at 5% from age 70 and onward. Starting at age 70, the employer assumes 100% of the premium for both employees and retirees.Example of the amount of coverage for an employee whose salary is $100,000 per year:• The employee can designate or revoke one of his or her beneficiaries. • The employee is covered as long as he or she is employed by and/or retired from UdeM, unless he or she cancels the contract, in which case he or she may do as soon as he or she retires, regardless of the age of retirement. • The employee who leaves his or her employment at UdeM may convert his or her coverage to an individual policy.Amount of life insurance up to age 65 3.5 times the annual salary$350,000Amount of life insurance at age 66 25% of the amount at age 65$88,000Amount of life insurance at age 67 20% of the amount at age 65$70,000Amount of life insurance at age 68 15% of the amount at age 65$53,000Amount of life insurance at age 69 10% of the amount at age 65$35,000Amount of life insurance at age 70 and above 5% of the amount at age 65$18,00067
68UdeM also offers to its community: • 10% discount on the annual BIXI subscription• 15% discount on regular Via Rail fares• Advantageous rates on Telus’s monthly plans and smartphones• Movie night on campus every Tuesday and Wednesday, at a discount price of $4 Other Discounts Offered to our EmployeesBeing a professor at Université de Montréal has its perks! Benefits are granted to professors to facilitate their work and allow them to focus on their research and their academic development responsibilities.1. Sabbatical Leave The sabbatical leave is allocated to professors to enable them to enrich their knowledge or devote themselves to their research activities. 2. Start-Up Fund The start-up fund provides financial support that allows the newly hired professor to start his research. An amount of $7,500 is granted to the professor during his first 30 days of work. 3. Allowance Program for Professional Expenses Université de Montréal offers professors an amount to cover work expenses. Every year, professors can be reimbursed an amount of up to $6,000. Unused funds in a fiscal year are automatically carried forward to the next budget year. Other Financial BenefitsUdeM participates annually in three main external salary surveys to compare and assess competitiveness with res-pect to the marketplace.1. U15 – A voluntary survey, which includes 15 Canadian universities, on direct compensation (base salary, bonuses and direct total compensation) of Officers and Executives (President, Rector, Vice-Rectors, other senior Vice-Rectors and Senior Directors). 2. Normandin Beaudry - UdeM participates in two total compensation and university sector surveys conducted by the Quebec-owned consulting firm Normandin Beaudry. • General | This Quebec survey covers all aspects of direct compensation (base pay and incentive pay) as well as total compensation for different job families (finance and accounting, IT, communications, sales, human resources, etc.) and job functions ranging from support staff to the management. The survey also covers the following indirect compensation (employee benefit plans, pension plans, paid time-off, etc.). • Sector | This survey was developed by participating universities in Quebec and focuses specifically on jobs that are found only in the university sector (lecturers, student affairs coordinators, academic advisors, registrars, etc.). The survey addresses aspects of direct compensation only. 3. Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) – An overall compensation survey for which an organization may, at times, be required to participate. At other times, participation is on a voluntary-basis.This survey covers different components of compensation (characteristics of fringe benefits, salary scales, etc.). Outside Salary Surveys7Financial Benefits & Compensations
8Family-Friendly Policies
Creating The Right Balance
160+30+90% to 100%30 to 5025Children in onsite daycaresUdeM summer camps open to all childrenTuition fees reimbursed for staff familiesYoungsters attended free CEPSUM camp during school strikeWeeks of paid leave for adopting parentsTheNumbers
8Family-Friendly PoliciesRegular Employee BenefitsEmployees may take a maternity leave of up to 25 consecutive weeks. The employee, who is eligible for Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits, is entitled to a complementary indemnity equal to 90% of the regular pay. Such indemnity is determined for each pay period. The employee is given credit for service while on maternity leave and accumulates vacation days for the first 25 weeks. Maternity Leave Top-Up for MothersEmployees may take up to five weeks of paternity leave at the time of the birth of the child. During this period, the employee, who is eligible for Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits, is entitled to a complementary indemnity equal to 90% of his regular pay. The employee may take the leave intermittently after consulting with his superior, however only those weeks taken uninterruptedly will receive the complementary UdeM indemnity. All other weeks should be taken no later than 52 weeks after the birth of the child.Paternity Leave for FathersThe first ten weeks following the 25 weeks of maternity leave are also compensated up to ninety percent 90% of the employee’s regular pay under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) and the indemnity paid by UdeM.This period represents the first ten weeks of the two-year extended parental leave. For the remaining two years (94 weeks), the employee is considered on leave without pay from UdeM. The employee may return to work at any time within the two years and must notify her superior at least a month before returning to work. Flexible work arrangements may be agreed upon with the superior (reduced hours, part-time, etc.).Extended parental leave is very popular among new mothers (and in some cases, fathers), who can appreciate the joys of parenthood for a little bit longer. Given the long waiting times for a childcare center in the greater Montreal area, this benefit is greatly appreciated by new parents. Parental Leave Top-Up for Mothers Employees are first entitled to five days of paid personal leave at the time of the birth of a child for which they receive 100% of their regular pay. These five days may be taken intermittently between the beginning of the birth delivery process and the 15th day following the mother’s or the child’s return home. Faculty members also benefit from these five days of personal leave however they have the option of taking their leave one month prior to the delivery date or up to one month after the birth of the child.Finally, employees are entitled to an extended parental leave of two years for which they receive the complementary indemnity of 90% of their regular pay for the first ten weeks (under the Québec Parental Insurance Plan-QPIP). The remaining two years (94 weeks) is considered a leave without pay from the employer.Parental Leave Top-Up for FathersUniversité de Montréal takes pride in its extensive range of family-friendly policies, positioning itself as a leader in fostering a healthy work-life balance for its employees. With initiatives designed to support parents, including flexible work schedules and comprehensive childcare services, UdeM prioritizes the well-being of its staff. This commitment not only enhances the overall work experience but also contributes to creating a supportive and inclusive academic environment.72Raising the Bar on Family-Friendly Benefits. Health Benefits During Maternity/Parental Leave During the maternity (25 weeks) and paternity (5 weeks) leaves, as well as during the ten weeks of parental leave, employees keep making their regular contributions to their benefits plans and UdeM assumes its usual share. Beyond this time and up to a duration of 52 weeks, the employee may choose to maintain his/her contributions to the benefits plan (in which case UdeM pays its usual employer share) or he/she may renounce part of his benefits coverage (life insurance, dental insurance) as well as his/her health benefits, if he/she is covered by another insurance plan. For the second year of the parental leave, the employee may choose to maintain and assume the entire cost of the benefits coverage (100% of the premiums) for the remaining time of the leave. Compassionate Leave Top-Up for ProfessorsProfessors are allowed a compassionate care leave top-up. The professor eligible for the compassionate employment insurance program is entitled to an indemnity equal to the difference between his full salary and the employment insurance benefits he receives or may receive, including the waiting period weeks. The period of the leave is considered as a period of service.
Maternity Leave Top-Up for MothersLecturers benefit from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) during their maternity or adoption leave. Université de Montréal enhances this plan by providing new mothers with 25 weeks of maternity leave paid at 90% of their weekly salary for each course on their contract, minus the benefits paid by the QPIP.Parental Leave Top-Up for MothersThe lecturer who is eligible to Quebec’s Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) has a 10-week parental leave compensated by the QPIP if taken continuously and immediately following the maternity leave. During this period, UdeM improves the program by paying the difference between 90% of regular salary minus the benefits paid by the QPIP.Paternity Leave Top-Up for FathersLecturers whose partner is expecting are entitled to a paid leave of 5 days from UdeM. Also, lecturers eligible for Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) may take up to five weeks of paternity leave at the time of the birth of the child, paid at 90% of their weekly salary for each course on their contract, minus the benefits paid by the QPIP. Parental Leave for FathersThe lecturer eligible to the Québec Parental Insurance Plan is entitled to a 10-week parental leave if taken continuously and is spread over a maximum of two consecutive semesters. During this period, UdeM improves the program by paying the difference between 90% of regular salary minus the benefits paid by the QPIP.Compassionate LeaveEmployees may be granted a compassionate care leave for a period of up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to take care of or support for a family member, if a medical practitioner issues a medical certificate. During this time, the employee may choose to maintain his contributions to the benefits plan (in which case UdeM pays its usual employer share) or he/she may renounce part of his benefits coverage (life insurance, dental insurance, long-term disability) as well as his/her health benefits, if he/she is covered by another insurance plan. Following this 12-week period, the employee is entitled to a leave of absence without pay and without benefits. At this time, the employee may choose to maintain and assume the entire cost of the benefits coverage (100% of the premiums) for the remaining 40 weeks. 73LecturersLecturers are hired on a contractual basis and are more than 2,550 at UdeM. Even though they do not have a regular employee status, we recognize the work they do at Université de Montréal and ensure they have proper conditions when welcoming a new member in their family.Adopting parents devote a tremendous amount of time (and love) to their process. This enhanced adoption leave aims to better meet their specific needs.Employees who adopt a child other than their partner’s are entitled to a leave of a maximum duration of 25 continuous weeks. Employees are also entitled to the 5 weeks of paid leave through the Québec parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). During the 25-week continuous leave, the employee is entitled to receive, while receiving benefits from the QPIP, a supplementary indemnity equal to the difference between ninety percent (90%) of their regular salary and their weekly rate of benefits from the QPIP. Similarly, during the 5-week continuous leave, the employee is entitled to receive, while receiving benefits from the QPIP, a supplementary indemnity equal to the difference between ninety percent (90%) of their regular salary and their weekly rate of benefits.If the spouse already benefits from this leave, the employee can obtain one week of leave and a five-week spouse adoption leave.Enhanced Parental Leave Top-Up for Adopting Parents NEWStudent Support Staff (Teaching & Research Assistants)Teaching and research assistants, most of which are UdeM students, are also hired on a contractual basis. During peak season (during the Fall and the Winter trimesters) they can be as many as 3,000 to lend a hand to professors, lecturers and researchers. Some of them work only for a few days to help out with an exam, others may assist a professor or a researcher during the whole semester. However, contracts may not be made for more than 255 h per trimester, as we do not want their work for UdeM to have a negative impact on their studies. Nevertheless, they also have some benefits when the time comes to welcome a new member into their family. 8Family-Friendly Policies
Maternity Leave Top-Up for MothersTeaching and research assistants benefit from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) during their maternity or adoption leave. If they have accumulated 255 working hours within the last 12 months at the moment of the leave, Université de Montréal enhances this plan by providing new mothers with a 10-week maternity leave paid at 25% of the residual salary provided for in the contracts for the current semester.Other Daycare InformationUdeM’s daycare centres are government subsidized and are exclusive to the UdeM community. In 2012, UdeM built a second daycare center accommodating 80 more children on campus, for a total of 160 children. This new building was designed and built for children to learn and grow in a space designed specifically for them. The many windows are child height, allowing them to see the trees on the nearby Mount Royal. The building and the furniture purchased meet high-performance sustainability requirements, including the installation of a geothermal heating and air conditioning systems.Furthermore, a partnership with the UdeM’s Geriatrics Institute (approximately two kilometers from the main campus) was established a few years ago, adding two daycares that give priority to UdeM parents.Advantages Offered to FathersIt is possible to take 5 days off on the occasion of the birth or adoption of a child or when a termination of pregnancy occurs after the twentieth week of pregnancy. The first 2 days of absence are fully paid by the University.74In the last weeks of 2023, the majority of unions representing teachers and daycare educators went on strike. A stark reminder of the pandemic for some, this walkout forced a significant number of parents to manage some challenging family logistics. To help out parents among staff and student bodies, UdeM set up an emergency sports day camp at CEPSUM. This allowed 30 to 50 youngsters per day to benefit from supervision and a sports-education program provided by dedicated staff.CEPSUM Sports Day Camp During Province-Wide School StrikeNEW• ECO-Camp |This week-long camp is intended for kids aged 10 to 15 who have an interest in becoming more aware of themes such as ecology, biodiversity, urban agriculture, sustainable transport, energy and sustainable development, etc. • Young Sprouts Camp | New at Campus MIL, The Young Sprouts day camp offers young people aged 10 to 12 the opportunity to explore the alternative food system through a variety of activi-ties based on inquiry, creativity, and critical thinking. • Theater Camp | This 2-week camp offers young people aged 10 to 15 an introduction to the fundamental skills of theatrical performance through a variety of activities: improvisation, humor, body expression, voice work and staging. This camp allows theatre buffs to improve their self-confidence, their creativity and their openness to others. • Circus Camp | The week-long circus day camp offers an introduction to trampoline, juggling, trapeze, acrobatics and more! • Climbing Camp | The climbing camp is offered to teenagers who wish to develop the muscular strength of their lower and upper limbs, as well as balance and self-confidence. It is offered in an exceptional environment, on an interior wall. Pleasure guaranteed! • Astronomy Camp | The 2-week “Exploring the Universe” astronomy camp offers young people aged 10 to 12 the opportunity to discover the Solar System through a range of activities based on investigation, creativity and critical thinking. These interactive activities make use of a variety of learning techniques and tools, ranging from artistic creation to movement-based learning, to the use of computer software, to astronomical observations.Summer Day Camps on CampusUniversité de Montréal has a wide offer of summer day camps for kids from age 5 to 17. It makes it easy for employees to bring their children on campus for the day. No matter what their interests are, there’s a day camp for them! As mentioned in section 7, UdeM employees get a 25% discount on summer day camps registration during the pre-inscription period. This year, even more types of summer day camps are available on campus: • Sport Camps | UdeM’s sport centre, the CEPSUM, offers a variety of 30 sport day camps: multisport, tennis, dance, self-defence, hockey, diving, biodiversity, cooking for athletes, etc. • Musical Camp | The Faculty of music invites kids from age 5 to 14 to an artistic adventure. This camp gives kids the opportunity to learn music and discover an instrument, as well as explore theatre, visual arts and singing. • Research Camp | This special camp aims at educating and engaging students in their 3rd, 4th and 5th year of high school to university education and research. Conferences, immersion and specialized courses are offered. • Scientific Summer Camp (Folie Technique) | Offered by UdeM’s Engineering School (Ecole Polytechnique), this camp gives children the opportunity to explore the world of science, mathematics, engineering and technology by participating in creative, fun and innovative activities. Onsite Daycare Services Academic Scholarships for Employees’ Children –Tuition Fees Exemption for Employees’ ChildrenUdeM’s employees and their family members have privileged access to the various course programs offered at UdeM and its two affiliated schools, HEC Montreal and École Polytechnique. The employee who has accumulated five years of continued service and works more than 17.5 hours a week sees this benefit extended to his/her spouse and children. 90% to 100% of the tuition fees are reimbursed. In 2023-2024, UdeM allowed a total budget of $1,030,151,08 to this benefit.8Family-Friendly PoliciesNEW
9Programs for Experienced Employees
Always theSummitElevating
2xTuition Waiver6Sessions of active retirementpreparation per yearRemains activethroughout retirementMonths of salary for retiringemployees between 55 and 65(after 10 years of service)TheNumbers
789Programs for Experienced EmployeesPrograms for Experienced EmployeesIn the realm of administrative leaders’ support, the new Leadership Program launched in November 2023 is piloting peer learning groups in 2024 to enhance management and leadership skills. The peer learning groups consist of a cross-section of experienced and new employees.The HR Department values the importance of recognizing experienced employees by offering them opportunities to share their work experience and to contribute to the development and success of other fellow colleagues.Integration Within A New Leadership Program NEWThe HR Department upholds as a priority learning transfer and peer learning in the context of experienced employees inducting newer employees in the University and in their new role. To this effect, mentors are assigned to new academic leaders, such as Deans, upon their role integration. In addition, department chairs and vice-deans, (academic leaders in faculties) are paired with more senior academic leaders as mentors to support their role transition. This peer support initiative invites experienced employees to transfer their work experience and leadership skills to newer colleagues.Mentoring and Coaching Two retirees’ associations, established decades ago, assist and support UdeM’s retirees:• APRUM (Association des professeurs retraités de l’UdeM) – Retired Professors Association • Après l’UM (Association du personnel retraité et préretraité de l’UdeM) – Preretired and Retired Personnel AssociationBoth associations are very active and organize conferences, theater outings, cultural activities and even trips!Retirees AssociationsUdeM also helps experienced employees to prepare them for life after work with the following:• Retirement planning assistance: twice a year, an extensive retirement preparation session is offered to all personnel 50 years or older.• Health plans that extend into retirement with no age limit. • Generous contributions to a defined benefit pension plan. • Upon his/her request, an employee who is at least 55 and no more than 65 years of age with at least ten years of continuous service at the retirement date is entitled to a compensation equal to a 6-month salary. The arrangements may take one of the following forms: Retirement• An early and phased-in work option• A leave of absence with full salary• An allowance payable at the retirement date• A combination of the previous three forms • The retired employee continues to receive for himself/herself, his/her spouse and dependent children, the staff tuition waiver policy.
10Employee Engagement
EmpowermentThatMobilizes
TheNumbers10013840015$1000Days of roadmapped objectives for new managersAwards distributed to UdeM researchersAdministrative and support staff names on the Roger-Gaudry campus’ Wall of recognitionAwards distributed to teachers and Faculty and lecturersAwarded to the winners of the Rector’s award
The performance management program at UdeM is a process formalized once a year, with a recommended formal mid-term review. It has three steps:1) identifying objectives; 2) ensuring a mid-year follow-up; 3) year-end evaluation. Regular and on-going feedback is highly encouraged. The re-ference period for the purpose of performance planning and appraisal is June 1st to May 31st. UdeM’s performance management program also integrates six organizational competencies (Agility & Adaptability; Managing Complexity; Capacity to Influence; Community Service; Collabo-ration; Digital Literacy) and six leadership competencies (Inno-vation & Optimization; Courageous Decision-Making; Inclusion & Openness; Professional Ethics; Mobilizing Leadership; Results & Accountability Focus). These competencies embody “how” UdeM’s senior officials, managers and non-unionized staff are expected to achieve their objectives. The UdeM performance management program has been im-plemented across campus for all managers and professionals. Extensive training to familiarize employees with the performance management process is available, as well as tools and resources to help managers and supervisors follow the performance eva-luation process throughout the year. Our Performance Management Program10EmployeeEngagementFor Managers and Non-Unionized StaffFor Senior ManagementFor Faculty MembersFeedback on Manager’s PerformanceSenior Administration (Rector and Vice Rectors) is responsible for leading the performance appraisal process in the faculties, departments and administrative service units. On a yearly basis, the Rector evaluates Vice Rectors, the Secretary General and Deans of faculties, departments and schools. Once these evaluations are completed, deans must evaluate the performance of their academic administrators (Associate and Assistant Deans). General Managers are also evaluated on an annual basis. The University dedicates a portion of the salary increases to senior management’s performance. A formal evaluation process takes place for all appointed faculty members at the departmental, faculty and university level. Faculty members are evaluated when requesting a reappointment or seeking a promotion. An Assistant Professor is initially appointed for at least three years after which he may be reappointed for up to three years. The reappointment process entails an evaluation based on the consideration of professional competences in teaching and research, as well as overall contributions. The fifth year as Assistant Professor, the faculty member is considered for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. He/she is then considered for tenure and promotion to Professor after six years. The evaluation process for each appointment or reappointment begins during the final year of the engagement. During the evaluation, the faculty member must illustrate how he/she has demonstrated his/her teaching skills, developed the discipline through research and present his general contributions to the University as well as to scholarly communities.There is no formal process to seek feedback from all employees on their manager’s performance. However, a team of HR Business Partners is assigned to faculties and services within the University. They provide resources to their internal clients, and build a relationship with them, focusing on HR best practices. The HR Business Partners’ role is to advise and guide managers and employees on a variety of subjects related to human resources. They have a neutral position and spend time on site (or virtually!) with their clients, so they can assist them with HR issues and opportunities. It is not unusual for employees to reach out to their HR Business Partner to discuss a problem encountered with a colleague or a superior or share feedback. Partners can then identify the best way to maintain an open communication between parties and handle the situation before it deteriorates. This role greatly contributes to ensuring a healthy workplace. 82Continuously Raising The Bar
Employee Mobilization and EngagementRecognizing the need for evolution and growth, UdeM established an institutional change management unit in 2013. This unit employs a structured approach to ensure thorough and smooth implementation of changes, yielding desired results collaboratively with employees. The goal is to reduce the negative impact on their daily work and engage them in embracing the transition.The small yet highly efficient team has contributed to approximately 15 institutional projects annually. They plan and implement strategies, action plans, and change management tools, facilitating employee transitions and promoting the adoption of organizational changes. By providing information on the necessity, benefits, timing, and location of the change, the team helps employees understand and master it, contributing to the success of major organizational projects at UdeM.In the past year, the team supported various departments and faculties, including the IT Department, Registrar’s Office, Admissions Department, Faculty of Medicine, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in launching and adopting new digital solutions. They also assisted faculties like the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Nursing in program reform, supported senior management in continuous improvement of international mobility offerings, and contributed to implementing a new online solution for managing all research involving animals. The Fine Art of Managing Change Some Examples of Faculty-Led Initiatives An Exceptional Consultative Culture at the LibrariesThe Libraries Branch understood long ago that employee engagement included recognition, consultation and professional development. Stéphanie Gagnon, the general manager since 2019, has been making sure to keep his legacy alive by perpetuating a culture of openness and sharing within the Libraries and by maintaining a privileged relationship with her employees, by multiplying, among other things, opportunities to meet, learn and collaborate. Last year, they conducted brainstorming and consultation workshops over two days to plan together with the entire team their upcoming strategic plan. They also put in place codesign workshops whenever a new project is being planned and brought all their management team off-site for a whole day in February to get a special moment to be together and align their vision for the coming year. A Wall of Recognition Dedicated to Administration and Support Staff at the Faculty of MedicineAs part of the celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine, several initiatives have been put forward to mark this special year. A recognition wall dedicated to support and administration staff, with more than 400 names on it, was installed at the Roger-Gaudry Pavilion. This wall underlines the essential contribution of the support and administration staff to the accomplishment of the faculty’s mission. Document Management and Archives DivisionTaïk Bourhis has been a manager at the Université de Montréal since 2002 and has taken over as Director of the Document Ma-nagement and Archives Division, since April 1, 2022. UdeM was proud to entrust the mandate of engaging the unit in a digital turn to her, who is known for her constant good humor, her optimism and her great team spirit. She leads mobilizing projects in which several members of her team are involved and contribute their ideas, whether through the realization of physical and virtual ex-hibitions, or by involving her entire team in strategic planning and process reviews, as examples. Her team members are encouraged to participate in all kinds of projects and the mobilization and engagement activities she has developed over the last year include:• Personalized Christmas gifts with a special card• Participation in sports activities and rallyes• Participation in cultural activities as team bonding• Conferences and special events twice a yearVeterinary University Hospital (CHUV)Having many employees in a service does not mean you have to reduce the proximity with them. With over 100 employees at the Veterinary University Hospital, its management team makes sure everyone has a chance to have his hard work recognized.The mobilization and engagement activities include: • Distribution of a “birthday certificate” to each employee on his birthday, entitling him to have one hour off • Free specialty coffee for the team every month• Recognition board on which employees write appreciation words to their colleagues• Midi-CHUV (4 times a year) –Information session lunches• Distribution of the Info-CHUV newsletter (every two weeks)• Creation of a “Recognition and good mood” committee made up of employees who are responsible for promoting ideas and implementing them. A budget has been allocated for this purpose. We totally love this idea, by the way!83Stoking the Fire of Excellence10EmployeeEngagement
Performance-Based & Other RewardsSenior Management (Rector, Vice Rectors, Deans, Vice Deans, Secretary General and General Directors) salary increase varies between 0 and 6% per year, depending on the result of their performance evaluation. This increase is evaluated annually by the immediate supervisor and is confirmed by the Rector. Salary increases are then approved by the Human Resources Committee, a subcommittee of the Board, composed of external members and UdeM senior leaders.Performance Evaluation for Senior Management A website, distinctions.umontreal.ca , lists the various awards and distinctions obtained by members of our community in research, teaching or for their commitment. Users of the new website can find information on the winners by national and international organizations, as well as the University itself. A search engine also provides access to award winners according to various search criteria. The different marks of recognition granted by UdeM are presented in a «The University Honors» section.UdeM Online Awards and Distinctions PlatformFor over 25 years, UdeM has recognized excellence in teaching. Last summer, 15 awards were presented to outstanding members of the academic personnel during a ceremony. The Rector presented the winners with a $ 3,000 prizes to those who had distinguished themselves in the following categories: • Teaching and mentorship• Innovation• Postdoctoral Coaching and Teaching AssistantsRecognizing Excellence in Teaching 84Acknowledging Commitment to Excellence10EmployeeEngagement
The Rector’s Awards recognizes the exceptional talent, dedication and hard work of employees nominated by their peers. Last May, during a celebration for all employees, the Rector presented the winners in six categories awarding $ 1,000 prizes to those who had distinguished themselves in the following categories:Rector’s Awards85LeadershipThe Leadership Award rewards the mobilizing and visionary qualities of a person who is considered a model of leadership for his colleagues, as demonstrated by his personal qualities and professional skills.Cindy Mailloux-Charpentier, Senior Advisor in Change Management. Her leadership has made it possible to carry out numerous projects during her mandate.Innovation The Innovation Award aims to congratulate a person who dares to change within the framework of his functions by proposing new ideas and implementing them.Robert Normandeau, Full Professor at the Faculty of Music. A recognized digital figure on the international scene, he is about to retire. But the legacy he leaves behind at UdeM is there to stay!Promotion of French LanguageThe Promotion of French Language Award recognizes an individual who has been promoting the French language in its everyday work. Jean-Frédéric Légaré-Tremblay, Senior Communications Advisor, Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (CÉRIUM). In Le Devoir and Le Figaro, as a member of CÉRIUM, he has written articles on French in business and international trade. He is often invited, here and abroad, to take part in events related to French in business. He is also called upon to contribute to various initiatives at UdeM to raise the profile of the French language, such as the Délie ta langue! contest and the Les indésirables: anglicismes du domaine de la gestion capsules.DiversityThe Diversity Award rewards projects and practices that promote and value diversity and inclusion within the university community. Assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Aminata Bal. Among the projects she has spearheaded are the mural dedicated to Black communities by Montreal artist Maliciouz and the one dedicated to First Peoples by Aboriginal artists from Quebec and South America. Aminata Bal has also carried out three projects to reach out to Montreal’s black communities: the Forum citoyen sur la représentativité des communautés noires dans les professions juridiques, the creation of four new admission scholarships for black candidates, and the immersion day at Collèges Ahuntsic and Bois-de-Boulogne.CollaborationThe Collaboration Award rewards a team that has demonstrated outstanding performance in achieving a common goal.The Ukrainian Student Emergency Welcome team, made up of members of the Department of Political Science, the Vice-Rector for Community and International Partnerships, as well as the Europe Office, the Faculty of Arts and Science, Student Life Services, the Language School of the Faculty of Continuing Education and the Finance Department.This Team rapidly mobilized resources to integrate 10 Ukrainain students one month into the onset of the war.CommitmentThe Commitment Award recognizes an individual who contributes to the welfare and development of society through community involvement and volunteering activities.Alexandre Estebe, Promotion Agent at UdeM residences. For more than two years, he has been a representative of the Food Bank of Université de Montréal and a mentor in the organization. This student group works to counter food insecurity in the student population by offering various foods free of charge every week.Category Description 2023 Winner10EmployeeEngagement
UdeM annually pays tribute to researchers who have won awards or distinctions and who obtained a chair or major grant during the year. Our researchers are the ones who make us shine abroad and above all, they help push the limits of knowledge. Thus, it is important to take the time to highlight and recognize these successes.On May 4th 2023, our community came together to celebrate the successes of more than 138 researchers (yes, 138!!). We are so proud of their achievements, that we prepared a few portraits for you to get to know them and learn more about the amazing work they have done over the past years. Bravo Recherche, a Tribute Evening for our Researchers86Canada Research Chair in Bioactive Molecule Metrology and Target ResearchCanada Research Chair in Medications and PregnancyCanada Research Chair in Cell Signaling and Cancer MetastasisCanada Research Chair in Learning Representations that Generalize SystematicallyCanada Research Chair in Aural and Motor Skills Training in Music and New TechnologiesCanada Research Chair on Sexuality, Gender and MigrationCanada Research Chair in Computational Cosmology and Artificial IntelligenceFrancis Beaudry, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineAnick Bérard, Faculty of Pharmacy and Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine Jean-François Côté, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal Aaron Courville, from the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research in the Faculty of Arts and Science and Mila ̶ Institut québécois d’intelligence artificielle Simone Dalla Bella, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and ScienceEdward Ou JIN Lee, School of Social Work, Faculty of Arts and Science, and Centre for Public Health ResearchLaurence Perreault-Levasseur, Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Science10EmployeeEngagement
87Other AwardsEach year in April, UdeM recognizes employees who have achieved milestones of 25, 30, 35, 40 and even 47 years of continuous service to the university. Employees and their spouses are invited to join UdeM’s senior administration for a cocktail reception followed by a concert held at the Salle Claude-Champagne of the Faculty of Music. Continuous Service Award For several years, the Rector has written a personalized thank you letter to each employee who leaves for retirement. The letter is co-signed by the Vice-Rector of Human Resources. This gesture is very appreciated by the new retirees, who are considered until the very end of their career at UdeM.UdeM also holds a yearly cocktail with employees who have retired in the past year. During this event, our Vice-Rector greets the new retirees and thanks them for their contribution to UdeM’s development. Last year we resumed the event after the pandemic. Retirees from all around the campus were happy (and quite emotional!) to get together and be recognized for their career at UdeM. Tribute Evening to New RetireesEvery spring, Université de Montréal pays a tribute to certain of its recently retired professors who have distinguished themselves by their teaching and research activities, as well as by their participation in the development of the university through their leadership and achievements throughout their academic career. In 2023, 14 UdeM’s retired professors became professor emeritus. Celebration Ceremony for Emeritus 10EmployeeEngagement
88Faculty-Led InitiativesUdeM being a large organization with many faculties and services, several units recognize their employees within their teams.The Faculty of Arts and Science annually awards a $2,000 prize to deserving professors and lecturers. In 2023, 5 people were celebrated for their accomplishments. The Faculty also holds a yearly ceremony, “Celebrating the Arts and Sciences” in order to congratulate the professors and researchers who received awards and honors throughout the year. Every year, more than 500 participants attend the event.Recently, the Dean launched a new “Inspiration and Commitment” Award in order to recognize the hard work and contribution of support and administration staff at the Faculty. For the first edition, 5 extraordinary team members were celebrated for the incredible work they do within the team. Faculty of Arts and ScienceDean’s Recognition Award Every year, the Dean’s Recognition Award recognizes the contribu-tion of support and administration staff at the Faculty of Medicine. This award recognizes a member of the support and administra-tion staff who is significantly involved in carrying out the faculty mission and whose professional commitment embodies the values of the faculty, in an exemplary and inspiring way. Last year, it was awarded to Claude Gauthier, a graphic designer in the Communi-cations team in recognition of his incredible collaboration skills and all the hard work he has done over the past 15 years.The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine also recognizes the enga-gement of its professors with the Dean’s Recognition Award for Professors. The prize is awarded annually to a professor who distinguishes himself or herself in an exemplary and inspiring way through the quality of his/her work, his/her innovative spirit, his/her collaboration within the work team or his/her commitment to the community, which are all fundamental values of the Faculty of Medicine. Celebrating Women in ScienceSince 2022, the Faculty of Medicine celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with a two-day event. In 2015, UNESCO and UN Women established an annual day to honour the important role women and girls play in science. Together they are making a global call to “smash stereotypes, defy gender biases and defeat discrimination that holds women and girls back in science and technology fields.” UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine is proud to support its inspiring female leaders who are making groundbreaking discoveries and innovations in research with this two-day recognition event.Faculty of MedicineThe Faculty of Continuing Education gives annually an excellence award to an outstanding lecturer.Faculty of Continuing EducationIn March of each year, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine hosts its Excellence Awards Ceremony, celebrating professors and their students who have been making a difference through their work throughout the year. On March 23d, 2023, 5 professors were awarded prizes in different categories.Faculty of Veterinary MedicineThe School of Speech Therapy and Audiology also recognizes the contribution of its long-time lecturers by hosting a celebratory ceremony in their honor. School of Speech Therapy and AudiologyMany initiatives are held by the faculties and services on the campus to encourage commitment and mobilization of staff:• Appreciation and good work emails• Activity day for employees• Manager pep talks and annual meetings• Retirement celebrations• Long-service recognition events• Individual feedback • Welcome sessions for new employees• Flowers and special message upon the passing of an em-ployee’s loved-one• Wall of recognition• Local award ceremoniesOther Local Initiatives10EmployeeEngagement
11Training & Development
What itTakes toRemain on Top
TheNumbers$2,245,000300+800+$11,706,8686,717Annual training budgetInternal training & development activities offered by UdeM, reaching more than 3300 peopleExternal training sessions followed by managers and professionalsAllocated to faculties for sabbatical leave Staff and faculty members who have completed the online version of the awareness training regarding sexual harassment
9211Training & DevelopmentUdeM allocates an annual training and professional development budget for activities that enhance employees knowledge, performance or career progression. This budget represents 0.5% of the salary budget for unionized and non-unionized Annual Training and Professional Development BudgetDuring the past year, UdeM has revamped its managerial skills development offerings. Indeed, a brand-new leadership skills development program was launched in November 2023, offering new development opportunities related to such skills.Within this program, a range of development methods will be and has been proposed, allowing UdeM leaders to self-assess each skill, engage in reflective development discussions with their managers, and access training content through various mediums (online, self-paced, or in-classroom).Furthermore, additional development methods such as co-development, mentoring, and coaching will gradually be introduced over the next year. The goal of this program is to enable managers to become more self-sufficient in their own development and provide them with the necessary tools to maintain a healthy, safe, inclusive, and conducive learning environment for all.A Guiding Light for LeadersNEWPeople are at the heart of management practices at UdeM. In this regard, to facilitate new managers’ onboading and integration process, the HR business partner offers a personalized support aimed at creating the conditions for an optimized integration experience into their new role within 100 days.Upon their arrival, new managers are required to take actions ranging from understanding the various aspects of their role to establishing a short-term action plan, and familiarizing themselves with institutional communication tools.In the following days, the designated HR business partner for the unit will contact the new managers to plan the next steps. This privileged moment with the HR partner provides an opportunity to receive advice and ask any questions that may arise during the first few weeks within their new team.The 100-Day Manager’s Onboarding RoadmapNEWadministrative and support employees and staff. In 2024-2025, this budget reached $1,800,000. Five different committees are responsible for allocating these funds based on the employees’ training needs and requests. There is no annual maximum amount per employee. When an employee’s training request is granted, it is assumed 100% by UdeM’s training and professional development budget. Employees are invited to submit their requests electronically via the training management enrolment system. Individual funding applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. All requests are subject to the availability of the annual budgeted funds released. Eligible activities vary from specialized training offered by external organizations to conferences, seminars or internal training workshops offered, among others, by the Human Resources Department.Additionally, this year’s budget for faculty sabbatical leave was over $11,706,856. Faculty members are also eligible for an educational leave aimed at enhancing academic and professional competence. For the same period, a budget of approximately $350,000 was allocated for faculty and lecturers’ training and professional development activities.Sabbatical BudgetUnionized support employees (represented by Local 1244 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, FTQ-CUPE) are eligible for scholarships. The scholarship is a lump sum paid by UdeM to an employee who is granted a leave without pay to complete his studies. The scholarships granted represent an amount between $7,200 and $21,200 per year, for a maximum of two years, based on the employee’s status at the UdeM. This year, the amount spent for scholarships was $48,000.ScholarshipsUdeM supports opportunities for career advancement and self-development, and fosters a working environment that encourages individuals to develop their abilities, skills and leadership potential. In order to do so, we provide a wide range of internal courses and learning opportunities developed specifically for our employees. In-House Training ProgramsOver the last years, almost all our in-house training activities were converted into virtual activities over the past years. The content of our different training activities was also adapted to address the evolving needs of our community working from home due to our new hybrid work model policy: information about remote management, communications, technological and collaborative tools were added to our regular activities to provide our employees with the right tools for their new work context. Hybrid Work
Université de Montréal offers professionals, managers and support staff development opportunities to improve job effectiveness and support career development. The course offering is composed of seven categories:Training Workshops9301Management Leadership Development Program (UNIS VERS) | 43 different workshops reaching out to a total of 606 participants.02Technology and Software Training (Microsoft Office, Windows, Excel) | 25 different workshops reaching out to a total of 372 participants.03French Language Training (grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.) | 25 different workshops reaching out to a total of 207 participants.04Synchro - Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for finance, human resources, and payroll | 64 training sessions, reaching out to a total of 501 participants.05Student Records Management Training | 93 different workshops and online training sessions, reaching out to 1001 participants.06ContinuUM, A Program for Support Staff | 9 different workshops reaching out to a total of 113 participants.07Other Training Activities (Conflict of interest, Retirement preparation, Wellness, etc.) | 14 different workshops reaching out to a total of 141 participants.08Special Training for Unionized Research Support Employees represented by the SERUM-PRO | In 2023, 2 new workshops were launched, helping 27 employees to develop some of the professional skills needed for their field.11Training & Development
94Trajectoire is the result of a wide consultation with partners in faculties and aims to modernize the training course offered to Student Affairs Technicians by proposing the tools and support required to master the very specific tasks inherent to their role, taking into account:• The complexity of their daily tasks;• The organizational constraints with which they must cope;• The increasing level of expectation of an always more diverse and demanding student population.Trajectoire proposes the exploration of new, relevant, and concrete themes through non-traditional educational methods that promote exchange and collaboration such as communities of practice, online courses and forums. With Trajectoire, Student Affairs Technicians are able to share their respective expertise to benefit from their experiences while assimilating new knowledge, in order to learn progressively and collectively in a fun environment.The program is in constant evolution, and every year, many new online trainings are launched. Trajectoire | A Training Program for Student Affairs TechniciansA sexual violence education and prevention training was developed in 2018 by the Bureau Office of Intervention in Harassment (now the Bureau du respect de la personne). Inspired by the “Sans oui, c’est non!” (Without a yes, it’s no!) campaign. It addresses subjects such as consent and provides tools to support a student or an employee who comes forward to share an incident. This 2-hour, in class training was initiated in March 2018 and all staff and faculty members were asked to participate. Since March 2020, the training is available as a 2-hour online training to follow the pandemic isolation guidelines. As of today, 6,368 staff and faculty members completed the online version of the training.Sexual Violence TrainingUdeM provides newly hired or newly promoted managers (working either in the academic or the administrative area), with a unique learning opportunity that combines diverse classroom-based learning, dialogue with the leadership team and the opportunity to apply learning in the work environment. The highly customized program incorporates UdeM’s organizational competencies with practical knowledge of management in a unionized environment, financial and human resources practices and procedures, diversity management as well as practices affecting workplace climate. The program enhances peer networking and promotes a highly interactive learning experience.In their new leadership role, each manager has a two- year period to complete the “UnisVers une gestion mobilisatrice” program, which consists of completing six courses after which a symbolic diploma is awarded. In addition, 51 courses are offered annually allowing managers to improve their knowledge and skills throughout their careers. Finally, a new manager may be matched with an experienced manager who will share accumulated knowledge and experience and stay involved with the all-round integration of the manager in his new role.Management Leadership Development Program (UNISVERS) A new mandatory 20-minute online training was launched last year by the Bureau du respect de la personne. Available on StudiUM to all employees both in French and in English, this workshop aims to raise awareness in the UdeM community in order to prevent the trivialization of sexual violence. 6,717 staff and faculty members completed the online version of the training over the last year.The “L’important, c’est d’agir” (The important thing is to act) campaign was created by the Bureau du respect de la personne and UdeM’s Federation of Student Associations (FAÉCUM) to raise awareness on the concept of consent to prevent sexual harassment and assault on the campus. The Ministry of Higher Education, as part of its Government Strategy to Prevent and Counter Sexual Violence 2016-2023, requires Quebec colleges and universities to implement, among other things, mandatory training to raise community awareness of issues related to sexual violence (VACS).Training objectives :• Understand the concept of sexual violence.• Awareness of the different VACS contexts.• Preparedness to act as an active witness.• Familiarization with resources available.A new obligatory 20-minute online training was launched last February. Available on StudiUM to all employees both in French and in English, this workshop aims to raise awareness in the UdeM community in order to prevent the trivialization of sexual violence.L’important, c’est d’agir (The Important Thing is to Act)NEW11Training & Development
Over the past years, Université de Montréal has implemented an extensive program to ensure exemplary protection of all personal information handled daily by our teams. As part of this program, a new online obligatory 30-minute training was launched in March 2023. The training, offered to all our staff members, is divided into three sections that are designed to teach the essential concepts of protecting personal information.Online Personal Information Protection WorkshopIn 2020, the Sustainable Development Unit built a toolkit intended primarily to help program managers and faculty members to integrate the broader concept of sustainable development (SD) into their academic activities. But other members of the community who wish to learn more about concepts like sustainable development, ecological transition, social and environmental justice and circular economy are also more than welcome to use the toolbox and share it with their colleagues.Sustainable Development Educational Tools and ResourcesIn 2020, the Sustainable Development Unit built a toolkit intended primarily to help program managers and faculty members to integrate the broader concept of sustainable development (SD) into their academic activities. But other members of the community who wish to learn more about concepts like sustainable development, ecological transition, social and environmental justice and circular economy are also more than welcome to use the toolbox and share it with their colleagues.Document Management ToolboxLast year, we implemented a formal hybrid work policy. In order to support our employees in this transition, our IT teams prepared a complete toolbox that concentrates all the technological resources available for our teams, as well as an exhaustive FAQ section. They also share tips to improve home connection speed, recommendations for optimizing the telecommuting experience, and best practices to save and store Making Full Use of our Technological ResourcesUdeM’s management teams are also offered special training activities to provide them with the right tools to detect the psychological distress reactions that can result from working from home and learn different strategies to better support their employees to adapt to a hybrid model. Here are some examples of the activities offered: • Discover Your Real Power of Prevention | 2-hour training This training aims to enable managers to become mental health” preventive agents” for themselves and their teams. It covers various prevention topics so that managers are better equipped to ensure preventive follow-up, whether it is with an employee that is currently working, or while providing support for a team member coming back to work after a sick leave. • Psychological Health in The Workplace – Help Building it on a Daily Basis | 2-hour training This particular workshop aims to help managers understand how their work practices can affect the mental health of people under their leadership and gives them strategies to implement a “virtuous circle” of psychological health at work. The 2-hour training is followed by a workshop during which managers are invited to share their experience with the trainer and their peers, helping better assimilate the knowledge acquired du-ring the training. Promoting Psychological Health in a Hybrid Work Context95Hybrid Work Transition documents and emails. Employees can also use this space to ask specific IT questions and get personalized answers from the IT team. The toolbox is constantly updated to make sure our employees get the most up to date information at all times. Microsoft TeamsIn 2020, our HR team launched an interactive online Office 365 training. They still provide personalized support to many faculties and services willing to make better use of Microsoft Teams, Office 365’s instant messaging and collaborative work tool. Among others, the CEPSUM, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, the Buildings Direction, and the Faculty of Environmental Design welcomed their help. They are now mastering all the tool’s secrets!ZOOMAn institutional Zoom account is available to all staff members and professors, facilitating classes and meetings. In order to help employees to tame this new tool, the Centre de pédagogie universitaire (CPU) has developed a multitude of guides and virtual tools that are available on their website. 11Training & Development
96• 5 Ways to Support Mental Distress in a Stressful Context | 2-hour training This training activity aims to raise awareness of the psycholo-gical distress reactions that may result from being isolated and stressed out and allows to better detect signs of distress and develop concrete strategies promoting recovery and stress management. • Learn to Manage Your Stress and Energy in a Context of Crisis | 2.5-hour training When a crisis hits, aiming for balance is key. This workshop pro-vides participants with concrete tools to better control their stress level and optimize their energy in times of turbulence. • Time and Workload Management | 2.5-hour training Nearly everyone faces the challenges of overwork and time pressure. — even the most organized person can sometimes feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Managers have to deal with their own workload, but additionally, they have to make sure their employees’ workload is also adequate. This workshop introduce them to practical ‘how-to’ techniques to help them organize their time effectively and utilize self-management habits that lead to a better balance. Other training activities are offered to all administrative and sup-port employees as well as faculty members, so they can take bet-ter care of themselves, and of their colleagues and students.NEWUdeM staff may be entitled to a tuition waiver for courses offered at UdeM and its two affiliated schools (HEC Montréal and École Polytechnique) based on the following years of continuous em-ployment: • Less than 1 year: 20% • Between 1 and 3 years: 50% • Three years and more: 100% Regular part-time (working more than 17.5 hours/week) and full-time employees, as well as their families, may take advantage of UdeM’’s tuition waiver policy to work towards obtaining a degree or improving their professional skills. The employee may choose to take only one course or follow an entire program. Tuition Waiver Policy for our Staff and Their FamilySuccessful completion of the course is required for reimbursement. Unless otherwise agreed with the employee’s superior, courses must be taken outside normal working hours. Onboarding SessionsLast year, UdeM held 11 monthly 3-hour sessions through which more than 312 new employees were invited to learn about key UdeM topics, facilitating their transition in their new hybrid work environment. Employee Onboarding SessionsNew hires can find answers to most of their questions, hear a word of welcome from the rector and get proper orientation in UdeM’s new one-stop online shop (well, it’s actually more of an interactive Web hub). It even includes a handy guide to the ever-growing list of internal acronyms!Next year, the training and development team will focus on the second step of the program by revisiting our orientation session and developing UdeM culture acclimatization activities and job-specific training so that our new employees get acquainted with their role, their team and the organization. We’re very much looking forward to seeing the result of this important project! New Employee Onboarding HubNEWOnce a year, the Rector and his management team welcome all new managers appointed during the year. Manager Onboarding Program11Training & Development
97The Centre de pédagogie universitaire (CPU) contributes to support faculties and professors in their teaching and pedagogical development needs. To pursue their mission, the CPU has three areas of support: • Program changes and development, teaching delivery, as wells as trends and best practices in UdeM teaching;• Integration and pedagogical use of Information and Communication Technologies for Teaching (TICE);• Continuous improvement of education and study programs. Centre of Pedagogy: A Plus for Teaching Over the last years, the Centre de pédagogie universitaire (CPU) has designed multiple online tools and resources – including webinars and tutorials - and instructional guides to help teachers adapt to distance learning, a method used more and more in our classrooms since 2020. For the past three years, the team has also offered three virtual summer school programs attended by more than 3,500 professors and lecturers.Hybrid Work Université de Montréal provides professors, lecturers and stu-dents with a digital teaching and learning environment called StudiUM. Easy to access and user friendly, StudiUM can be used inside or outside the classroom to support the following activities:• Resources and information distribution;• Exchanges and collaboration;• Group work;• Evaluation and rating. StudiUM is powered by Moodle, an open-source learning plat-form that benefits from the support of a very active international community. Professors and lecturers save precious time thanks to StudiUM. With this tool, they can communicate with their students, distribute course notes, manage their schedule, and during the pandemic, they can also share videos of their classes with their students.A StudiUM learning environment is also offered to our manage-ment teams. This virtual learning space contains several resources, tools, articles and videos specially selected or designed to sup-port managers in their development and help them face their daily challenges.StudiUM: UdeM’s Digital Teaching and Learning EnvironmentInstitutional Tools and Resources 11Training & Development
98A paid apprenticeship program is offered to maintenance employees, allowing them to improve or develop a new skill or profession. Apprentices may also follow training classes outside of UdeM. This program currently benefits the following groups of professions: fixed machinery mechanics, electricians, locksmiths and painters.Learning and Apprenticeship ProgramAlthough UdeM does not have an official mentoring program offered to all employees, new managers enrolled in the UdeM Leadership Program may request a mentor who will facilitate their transition into their new position and share information. If necessary, mentors may receive specific training to help them fulfill this role.Mentoring ProgramNew faculty members are offered the opportunity to reach the C1 level on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) proficiency scale within three years of their hiring. Before beginning the program, the faculty member’s French written and speaking proficiency levels are evaluated. The professor is then paired with a mentor who will help him/her achieve the targeted level throughout the course of the program.The French as a Second Language program is also offered to the faculty member’s spouse. So far this year, 138,600 $ have been allocated for faculty professors and their spouses. 49 professors and 7 of their partners currently participate in the program.Since 2021, postdoctoral fellows coming from abroad are also entitled to the reimbursement of expenses related to French as a second language classes. French as a Second Language (FRSL) Program for Newly Hired Faculty MembersUniversité de Montréal does not have a formal and institutional internship program, as needs can vary quite a lot between faculties and schools. In some cases, it can be difficult to have the necessary resources to integrate an intern for a specific period of time. However, many faculties choose to encourage students and welcome them for a certain period of time to support them in their training or to accomplish a particular project. More than 15 departments and faculties recruit paid or unpaid interns, and we can find about 250 interns on the campus (or virtually!). Furthermore, we can count a great number of assistant researchers in our offices and laboratories all over the campus to assist our professors and researchers.Paid and Unpaid InternshipsOther ProgramsProfessor Annie Pullen Sansfaçon and her team were proud to announce the Place aux Premiers Peuples (Shining a light on First Peoples Training) is now available online. Built on the work of several individuals, Place aux Premiers Peuples offers a basic introduction to the historical and current realities of Indigenous peoples in Canada, including First Nations, as well as Inuit and Métis. This training aligns directly with the goals of the new Place aux Premiers Peuples Action Plan 2024-2028, which is set to launch in early summer. Even though the action plan has not yet been launched, the training can be accessed freely.Shining a light on First Peoples TrainingNEW11Training & Development
99Each faculty and service having its own reality and context, the vast majority of them have put in place ways of informing and developing their teams. Here are some examples. To ensure that new faculty managers feel welcome and are well integrated into their new functions, the HR manager at the faculty has put an onboarding process in place. Parts of this process include the identification of a sponsor for the newly arrived resource, organization of meetings with other managers and opportunities to meet with the new staff.Faculty of Arts and SciencesEvery two months, the management team schedules a meeting with its entire staff. It is a perfect occasion to discuss current projects, exchange information and share knowledge between peers. Employees are also invited to make suggestions for improvement and ask questions.Faculty of Veterinary MedicineThe Registrar's Office management team is always attentive to the training needs of their team members. Last year, they commissioned a customized project management and change management training to provide employees with the tools they need to do their jobs efficiently. Registrar's OfficeRencontres Autochtones - A Training Program to Better Adapt UdeM’s Libraries to Aboriginal Peoples’ Needs In 2019, the Libraries Branch staff, in collaboration with the management team, organized the first of a series of trainings aimed to better understand the issues and realities of Aboriginal Peoples. The training’s objective is to better understand this community members’ needs, so that the Libraries can offer adapted services and resources and upgrade their collections accordingly. Every year, new trainings are offered. In 2021, one of the activities was held in collaboration with the University of Manitoba that has a vibrant Indigenous community and many years of best practices to share. Presented by Camille Callison, Indigenous Strategies Librarian at UofM, the Transforming Libraries for Reconciliation webinar made a strong impression on the team and provided them with many great ideas to adapt their service offer further. Last November, it was Samuel Rainville’s turn to visit Libraries Branch InitiativesFACULTY-LED INITIATIVESthe team to talk about the new generation of Aboriginal students and initiate a conversation about their point of view on education, culture and future. Free Online Trainings The Libraries have always offered on-site training activities to both students and employees, including faculty members and lecturers, on a variety of subjects relating to the research, use and dissemination of information, utilization of search engines, intellectual property and other research and writing best practices. In recent years, the team decided to transform these activities into 38 new online trainings, shared on their YouTube channel and available to everyone interested in the topics.11Training & Development
12Vacation Policy & Paid Days-Off
Resting a StepAbove the Rest
12Vacation Policy & Paid Days-OffVacation AllowanceRegular support employees(12.6% of our workforce*)Regular managers and professionals(17.9% of our workforce*)Faculty(11.2% of our workforce*)1 yearA5 yearsB10 yearsC15 yearsDMaximumG20 days 23 days 1 month21 days 23 days 1 month23 days 24 days 1 month24 days 25 days 1 month25 days 25 days 1 monthAs mentioned earlier in Section 3, our workforce is very diverse and some functions are created specifically to be temporary, adapting to the ever-changing needs of the university’s teaching and researching operations. From September to May, which is considered our peak period, temporary employees can represent 58.3% of our total workforce. Of this percentage, lecturers constitute 17.8% and teaching and researching support employees represent 24.8%. The needs for teaching and researching support staff fluctuate during the year. Almost all employees of this category are UdeM students or postdoctoral fellows.* Temporary EmployeesUdeM provides paid time off to staff members on Truth and Reconciliation Day. This decision reflects the University’s commitment to acknowledging the importance of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and recognizing the significance of this day in our country’s history. The UdeM community is encouraged to use this time for reflection, education, and engagement with Indigenous issues, contributing to our collective journey towards reconciliation.Truth and Reconciliation DayNEW102
UdeM is closed between Christmas and the New Year. Depending on the yearly calendar, administrative and support employees are granted approximately 5 paid days-off, without having to use their vacation bank. In 2023, employees had 8 business days off from December 25th to January 3d, inclusively.Christmas ShutdownSummer Fridays off normally occur between mid-June and mid-August. During this period, the workweek is reduced to 32 hours (UdeM offers the difference of 3 hours during 10 weeks). Generally, employees increase each work day by one hour (8 hours days instead of 7) in order to benefit from this policy. Other arrangements may be considered to ensure each employee provides 32 hours of work during the summer period. Summer Fridays for Unionized and Non-Unionized Administrative and Support Staff Temporary employees are also entitled to the following paid days-off: • Statutory Holidays | Including the Christmas shutdown (UdeM is closed between Christmas and the New Year) • Summer Fridays | The reduced summer schedule is also offered to our temporary employeesPaid Days-OffOur temporary employees are entitled to a payment of 6 to 10% of their wage, depending on the union, as a way to compensate for vacation days. Personal Days-Off12Vacation Policy & Paid Days-Off103
13Community Involvement
In Stridewith our World
TheNumbers6300527400+1101st6000+Cats adopted through Le RefugeBooks donated to First Nation children through La Lecture En CadeauPresents wrapped and donated through the Christmas Baskets CampaignLonesome students paired with staff to share a holiday mealPlace in the Dux Awards to the École du printemps elderly culinary schoolSquare feet of community clinic linked to l’Extension program
Giving Ourselves the Means to Meet our Goals in Terms of Community InvolvementPromoting social welfare was, is and remains a core mission of Université de Montréal. We pursue this objective through research across our diverse fields of study and through active engagement in community service initiatives by our faculty, students, and staff.Our commitment to community involvement manifests in numerous areas, including healthcare, environmental sustainability, arts, and education. While it's challenging to catalog all the initiatives across our schools and faculties comprehensively, we're pleased to provide a brief overview of the significant actions undertaken over the past year.At the end of 2020, UdeM’s Rector, Daniel Jutras, appointed its executive team and created the Vice-Rectorate for Community and International Partnerships. The new Vice-Rectorate, led by Valérie Amiraux, is responsible for the strategic development of international relations in teaching and research, and for supporting student and faculty mobility. It also establishes community partnerships ranging from local to international in scope and ensures the achievement of a reasonable, ethical and civic-minded internationalization within the UdeM.This structure reaffirms UdeM’s commitment to having a positive and long-lasting impact on society and to making international affairs and local partnerships a priority. Over the past years, Vice-rector Amiraux and her team worked hard on building new relationships with universities and organizations in Africa, and on advancing UdeM’s offer in terms of international mobility. They also managed to transform one of UdeM’s most beloved projects, the SEUR Project, into a new unit under their responsibility in order to perpetuate its mission. Quite a successful start for this young but driven team! Promoting social welfare was, is and remains a core value of Université de Montréal.13Community InvolvementMain Charities Supported 01 - United Way 11 - Street youth – Faculty of Dentistry 02 - Moisson Montréal 12 - Dentraide – Faculty of Dentistry 03 - Christmas baskets for UdeM students in need 13 - Street youth – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 04 - Héma Québec (blood drives) 14 - Cat shelter – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 05 - Pro Bono Québec 15 - Dog shelter – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 06 - Québec Breakfast Club 16 - La lecture en cadeau 07 - Canadian Cancer Society (Relay for Life) 17 - Mini-école de la santé 08 - Leucan 18 - Wapikoni mobile 09 - Les grands défis de l’IRIC 19 - Club athlétique de Saint-Hyacinthe (Gérard Côté 10 - École des jeunes du Dr Julien – Faculty of Music 20 - Polo pour les animaux107
Institutional InitiativesDespite Canada's universal healthcare system, LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals face multiple intersecting structural barriers to access and benefit from it. These barriers have direct health consequences, leading to higher rates of illness and death among these populations.To address these obstacles, a pilot project for an innovative clinic specifically designed to meet the needs of racialized and migrant LGBTQI+ communities was launched in 2020, named the La clinique mauve (The Purple Clinic). The clinic is lead by Professors Edward Lee and Ahmed Hamila, supported by their research and clinical coordinators. It provides integrated medical care and anti-oppressive psychosocial services that acknowledge the traumas experienced by members of these communities. It also specializes in peer-navigation, which matches new patients with people who have been helped by Clinique Mauve to ensure a more reassuring healing process. Developed and implemented in close collaboration with community partner AGIR, the clinic operates within a family medicine group at the Côte-des-Neiges and Parc-Extension health and social services centers and at the L'Actuel medical clinic.This initiative aligns with Edward Lee's research project, a professor at the Université de Montréal's School of Social Work. Financially supported by Equal Chance, a joint program of the MAP Center for Urban Health Solutions and Staples, and in collaboration with the Trans Indigenous Youth Social Action Research Sharing Circle project led by Professor Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, and in partnership with the P10 organization, Professor Lee's research team will explore the best ways to adapt Purple Clinic services to Indigenous trans or Two-Spirit individuals, particularly youth.La Clinique mauve (The Purple Clinic)NEWAs part of a new pairing project, staff members at UdeM hosted foreign students who will spend the holiday season away from their families. For a hearty supper, a riveting party, for a day out on the ski slopes - every holiday experience is better when shared. Especially if it's with someone who has never experienced any of those. Several individuals responded to the call from Université de Montréal's Student Life Services, which launched a holiday pairing project for foreign students who will not have the opportunity to be with their families during this period. As a result, 47 staff members and 110 students were paired!Welcoming Those far from Their Families to Celebrate the HolidaysNEWIts four regular full-time employees, six temporary student em-ployees and many volunteers make the department thrive!Its main areas of activity are:• Shadowing activities (inter-language, student community kitchen, etc.)• Student engagement activities (Engagement weeks, workshops, counselling and networking).• Socioeconomic assistance (Christmas baskets, food banks, student bazaars, etc.)• Volunteering• Support for student groups and academic associations They are also responsible for organizing the UdeM Christmas UdeM’s Humanitarian and Community ActionBaskets Campaign. Once again this year, CEE solicited employees in all faculties and administrative service units to participate in the campaign which resulted in an outpouring of generosity. 60 volunteers from all over the campus answered the call and helped make and distribute almost 600 Christmas baskets to students in need.This year, during the basket distribution, team was able to give 2 books per child to student-parents. For the second year in a row, we collaborated with Hannenorak Bookstore (the only Indigenous bookstore/publisher in Québec) to select age-appropriate books. This way, our campaign supports an Indigenous business, Indigenous authors, and introduces a bit of Indigenous culture to 200 families. We developed a special project with the Library Directorate. For many years, library staff had been exchanging gifts among themselves. Seeking a less consumerist and more engaging approach, the staff wanted to actively participate as a group in the campaign. They were already taking numerous actions for the campaign: a small book bazaar among staff, brownie/biscuit contests, individual donations, etc. The team also saw a natural fit for book wrapping. It designed wrapping paper with a small team. In the end, they ended up wrapping over 400 presents.New Objectives and Renewed Success for the Christmas Baskets CampaignUPDATE13Community Involvement108
UdeM once again celebrated the successes and contributions of Black communities this year. Gathered within a magnificent web portal, the activities offered filled February with discussions, presentations, screenings, and consequently, reflections.To see the hub, head to: www.umontreal.ca/mois-histoire-noirs/A Vibrant Hub for All Black History Month Activities and EventsNEWEvery day, supermarkets, bakeries, corner stores and markets throw away food and perishables that are not anymore meeting consumers’ expectations. Hoping to reduce food waste while helping out the community, the Banque alimentaire (Food Bank) decided to start providing food baskets to students in need. The team recovers bread, fruits and vegetables from, among others, Première Moisson, and offers the products to people who need it… for free! Every Monday, starting from 3 pm, baskets are being distributed in the Jean-Brillant Pavillon. Between 2019 and 2022, 250 tons of food was given through the Banque. 25 volunteers are part of the team and contribute to help more or less 200 people weekly. La Banque alimentaire de l’Université de Montréal : Feeding the Community… for Free! Université de Montréal is a major donor to Greater Montréal’s United Way campaign. UdeM contributes to its community’s social development by taking an active role in this annual campaign. United Way is the only organization authorized by the UdeM to use payroll deductions for employee donations. By soliciting all of its employees for the yearly financing campaign, UdeM can make a real difference in people’s lives. The 2021 campaign led by the Rector and the HR Vice-Rector helped raise $263 400 for Centraide du Grand Montréal and $9 600 for Centraide Richelieu-Yamaska. Over the years, the number of major donors (1,200$ or more) at UdeM has increased continuously and reached 75 people in 2021. François Courchesne, our HR Vice-Rector, was very pleased with the results and took the time to thank employees and retirees for their outstanding generosity. In 2023, the team was able to raise another $227,898 for Centraide du Grand Montréal – adding another beautiful chapter to UdeM’s history with United Way.United Way Campaign (Centraide)the Office of the Vice-Rector of Alumni and Philanthropy, Michael Pecho, has been busy setting up a new emergency fund, the Fonds d’aide aux communautés universitaires en situation de crise humanitaire (Support Fund for University Communities in Humanitarian Crisis). With the help of generous donors, Université de Montréal is gearing up to support students and colleagues who have been directly affected by the war in Ukraine, and to open its doors to people who have been forced to flee their country because of a humanitarian crisis and want to continue their research, teaching or studies in Montréal. Supporting At-Risk University StudentsThe Student Refugee Program (SRP) offers refugees the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education in Canada. Managed by WUSC, a Canadian non-profit, and supported by WUSC Local Committees on campuses nationwide, the program facilitates the entry of sponsored students as permanent residents Participation in the Student Refugee Program (SRP)UPDATEthrough agreements with the Government of Canada and Québec.In recent years, wars, natural disasters, climate change, epidemics and other crises have created many refugees among the international university community. UdeM staff from various departments, along with students, collaborate to support refugee students during their first year. They create an action plan with over a hundred activities to help them adjust to life at UdeM and in Canada, covering everything from basic needs to navigating the city. This support, coupled with their compassion, is deeply valued by the students facing significant disruptions in their lives.Continuing the longstanding partnership with HÉMA-QUÉBEC, ten blood drives take place on the Université de Montréal campus every year. The CEPSUM organizes every year in April the largest blood drive at UdeM. Héma Québec 13Community Involvement109
Launched in 2014, L’Extension offers pedagogical and health support to children residing in Parc-Extension, the most multicultural and underprivileged neighborhood of the province of Québec. This innovative centre is the result of a strategic collaboration between initially three UdeM faculties: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry and the School of Optometry and intends to fulfill the following objectives:1. Offering aid and services to children with learning difficulties and those in need of oral and eye care. 2. Offering annual visits in schools to promote ocular and dental health. 3. Offering internships to students of these faculties as well as exposure to the realities and needs of these communities. 4. Allowing the advancement of research in areas of care, services and support to disadvantaged communities. This tremendous initiative is a precious leg from Louise Poirier, ex-Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences. Ms. Poirier has a long history of community engagement and is especially passionate about this Centre, for which she raised funds through a knitting club back in 2013! Every year, hundreds of children are provided with oral care and are getting their vision evaluated through the Centre. Many of them are also provided with a pair of glasses. For free.In 2020, the team moved into the centre’s new premises next to the Science Complex. What started out as a crazy project funded by a knitting club has now become a 6,000 square foot state-of-the-art community clinic. With this new space and equipment, the team provides services to a wider clientele, namely high-school students and preschool children. The centre is also diversifying its service offer, establishing new collaborations with UdeM’s faculties and schools.L’Extension – Interfaculty Special Education Support Centre In 2023, the schools of social work and psychoeducation (Faculty of Arts and Sciences) joined forces at l’Extension. The program transformed to become a practicium opportunity for around twenty psychoeducation students who collaborated with local schools to offer activities tailored to the clientele, aimed at fostering emotional development in children. In social work, 15 students contributed 72 hours of practicum work in community development within the neighbourhood.Overall, initiatives like the l'Extension and the Clinique Mauve serve as sources of inspiration that allow us to delve deeper into community service reflection (which is part of UdeM's mission). UPDATEThe SEUR Project was created in 2000 by Professor Louis Dumont to help high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to open their horizons and make informed career choices. Professor Dumont’s goal was to make students discover the wonderful world of university education and research. This adventure began in the form of day camps (immersion stays) in the summer of 2001. Then, the team grew bigger and decided to maintain the activities throughout the school year in partnership with the schools. Quickly, the activities multiplied, and new programs were launched (like the wonderful Accès Médecine Program we talked about in a past application). In 2021, the SEUR Project transformed into Cap Campus, a new unit under the responsibility of the Vice-rectorate for community and international partnerships. This important change reflects UdeM’s intention to perpetuate the SEUR Project mission and to integrate it into the UdeM structure.Cap Campus’ main mission remains the same: prepare future generations to meet the constantly changing needs of society, encourage student retention, and promote equal opportunity in access to university studies. But the new structure gives the team more resources to meet their objectives, and we are thrilled about it! Right now, the team is coordinating 7 programs in collaboration with 15 partner schools in underprivileged neighborhoods of the Island of Montréal, hoping to potentially change the life of 1,500 students. December 6On December 6, 1989, tragedy struck at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, which is affiliated with the UdeM: a shooter killed 14 young women on campus. Since then, the community has been actively involved in the elimination of violations against women. Since 2005, the UdeM offers every year a $5,000 scholarship to a student whose research helps advance knowledge in the field of gender violence. The campus community also raises funds in order to secure the scholarship year after year.Cap CampusThey embody excellent examples of collaboration between the vice-rectorate team and the neighborhoods to implement new projects that address community needs while providing students with a unique experiential learning opportunity.13Community Involvement110
Faculty-Led InitiativesFaculty Of Arts And SciencesFaculty Of MedicineThe establishment of the Clinic traces back to an invitation from two members of the Student Association of the School of Criminology at the Université de Montréal to Benoît Dupont, a professor of criminology, to deliver a lecture on the state of the cybercrime world. This lecture, held on February 24, 2020, sparked a keen interest among students and led to extensive discussions on practical ways to assist the hundreds of thousands of cyber fraud victims who annually endure the negative effects of this rapidly growing crime in Québec.Recently, La clinique de cyber-criminologie officially introduced the inaugural community reporting platform for cyber fraud in Québec and Canada.Utilizing Fraud-alert.ca, the Clinic leverages community assistance to counter cyber fraud, along with the expertise of students trained in this domain. The online platform provides users with a plethora of information, encompassing personalized guidance tailored to individual cases, customized solutions, articles crafted by cyber prevention analysts, and firsthand narratives from individuals who have encountered online fraud either as victims or witnesses.La Clinique de cyber-criminologie: A Helping Hand for Victims of CybercrimeNEWIn the aim of enhancing its scientific outreach efforts, the Department of Nutrition recently launched L’école du printemps, a spring school focused on nutrition and related disciplines specifically designed for seniors. To develop this pilot project, the department explored the offerings of the Université du troisième âge du Québec (Québec University for the Elderly Age) and surveyed the interest of seniors. The format of the spring school emerged as a favorite. Once the topics and logistical aspects were clarified, the organizing team could begin planning its first academic program for older adults.Whether in history, occupational therapy, nutrition, journalism, or communication, the experts consulted expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to engage with this clientele, right here at the Liliane-de-Stewart and Marguerite-D’Youville pavilions of UdeM, to share their passion in accessible terms.Opening the Kitchen Doors to the ElderlyNEWThis year, UdeM has introduced a new training initiative aimed at supporting healthcare and social services professionals in implementing culturally appropriate practices for Indigenous communities. This initiative, titled Place aux réalités autochtones (Shining a light on Indigenous realities), is a collaborative effort by the Faculty of Continuing Education, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université Montréal. The program emphasizes the importance of adopting a decolonizing, Understanding the Relationship between First Nation Communities and the Healthcare SystemNEWreconciliatory, and culturally sensitive approach in delivering social and healthcare services. Developed in partnership with Indigenous communities, the training incorporates diverse perspectives and realities from various Indigenous nations across Québec.Dr. Samuel Blain, a clinical professor at UdeM's Faculty of Medi-cine and a member of the training committee, underscores the significance of cultural competence in the ethical responsibilities of healthcare teams. He advocates for the integration of cultural competence into the training of all healthcare professionals, stres-sing its relevance beyond graduation to encompass the entire healthcare network.It is Dr. Stanley Vollant, who led the Aboriginal Health Program at the UdeM Faculty of Medicine from 2011 to 2014, who first thought of the project that would lead to the creation of the Mini-écoles de la santé. Those field trips are held twice a year in Aboriginal communities in Québec and bring groups of science students, along with their teachers, to travel to different native communities around the province to meet school children in order to encourage them to stay in school.First limited to future doctors, the project now includes students from various Faculties: pharmacy, social work, optometry, dentistry, psychology, kinesiology and more recently, the Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. During their visits, the students share their love and interest for their studies’ field and interact with the young students, offering them the unique opportunity to find out more about professions and career paths they may not get to know otherwise. Every year, more than 100 students travel throughout the different Aboriginal communities to meet with children between 4 and 12 years old. Les Mini-Écoles de la Santé The very first Health and Social Services Job Fair for Aboriginal youth was held at the Complexe Laviolette in Trois-Rivières on March 17. Organized by the Centre d’amitié autochtone de Trois-Rivières (CAATR) and the Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Social Responsibility on Université de Montréal’s Trois-Rivières campus, the event brought together approximately 15 partners ̶ educational institutions, employers and organizations ̶ to inform young Indigenous in Québec about the trades and professions related to health and social services.Over 100 students from high schools in the Mauricie, Lanaudière and Centre-du-Québec regions, as well as college and university students, participated in this event and discovered a wide range of training programs and careers. The main objective of the event was to promote school perseverance and retention in post-secondary education among young people from Indigenous A Job Fair To Interest Indigenous Youth To Health And Social Services Careers And Opportunitiescommunities, as well as to interest them in careers in the health and social services field.During this interactive gathering, young people were encouraged to participate in various activities and to exchange with partners on employment opportunities, training possibilities and integration services for Indigenous communities within educational institutions.Université de Montréal’s participation in this event reinforces its commitment to addressing the unique challenges and the social inequities experienced by Indigenous people through a strong support in the pursuit of their post-secondary studies.Department Of NutritionNewly created, newly decorated! The DUX Grand Prize recognizes and celebrates the efforts and leadership of agri-food companies, organizations, and institutions that have developed products and projects contributing to improving the health of the population and the planet.UPDATEL’école du printemps Receives DUX Grand Prize13Community Involvement111
112Institute For Research In Immunology And Cancer (IRIC)School Of OptometryFaculty Of DentistrySince 2014, IRIC organizes the Audace fundraising event, which annually helps fund groundbreaking discoveries in the fight against cancer. This year, we have an exceptional program in store with renowned speakers, immersive workshops, and of course, a unique opportunity to network. Bold Stand, Beautiful CauseNEWStaff members generously contributed by clearing out their closets and basements to provide warm clothing for a Montréal school catering to numerous immigrant children. Given the children's lack of winter attire, the donations were particularly meaningful. The drive was deemed a success, reflecting the caring and supportive spirit of the community.Winter Clothing DriveNEWProfessor Benoit Tousignant launched in August 2017 the Collective Look (Regard collectif) Clinic - an optometry clinic on wheels. Every week, the Regard Collectif team travels for one-day clinics offering free consultations to people experiencing homelessness in Montréal. They visit the Maison du Père, the Mission Bon Accueil, the Old Brewery Mission, Chez Doris, Projet Autochtone du Québec and others. They hold 30 to 40 clinics a year and 250 to 300 patients receive adequate care.This great initiative is not Professor Tousignant’s first community involvement. In the past years, he traveled several times to Nunavik to provide care and assistance to First Nations communities. He was also involved in the IRIS Mundial organization, where he provided vision care for maximum-security prison inmates, and he offered eye treatments to the elderly in nursing homes. Regard Collectif ClinicFaculty Of Veterinary MedicineHomeless and At-Risk Youth Support and Animal Care Created in 2009, the Cats Project – Projet ChATS (an acronym for Chats Abandonnés, Traités et Stérilisés, or Abandoned, Treated and Sterilized Cats) is a targeted sterilization program created and funded by the Veterinary Medicine Faculty in Saint-Hyacinthe. Its main mission is to raise awareness about the importance of pet’s sterilization while addressing the city’s growing cat overpopulation problem. As of today, more than 10,000 abandoned cats were sterilized through this specific project. Beside sterilization, the following treatments are provided to the cats: • Physical examination• Vaccination (PRC and Rage)• Pest control• Other health care, when necessaryProjet ChATS – The Cat Project In 2010, the IRIC Great Challenges Against Cancer was established to fund two program scholarships to recruit and train the best young scientists in the world in the field of cancer research. In 2023 , the challenge took place in collaboration with the Défis du parc (The Park’s Challenges) of the Parc national de la Mauricie and the Montréal Benava Marathon.IRIC’s Great Challenges Against CancerThere are no veterinarians in Nunavik. However, most families in the region’s villages own at least one dog. These animals play a signifi-cant role in the communities by being an important part in hunting activities and family life. When preventive measures are not put in place, dogs can suffer from diseases, including rabies, which can be transmitted to humans. Each year since 2008, the UdeM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s clinical veterinarians and their students tour the villages of Nuna-vik in order to vaccinate domestic and stray dogs. Other students are also offered the possibility to join them to carry out ad hoc internships in one of the villages. In exchange for their services, the professors and students have the unique chance to discover Indigenous cultures and share everyday life experiences with the communities, while enriching their training. A remote advice service is also available all year-long to the Inuit, Cree and Naskapi communities of this immense territory. VetNunavik ProjectThanks to the involvement of the UdeM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kuujjuaq’s first permanent veterinary clinic recently launched. By June 2024, seven general interns from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université de Montréal will take turns traveling to Kuujjuaq to operate the only veterinary clinic in Nunavik, with the assistance of a volunteer team.The clinic offers a range of services such as vaccinations against rabies and other infections, and spaying and neutering to curb dog overpopulation. It will be equipped to perform surgeries.Each month, these second-cycle graduate veterinarians will rotate for a two-week stay.UPDATEKuujjuaq’s First Permanent Veterinary ClinicDuring their 5-year program, students of the Faculty of Dentistry have the unique opportunity to get involved with the community and live experiences that will help them grow as professionals and as human beings. These structured community activities reflect the values of the faculty and raise students’ awareness about the social responsibility they face as future health professionals, while helping them reflect on the future of accessibility to quality oral health care in our society.Since 1991, students at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have been involved with homeless youth to offer free animal health clinics and vet care assistance through Le refuge (The Shelter). Because of its undeniable and profound benefits for the students, the young owners and their pets, this initiative has become an official part of all future veterinarians’ training program courses.The Shelter has no limit of stay and the adoption rate is therefore very high, at 98%, with only animals with incurable diseases or severe behavioral problems being euthanized. Since its inception, the Shelter has facilitated the adoption of over 6,300 cats and 1,600 dogs.In November 2018, a new social dentistry center opened at Notre-Dame Hospital thanks to a collaboration with our Faculty of Dentistry. Dentaville is a community clinic that provides front-line care to socially vulnerable people. The clinic helps put forward an innovative approach tailored to the specific needs of this community. Final-year students at the Faculty of Dentistry provide the treatment and thanks to this partnership, approximately 2,600 people will annually have access to dental care.Dentaville Clinic13Community Involvement
113The Street Dental Clinic provides free dental care to three target audiences: • Young people from 14 to 25 years old who live in the streets or whose lifestyle is closely linked to the street,• Young adults over 25, and • Other older homeless patients with dental problems. Dental care is provided by 3rd or 4th year students of the Faculty of dentistry under the supervision of a dedicated dental clinician. The promotion of oral health, as well as various treatments, is also offered to the patients. Every year, the clinic receives approxima-tely 200 visits. Founded on the initiative of UdeM dentistry students, the clinic celebrated its 23d anniversary last summer. Clinique Dentaire de la Rue (Street Dental Clinic)In collaboration with the Health and Social Services Centre of Côte-des-Neiges and under the supervision of a dental clinician, students promote oral health and address the most urgent dental needs of mother-child and new migrants patients. All evaluations and treatments are provided outside of the campus, using portable dental equipment.When treatments are more complex, the patients are referred to the Faculty of Dentistry’s clinic where care is offered free of charge on an annual basis.Oral Health Promotion to the Mother-Child Clientele and New Migrant FamiliesThe University Institute of Geriatrics of Montréal offers care programs, rehabilitation services, geriatric assessment and a residential program of long-term care. A fully equipped dental cli-nic allows 4th year students and residents to provide dental care for the elderly. Dental Care at the University Institute of Geriatrics of Montréal (IUGM)School Of Speech Therapy And AudiologyThe SAPPA (service to relatives of aphasic persons) was established in 2013 by Claire Croteau, a professor at the School of Speech Therapy and Audiology, and her team in collaboration with Association Québécoises des personnes aphasiques (AQPA)). Madame Croteau continues to be actively involved in SAPPA ten years later, offering community services focused on the needs of aphasic individuals and their relatives. Speech therapists and psychosocial intervention workers visit the homes of aphasic individuals and their relatives or meet them at AQPA. They provide advice, support, and teach effective and personalized communication strategies to enable better conversation and hence better living with aphasia. They also facilitate various support and communication groups. About a hundred families benefit from this unique and free service each year.Assisting Individuals Living with Aphasia and Communication DisordersNEWThis placement, developed in partnership with the First Nations Education Council (FNEC), allowed the team from the School of Speech Therapy and Audiology (SSTA) and the interns to directly interact with a First Nations community in a community and school context. The project aimed to provide services to remote communities far from major centers with healthcare needs, raise interns' awareness of First Nations communities' realities, and transfer knowledge about communication health. For these communities, this placement sometimes served as their first contact with the professions of audiologist and speech therapist.Free Clinic in School Setting of a First Nations Community NEWGroup speech therapy intervention sessions organized and led by a speech therapist and interns were offered during the summer session for youth aged 14-16 with developmental language disorders (DLD). Theater and improvisation were highlighted to work on participants' objectives, such as speech and language, understanding instructions, reading and reading comprehension, recognition, understanding and expression of emotions, improving communication skills in a group context, and explaining what DLD is to another person.Group Speech Therapy Interventions Through Theater, Play, and Improvisation for Teenagers With Language DisordersNEWCarole Anglade, a professor at the School of Speech Therapy and Audiology, and her team support the AQPA in assessing the impacts of a series of conference-meetings on the people concerned, including people with aphasia, their relatives, AQPA interveners, and conference speakers in the project "Message received! Documenting the impacts of knowledge mobilization in the community of people living with aphasia."Understanding How People Living With Aphasia Understand their WorldNEWFounded in 2016 by Sabah Meziane, PhD student, and Dre. Andrea MacLeod, Professor and Clinical Education’s Director, this innovative program helps refugee children develop their language abilities through an ecosystem approach. Together with different organizations and School Boards in the Montréal area, the students and professors from the School of Speech Therapy and Audiology participating in the program offer three types of services and support, working primarily with the children, but offering also information and guidance to both their parents and to the teachers and educators working with them on a daily basis.Language Stimulation Program for Refugee ChildrenEvery year, Sylvie Martin, clinical training coordinator, invites her students to participate in a special project with children aged 2 to 6 presenting a language delay or a language disorder. 35 families, selected and referred by community associations, participate in the project each year. Each child is matched to one of the students who will, throughout the semester, observe and evaluate him so that he can, by the end of the evaluation, provide his parents or his educators with practical strategies, tools and suggestions of activities adapted to his specific needs. Speech Therapy Workshops with Underprivileged Children Faculty Of MusicThe LUMI School was created in 1993 by UdeM’s Faculty of Music. Since then, its mandate has been to offer children, teenagers and young adults the most complete and stimulating musical training in the form of extracurricular activities. The LUMI School's activities take place from Wednesday to Sunday, within the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal.L’École LUMI (The LUMI School)The Dentaville clinic is another example of the citizenship role that UdeM is increasingly taking, which goes beyond our traditional mission of teaching and research. 13Community Involvement
114After 30 years of existence, the School is one of the major institutions of extracurricular music education in Montréal. It welcomes more than four hundred students who participate each year in one or another of the programs in music education, instrumental training or choral singing.In addition, through its partnership projects with other schools and music teachers, the School's programs are accessible to even more students! The School’s goal is to train young musicians who are curious and alert by offering them the best quality of teaching possible, in conditions that promote the student's development, perseverance and, above all, the pleasure of learning music with other young people their age.Here are some of the projects offered freely by the community by the L’École LUMI.La Classe Enchantée (The Enchanted Classroom)Launched in 2017 by the Faculty of Music’s Youth School, La classe enchantée offers Montréal public schools’ students the chance to discover the wonderful world of classical music. The objective of the Youth School’s team is to make classical music accessible to a broader number of children and to expose them to its beauty. Within this project, music professors and their students visit classes and organize various activities that include small concerts, instrument demonstrations and other playful exercises including basic music lessons. All the schools chosen for this project are located in underprivileged neighborhoods of the city. These artistic experiences have a positive impact on the children’s development and their self-esteem, which ultimately leads to increasing school retention. Thanks to this initiative, some 50 children in grades 4, 5 and 6 learn to play an instrument each year.La musique aux enfants (The “Music for Children” Project) Because there is never too much effort in helping children start off life on the right foot, Université de Montréal launched in 2016, along with the Montréal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) and the Pointe-de-l’Île School Board, a program called “Music for children” in a school located in Montréal-Nord, one of Montréal’s most underprivileged boroughs. The idea behind this new project - initially drafted by Kent Nagano, then OSM’s conductor, who was himself introduced to music through a similar program in a California preschool - is to expose children in preschool and kindergarten classes to music and learn more about it.Every year, about 200 Saint-Rémi School’s students attend free music lessons on a weekly basis. The objective is not to train virtuosos, but to contribute to the development of children’s full potential by offering them a high-quality music program. In fall 2019, the project was allocated extra funding, which will ensure its continuity for the coming years. Previous generations remember spending summers and the start of the school year playing freely in the street. Today, however, it seems that concerns about strangers and traffic accidents, together with the lack of safe, attractive spaces to play in, have contributed to reducing free play and children’s ability to move about independently. These concerns have led to a more sedentary lifestyle, with various harmful consequences for children’s health and well-being. It is to give children back the streets and increase safety around schools thata pilot project aimed at creating “school streets” was launched last fall in Montréal, a first in the province. A collaboration between researchers from the Université de Montréal's School of Public Health and the Montréal Urban Ecology Center, the pro-ject provides for the temporary closure to motorized traffic, in the morning and afternoon, of two of streets adjoining three primary schools in the metropolis. Volunteer teams made up of parents of students who have undergone training are responsible for closing and reopening the streets each morning and afternoon. So far, the project has been successfully implemented in two schools: Marie-Rivier, in the Saint-Michel neighbourhood, and Sainte-Bernadette-Soubirous, in the Rosemont-Petite Patrie neighbourhood. A “play street” project was also launched in November 2021 in the Parc-Extension neighbourhood, one of Montréal’s most underprivileged neighbourhoods, where very few parks are available for kids to play. So far, the project is an absolute success. It increases children‘s safety while encouraging them to play freely and encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle. Additionally, it gives adolescents, parents and neighbours a space to socialize and reduces car traffic. What’s not to like about it? The project won the Institutions Award at the 16th CRE-Montréal Gala, which took place on May 3, 2022 at the Marché Bonsecours, during the Montréal Climate Summit.To know more about the Schools of Public Health’s ongoing project, click here. In February 2016, UdeM’s Libraries launched their new partnership with the Literacy Foundation's The Gift of Reading. The program, created in 1999, targets underprivileged First Nation children aged 0–12 from across Québec and helps prevent reading and UdeM's competitive sports teams, the Carabins, are encouraged by their coaches and the direction of the organization to get involved with the community. And that's what they do! Several initiatives are being deployed, whether to visit sick children in hospitals, collect warm clothing for homeless persons, organize a blood drive, or start fundraisers. These players are truly inspiring for the entire UdeM community!Université de Montréal School Of Public Health (ESPUM)UdeM LibrairiesCEPSUM The New Rules Project (Changer les règles du jeu)La lecture en cadeau (The Gift of Reading)The Carabins’ Social Engagementwriting difficulties that can lead to dropping out of school and then illiteracy. This year, the drive was able to gift 527 new books to First Nation children in communities around Québec Happy to lend a hand to such a positive initiative, UdeM installed boxes in all the libraries around the campus during a full month. Every year, many new departments and units join the cause. International Development Global EngagementDepuis 2023, la Faculté des sciences infirmières de l’Université de Montréal est engagée avec le Gouvernement du Québec pour rehausser la formation en sciences infirmières offerte par l’École Nationale de Développement Social et Sanitaire (ENDSS) de l’Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) dans une perspective de mobilité internationale. Ayant la volonté d’intégrer les pratiques de recrutement éthique dans ses activités à l’étranger et de prendre des mesures concrètes pour le développement des capacités et des compétences humaines auprès des pays partenaires, tels que le Sénégal, le gouvernement du Québec soutient la formation doctorale à l’Université de Montréal d’une première cohorte de trois enseignants de la filière « infirmière » pour la période de 2024-2029. Les doctorants formés en sciences infirmières pourront transmettre la discipline infirmière aux étudiants et étudiants de la licence et pourront ensuite développer des programmes de masters et de doctorats en sciences infirmières. L’UdeM est heureuse de prendre part à cette initiative qui, ultimement, permettra d’améliorer les soins de santé offerts à la population sénégalaise.HArmonisation des FORmations en Sciences Infirmières Québec-Sénégal (HaForSi) (Québec-Sénégal Harmonization of Nursing Sciences Training)NEW13Community Involvement
115Université de Montréal is immensely proud of its association with the Tumaini Project. Tumaini aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women, adolescents and girls, particularly survivors or those at risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Bujumbura, Burundi. It derives from Nobel Peace prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege's vision and his collaboration with Université de Montréal. During an official ceremony in the presence of Nobel Dr. Mukwege and UdeM’s delegation, including Valérie Amiraux, vice-rector of community and international partnerships, and Karina Dubois-Nguyen, director of UdeM’s International Health Unit and of the Tumaini project itself, the women, teens and children’s health-and-rights initiative was launched.This project is the culmination of several years of meetings, commitment and cooperation among the various partners, beginning in 2017 when Dr. Mukwege met professor Hatem at the Panzi Foundation. In 2018, the gynecologist and human-rights activist was awarded the Nobel, and then, on a visit to Canada in 2019, UdeM bestowed on him an honorary doctorate.That same year, the Foundation Panzi joined forces with the UdeM’s International Health Unit and the Hygeia Observatory to respond to an offer of funding from Global Affairs Canada, which was finally accepted in 2021. Thus began the Tumaini project, which aims to bring hope to thousands of people, particularly women, adolescent girls and children.Université de Montréal is also proud to be participating since 2020 in the Yellen project (Law and innovation in sexual and reproductive health). The project, which will continue until 2025, aims to contribute to the reduction of gender inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and reproductive rights of women and adolescents in seven districts of the Kayes region in Mali. The main objective of YELLEN is to strengthen the skills of health system actors to sustainably improve the quality and availability of health care and increase the accessibility of health services. In the coming years, the team is hoping to train more than 1,600 women in a special leadership program and rehabilitate 40 community health centres. The Tumaini Project Is OngoingRights and Innovations in Sexual And Reproductive Health In Kayes (YELLEN)ultimement, permettra d’améliorer les soins de santé offerts à la population sénégalaise.This 5-year pilot development project led by UdeM in Burkina Faso and Senegal with the support of Global Affairs Canada aims to improve community health and equitable empowerment through the One Health approach for women and girls living in regions with a high prevalence of zoonotic diseases. The project mobilizes a multi-sectorial team of globally renowned expertise in One Health approach, zoonotic epidemiology, as well as global health, nutrition, and women’s and community participation. This collaboration builds on UdeM One Health initiative, the work of Pr. Hélène Carabin and the Canada Research chair in Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Zoonoses in a Global Health Context, UdeM School of Public Health, One Health Institute at University of Guelph, as well as renowned expertise and strong partnerships in cooperation and research projects in the region. Nine local partners, including civil, public, and academic organizations in Senegal and Burkina Faso, are implementing the project locally. ELUZO : Elles LUttent contre les ZOonoses (Their Fight Against Zoonotic Diseases)NEWTUMAINI has three components: improving health service delivery and management, increasing accessibility to health services, and promoting research-based health care policies, legal frameworks and services. In addition to supporting the fight against sexual violence against women and girls and the rehabilitation of survivors, the project will use operational research to scientifically identify elements for the sustainability of Dr. Mukwege's wide-ranging model. Indeed, UdeM is proud to host the 5th congress of the Mukwege International Chair from December 3 to 6, 2024, focusing on the theme "Ending Gender-based Violence: Empowering Women and Sustainable Development."The TUMAINI project is on until 2027, and we could be happier to be part of it!13Community Involvement
Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Raising the Bar to Level the the Playing Field
IntroductionI am extremely proud to put forward UdeM's nomination for Canada's Best Diversity Employers. Over the past few years, UdeM has been rolling out numerous initiatives to structure and coordinate its actions with all its internal and external partners. Our efforts have brought attention to our endeavors and set more solid foundations for our upcoming action plans for the period of 2024 to 2027.I'm truly pumped for what is ahead! Our community's involvement has reached unprecedented levels, and our ongoing initiatives are actively raising awareness, offering training, and driving the essential cultural shifts needed to foster a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment for all members as we move forward in living, studying, researching, and working together.In the past year, important groundwork was laid on some key new initiatives. Our main emphasis has been on consolidating our achievements, perpetuating initiatives with the highest impact, and maintaining a high level of commitment.Now, more than ever, the University is harnessing its expertise and skills to provide solutions to the challenges confronting our community and society as a whole, making its unique contribution to building a better world.The future's looking bright. Dimitri GirierChief Learning, development and Inclusion, Human Resources Department
TheNumbers67% 46%5/510309Of general managers are womenOf high managers are womenTargeted representation groups have grown in the last yearFull-time EDI consultants on staff, with new hires notably supporting our research chairsUnisex bathrooms across all campuses
Internal Developments to Elevate EDI Over the past year, our HR department decided to enhance accountability by sharing responsibility for Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and consequently, its results. How did we go about it? We separated the Diversity and Inclusion function. Specifically, all initiatives aimed at increasing diversity within our staff were integrated into the Talent Acquisition team's initiative portfolio, which now becomes Talent Acquisition and Diversity. Initiatives aimed at creating a healthy, safe, and inclusive workplace are integrated into the Culture, Leadership, and Wellness team – par-ticularly the Learning, Development, and Inclusion team, whose responsibility is to create training pathways to develop the skills and behaviors essential for embodying inclusive leadership. Additionally, to reinforce the message that the institution prioritizes inclusion, during the update of leadership and institutional competencies (for all employees), the University decided to create the "Openness and Inclusion" competency, on which managers and professional employees will be evaluated; thus elevating its status to essential.Canada's Best Diversity EmployersAnother Year, Another Step Above120
UdeM’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Highlights for 2023-2024Since its inception, Université de Montréal has prioritized building a fairer and more supportive world through commitments to social responsibility and the common good. Through its Action Plan for Equity and Inclusion and the establishment of the First Peoples Student Centre (CEPP), it has implemented programs promoting diversity appreciation. In 2020, it took the first steps towards a significant inclusive admissions initiative involving consultations with stakeholders. This initiative, with two components, adds selection criteria beyond academic performance for certain undergraduate programs with limited capacity. The first phase of these pilot projects will begin in August 2022 for admission in the fall semester of 2023.01 . UdeM Implements Inclusive Application ProcessNEWA flower created by multidisciplinary artist Terry Randy Awashish, an Atikamekw Nehirowisiw from the Opitciwan community, now adorns scarves for Indigenous students during graduation ceremonies.03. Creation of the New Logo for the Place aux Premiers Peuples (First People’s Place)NEWUniversité de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and Polytechnique Montréal hosted the 90th Acfas Congress from May 8 to 12, 2023. This large-scale congress served as the culmination of a full year of celebrations for the Association's centenary. It placed significant emphasis on Indigenous communities through colloquia, presentations, and activities, highlighted by Regalia's photographic works and the presence of a dedicated Indigenous space providing Indigenous participants with a place for rest, work, or exchange. Notably, the UdeM organized a colloquium on Indigenous languages in the present and future, giving voice to Indigenous colleagues from various backgrounds to share progress, experiences, challenges, and aspirations for future actions.04. Hosting Acfas 2023NEWUdeM once again celebrated the successes and contributions of Black communities this year. Gathered within a magnificent web portal, the activities offered filled February with discussions, pre-sentations, screenings, and consequently, reflections.To see the hub, head to: www.umontreal.ca/mois-histoire-noirs/05. A Vibrant Hub for All Black History Month Activities and EventsNEWThis year, UdeM has introduced a new training initiative aimed at supporting healthcare and social services professionals in implementing culturally appropriate practices for Indigenous communities. This initiative, titled Place aux réalités autochtones (Shining a light on Indigenous realities), is a collaborative effort by the Faculty of Continuing Education, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université de Montréal. The program emphasizes the importance of adopting a decolonizing, reconciliatory, and culturally sensitive approach in delivering social and healthcare services. Developed in partnership with Indigenous communities, the training incorporates diverse perspectives and realities from various Indigenous nations across Québec.Dr. Samuel Blain, a clinical professor at UdeM's Faculty of Medicine and a member of the training committee, underscores the significance of cultural competence in the ethical responsibilities of healthcare teams. He advocates for the integration of cultural competence into the training of all healthcare professionals, stressing its relevance beyond graduation to encompass the entire healthcare network.02 . Understanding the Relationship between First Nation Communities and the Healthcare System121Canada's Best Diversity Employers
As an institution dedicated to education, research, and community life, UdeM recognizes that the inclusion of people with disabilities is a collective responsibility that must be reflected in all of its missions. It is an institutional journey that requires a constant willingness to question, learn, and take sustained action. While the Action Plan for Equity and Inclusion 2020-2023 was a significant step towards creating a more accessible and inclusive environment, certain challenges and systemic barriers still persist. That's why accessibility will be at the core of the seven prioritized projects in the upcoming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan, set to be unveiled in 2024. To see the hub, its portraits, stories and discussions, head to: www.umontreal.ca/es/diversite/journee-handicap/06. International Day for People Living with a Handicap also gets New HubNEWThrough this policy, UdeM "recognizes the existence of systemic and structural racism and discrimination, which creates lasting dynamics of subordination, marginalization, and exclusion of underrepresented groups, particularly racialized and Indigenous individuals." UdeM is one of the first universities in Québec to formally include dimensions of incivility, racism, and discrimination in a policy. In addition to defining the roles and responsibilities of everyone, this institutional policy offers various means to address, prevent, and stop reprehensible behaviors and problematic situations. Whether it's racism, sexism, homophobia, or discrimination based on disability, all forms of prejudice related to different diversity markers can be reported to the Office of Respect of the Individual (BRP), which ensures the implementation of the new policy.07. UdeM Council Adopts a New Anti-Discrimination EngagementNEWNearly 160 individuals serving as EDI counselors in their organizations took part in a recent masterclass at the Université de Montréal on the theme "EDI at the Heart of Sustainable Societies and Economies." Organized as part of the Breaking Isolation program for EDI counselors, led by the BMO Chair in Diversity and Governance at UdeM, in collaboration with the City of Montréal, this masterclass was the final installment in a series of four aimed at equipping EDI counselors in their practice and breaking their isolation.08. EDI Masterclass for CounselorsNEWTo date, three faculties have benefited from this support and have been able to welcome three new members to their faculty, namely:Yvette Mollen, Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Translation at the University of Montreal. She is from the Innu community of Ekuanitshit (Mingan) on the North Shore, and she develops and teaches Innu programs at UdeM.Sandro Échaquan, Atikamekw from Manawan, is an adjunct clinical professor at the Faculty of Nursing at the University and teaches at the School of First Nations Leadership at HEC Montréal. Sandro Échaquan works to integrate Indigenous ancestral knowledge into various aspects of care and seizes every opportunity to foster reflection on cultural security.Karine Millaire, a member of the Wendat nation from Wendake, her hiring is also linked to the establishment of mandatory training for all students in the Bachelor of Law program at UdeM and is part of the implementation of the institutional action plan "Place aux Premiers Peuples," which raises awareness among program leaders about the importance of integrating various elements related to Indigenous realities.09. Financial Support to Faculties Hiring Indigenous ProfessorsNEWSocial responsibility, reciprocity, innovation and partnership: these are the values of Université de Montréal new Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Intersectional Justice, Decolonization and Equity (CRI-JaDE)l. Launched on November 10, 2022, the new research center aims to bring together researchers, specialists from various disciplines and members of the student community who wish, through research and knowledge mobilization, to participate in social, political, structural and institutional change with respect to equity, diversity and inclusion and decolonization.The result of a co-construction process, the Centre is co-directed by Isabelle Archambault and Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, professors at the University's School of Psychoeducation and School of Social Work respectively.The forty or so people who make up CRI-JaDE will be working on one or more of the three proposed research axes: resilience processes and situations of exclusion and oppression experienced by Aboriginal People and groups targeted by inclusion and diversity, practices leading to diversity and decolonization in organizations, as well as the research methodologies associated with them. 10. UdeM Creates a Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Intersectional Justice, Decolonization and Equity (CRI-JaDE)Université de Montréal has developed several First Peoples' gardens on its campuses over the past year to provide outdoor sites dedicated to the recognition and sharing of Aboriginal knowledge. Funding of close to $300,000 has been allocated to the Faculty of Continuing Education (FEP) and the Faculty of Medicine by the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie for the creation of these gardens, the organization of workshops to raise awareness and promote Aboriginal culture, and the production of an Aboriginal collective work. This project is being carried out in collaboration with many partners on campus, including colleagues from the Sustainable Development Unit and the faculties of Medicine, Planning and Arts and Sciences. Experiential awareness and safety workshops offered to all and led by Aboriginal people are frequently held in the gardens. In the past weeks, Nick Huard gave a workshop to the School of Library and Information Science’s students in which they were invited to create a talking stick. Michel Durand Nolett also offered a workshop on medicinal plants. We are very proud that new outdoor areas dedicated to Aboriginal culture awareness and identity enhancement are being developed at UdeM. This is another example of the decolonization work being done at our University.11. UdeM’s First Peoples Gardens122Interdisciplinarity is also one of the cornerstones of CRI-JaDE. Its members come from many faculties and departments including Social Services, Education, Law, Architecture and even Music. That's what makes the Centre so rich. Coming from all these fields, members can feed off each other's diverse approaches and knowledge to find innovative solutions and effective strategies to advance research and its methodologies.In addition to building bridges between disciplines on issues of inclusion and decolonization, CRI-JaDE will collaborate with many institutional, government and community partners such as the Conseil québécois LGBT, Fondation Émergence, the Société québécoise de la déficience intellectuelle and the Service de la diversité et de l'inclusion sociale de la Ville de Montréal. We are really looking forward to seeing how far they can go in order to initiate change in our community, and beyond!Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Université de Montréal and the Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), launched in 2022 a research project to study an innovative health clinic specifically designed to meet the needs of racialized and migrant communities who identify as LGBTQI+.The first of its kind in Quebec, Clinique Mauve (the Purple Clinic) was launched in Montréal in 2020. Led by Dr. Vania Jimenez, Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier and Dr. Edward Lee, in close collaboration with community partner AGIR (a by and for LGBTQI+ migrant community organization), Clinic Mauve operates within a family medicine group at the Health and Social Service Centres of Côte-des-Neiges and Parc-Extension, and the Actuel medical clinic.Despite Canada’s universal health care system, migrant and racialized people who are LGBTQI+ face multiple structural and intersecting barriers to accessing and benefiting from health care. And it is exactly what Clinique Mauve wants to change.The Clinique delivers integrated medical care and psycho-social services (including social workers, therapists, and peer navigators) that engage in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and intersectional approaches tailored to meet the health needs of migrant and racialized populations who are LGBTQI+.The objective of the research team is to understand what elements of the Clinic are most effective and how we can scale up and share them with other practice settings and communities in Canada. Offering the kind of services Clinic Mauve offers our community all over the country would be a dream come true. And the team will do the impossible to make it happen!13 . UdeM Contributes to Remove Barriers for the LGBTQI+ Racialized and Migrant PopulationsIn 2023, UdeM is proposing a series of four seminars on the themes of equity, diversity, inclusion and relations with First Peoples. Open to the general public, the seminars are an opportunity for the public to critically question their understanding of topics such as injustices and discrimination. The idea behind the organization of these seminars is to mobilize scientific and academic expertise and create a space for intelligent, rigorous and open debate on substantive issues related to equity, diversity and inclusion as well as relations with First Peoples. These issues are very present in the media, but the concepts related to them can be misunderstood because they are often treated in a superficial or caricatured way. As such, we are pleased to provide our students, staff and the general public with the opportunity to hear from researchers, academics and experts on these issues to help them better understand their complexity and nuances.14 . New Public Conferences About Diversity and InclusionOn November 1st, the 5th Indigenous Student Success Ceremony was held. Indigenous students and their families were invited to celebrate their achievements at Université de Montréal. Despite the winding road behind and the long journey ahead, Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, encouraged the honorees to look to the future with optimism. He emphasized the importance of allies in the decolonization process and thanked Université de Montréal and its rector for their support in this transformation.15 . Student Success CeremonyThe Faculty of Law at Université de Montréal has unveiled a new mural honouring Indigenous Peoples. This majestic work was created by Jacques Newashish and Eruoma Awashish, Atikamekw artists, along with Sage Harrington, a Mohawk artist, and Rodrigo Ardiles and Pablo West, Chilean artists, in collaboration with Productions Feux Sacrés and Creativo Arts. Titled "Ki Kicterimitin," which means "I honour you, I respect you, I am proud of you," the mural showcases Indigenous medicinal gardens. Various medicinal plants adorn UdeM campuses, symbolized by three dominant colours: purple, in memory of Joyce Echaquan; orange, in remembrance of residential school children; and red, to honour missing Indigenous women and girls.16 . Life SpacesDecember 14, 2022 marked the launch of the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages. The participating student committee had the opportunity to connect via video conference with Yvette Mollen, an associate professor of Innu language in the Department of Linguistics and Translation, and Isabelle Lépine, Director of the European Bureau, who were broadcasting live from the launch event at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The event was facilitated by Samuel Rainville, Senior Advisor for Indigenous Relations.17 .Participation in the Launch of the Decade of Indigenous Languages in Paris123Canada's Best Diversity EmployersLast year, the Faculty of Law organized a Citizen's Forum on the representation of Black students in Legal Professions. The discussions that occurred during this event will form the basis of an action plan that will guide the Faculty of Law over the next three years. Another forum could follow depending on the results of the actions observed. But the faculty is already in action. It has introduced new scholarships for Black and Aboriginal students. The faculty magazine also took a turn, adding more profiles of members of these communities and articles dealing with diversity issues. A first summer school event is planned next summer in Senegal. In addition, a mural by Haitian-born artist Maliciouz, known for her Afro-Urban and contemporary art, adorns part of the second floor of the Maximilien-Caron Pavilion, which houses the Faculty of Law. A wind of change is blowing on the Faculty, and we are loving it!12. Facilitating Access to the Legal Professions for Black Communities
Employment Equity Programs2003 2008 2012 2015 2021 2022 20232026Objective44 % 55 % 55 % 55 % 57% 57% 57% 57%Women3.4% 4% 5% 5% 11% 6.5% 7.1% 9%Ethnic minorities5% 6% 7% 9% 10.4% 11.3% 12.5% 20%Members of visible minorities0.08% 0.13% 0.18% 0.30% 0.3% 0.3% 0.32% 0.85%Indigenous Peoples0.77% 0.45% 1% 1% 6% 6.8% 7,2% 8.9%Persons with disabilitiesUniversité de Montréal is committed to equal access to employment, and works closely with Quebec’s Commission on Human and Youth Rights (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse) to improve access to positions for the five globally under-represented groups – women, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities - as well as for LGBTQIA+ community.UdeM is regulated under Quebec’s Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Canada’s Equity Act. In addition, it is accountable to the Canada Research Chairs Program for the status of the University's chairholders from a diversity perspective. Note that over the last years, major improvements have been made to our self-identification processes to improve the quality and reliability of our data, help us define relevant indicators, and automate dashboards enabling our management teams to make better and faster decisions. For instance:• We now take time to talk about UdeM’s engagement towards diversity in our onboarding sessions. We also stress the importance of the self-identification process, explaining in detail its purpose and the reason why this issue is important for our institution. • Every three months, a welcome email is sent to all new employees to reiterate the importance of self-identifica-tion, with a link pointing to the self-identification online forms. • We collaborate with unions and faculties so they can also promote the self-identification process.All these initiatives have allowed us, over the past years, to obtain a more accurate picture of our personnel and, consequently, to develop strategies that better adapt to their reality. The following is a brief portrait of the evolution of the overall representation of the targeted groups since 2003.Representation of the Targeted Groups Since 2003124Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Team And Senior-Level Involvement A Bit of History…125Until 2015For over 30 years, UdeM’s HR Department has been addressing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in areas such as recruitment, training, research, and work atmosphere. Over the years, the HR team made a commitment to recruit a more diverse workforce, and to provide an open and respectful work environment. Its overarching objectives are: • To maintain equity in its human resources processes through its Equal Employment Opportunity Program • To ensure that its workforce reflects the community it serves• To promote the full participation of all talent through the adoption of inclusive behaviors.2015-2019 | Rector Guy BretonIn 2018, UdeM’s former Rector, Guy Breton, asked that EDI become an institutional responsibility, one that would involve the entire University and become part of its DNA. In October 2018, Rector Breton appointed UdeM’s first incumbent as Special Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to the Rector. Marie McAndrew, an Emeritus Professor of the Faculty of Education, was chosen for the role. She had extensive knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion issues, and had been, for many years, engaged in promoting intercultural relations. She had notably contributed to enhancing society’s understanding of the role of education in the transformation of ethnic relations and to the implementation of effective policies, programs and initiatives in regard to diversity and inclusion. Her mandate was to coordinate UdeM various diversity efforts, to assist in developing an overall vision for our institution, and to develop a complete action plan to guide UdeM’s future efforts. The same year, the Human Resources Department welcomed a long-awaited resource: Dimitri Girier, Chief Advisor – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. With his many years of experience in deploying forward-thinking strategies and initiatives in the field of diversity, his extensive knowledge and his enthusiasm, he was an incredible asset to push UdeM’s actions forward.In 2019, UdeM also created two new EDI key positions: • Aboriginal Students Liaison Officer • Indigenous Relations Senior Advisor In June 2019, Marie McAndrew, along with a task force of equity, diversity and inclusion experts, a steering committee, and an edi-torial board, delivered Université de Montréal’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Institutional Vision. This document established five guiding principles, which frame twelve guidelines that would fully allow the inclusion of the EDI principles in UdeM’s activities. A few months later, her team shared with the community a thorough diagnostic that recently led to the launch of two 3-year action plans:• Pour l’équité et l’inclusion (For Equity and Inclusion)• Place aux Premiers Peuples (Welcoming Indigenous Peoples)These action plans address various issues, such as the recruitment and success of students coming from diverse backgrounds, the place of EDI in training programs and research activities, the recruitment and progression of staff members belonging to minority or at-risk groups, and the strengthening of UdeM partnerships in the community. 2020 to Now | Rector Daniel JutrasOn June 1, 2020, Daniel Jutras became Université de Montréal’s 12th Rector. During the summer of 2020, he made the 7 priorities of his mandate public, with equity, diversity and inclusion included in them. During 2020, he set up a structure to support and implement UdeM new action plans at a global level by creating two new positions based at UdeM General Secretariat:• Associate Secretary General for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenous Relations• Senior Advisor on Institutional Accommodation to DiversityIn 2021, he created the Director responsible for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Relations position. An Aboriginal elder also joined UdeM’s rank to support all UdeM’s actors dedicated to the aboriginalization of the institution. Poet, lyricist and filmmaker Josephine Bacon is mentoring the Kwe Kwe committee, which brings together UdeM’s First Peoples em-ployees. Throughout her engagement, Ms. Bacon will act as an ad-visor to the Rector building more bridges between the University and Aboriginal communities through artistic and cultural sensitivity.Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Governance Structure126This organization chart gives you an overview of UdeM’s EDI governance structure, as of today. This structure is currently being re-engineered and will be presented in its new form later this year.SECRÉTARIAT GÉNÉRALSecrétaire général associé à l’Équité, à la Diversité et àl’Inclusion et aux relations avec les Premiers peuplesÉquipe de mise en œuvre et de suivi du Plan d’action surl’Équité, la Diversité et l’Inclusion et du Plan d’action Placeaux Premiers Peuples (un professionnel par secteurd’intervention)• Formation et vie étudiante• ̶Recherche• ̶Ressources humaines• ̶Diplômés et donateurs• Francophonie et relations internationales• BRI• Relations publiques• ̶Infrastructures• ̶Partenariats• ̶Services aux étudiants autochtonesConseiller principal à l’adaptationinstitutionnelle aux diversités Comité-conseil sur l’Équité, la Diversité et l’InclusionForum des partenaires sur l’Équité, la Diversité et l’InclusionTable des répondantsfacultairesGroupes de travail ad hoc àmandat fixeExcellence inclusive etprogression en carrière Personnes en situation de handicapDonnées institutionnellesProposition 20-21Comité-conseil paritaire sur lesPremiers Peuples coprésidé parune personne autochtoneConseiller principal aux relations avec les autochtonesCanada's Best Diversity Employers
127Table des répondants facultaires (EDI Faculty Sponsors Table)The EDI Faculty Sponsors Table is made up of EDI champions representing each of the University's faculties. They act as EDI ambassadors in their units and ensure that EDI initiatives are implemented in their teams. The mandate of the members includes: • Following up on the implementation of the Action Plans measures that concern their faculty • Coordinating the development of specific action plans on equity, diversity and inclusion, and First Peoples relations within their faculty • Implementing various initiatives that support the achievement of institutional goalsForum des partenaires (Partners Forum)The Partner’s Forum is made up of graduates or people with significant ties to Université de Montréal who have distinguished themselves by their work in the fields of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion. This Forum accompanies the implementation of the action plan, and ensures that the community's concerns are taken into account in a meaningful way during the process. The members' mandates include: • Advising the Associate Secretary General on the most effective strategies to ensure the implementation of the actions plans based on their expertise • Identifying emerging issues based on the dynamics prevailing in the communities and groups where they intervene • Identifying and promoting the implementation of partnerships between their organizations and Université de Montréal in terms of relations with Indigenous Peoples and EDI Two plans are guiding the actions of our community: • Pour l’équité et l’inclusion (For Equity & Inclusion)• Place aux Premiers Peuples (Welcoming Indigenous Peoples)Launched in 2020, each of those action plans represent an am-bitious roadmap that contains more than a hundred initiatives to Two Plans Guiding our ActionsPhysical Environment and Atmospherebe implemented over the next three years. They complement the vision statement presented by UdeM in spring 2019 and the EDI diagnosis made in spring 2020. By achieving the hundred or so objectives listed in each of its action plans, UdeM intends to foster equal opportunity and offer its community an inclusive living environment that is representative of our society. Almost all of the new features that appear in this section are the result of initiatives put in place within the framework of these action plans. We are very proud of the progress made over the last years. The University encourages its members not only to surpass themselves but also sometimes to go where no one has gone before and do what has never been done. The aim is to develop a culture of experimentation, creation, and reflexivity, and exploration contributes to this willingness. The activities proposed within the framework of the JEDI seminars aim to encourage members of the university community to critically question their understanding of topics such as epistemic justice or coexistence, drawing from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. Curious? Have a look at the activity list: www.umontreal.ca/demain/conferences-et-seminaires/ List of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) SeminarsNEWAs an institution dedicated to education, research, and community life, UdeM recognizes that the inclusion of people with disabilities is a collective responsibility that must be reflected in all of its missions. It is an institutional journey that requires a constant willingness to question, learn, and take sustained action. While the Action Plan for Equity and Inclusion 2020-2023 was a significant step towards creating a more accessible and inclusive environment, some systemic challenges and obstacles still persist. That's why accessibility will be at the heart of the seven prioritized projects in the upcoming Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan, which will be unveiled in 2024.International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesNEWCanada's Best Diversity Employers
128As part of the celebrations of Black History Month, the Vice-Rectorate for Strategic Planning and Communication at the Université de Montréal hosted a panel on the mental health of Black individuals and communities in academic environments. The event was organized in close collaboration with the Black Employees Caucus of UdeM (CEENUM), the African Association of the Université de Montréal (AAUM), and the Organization of Black Students of the University (ODENUM).The activity provided a platform to discuss various topics such as the impact of racism and discrimination on a daily basis, resilience and well-being strategies, representation and inclusion of Black individuals at UdeM, as well as the actions and approaches that higher education institutions should adopt to improve support for student and professional success.Black History MonthNEWTo follow up on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report and its calls for action, an acknowledgment of the territory on which Université de Montréal is built is stated publicly by a lead member of our administration at the beginning of all official proceedings, such as convocation ceremonies.Recognizing Indigenous TerritoryOn June 21, 2021, National Aboriginal Peoples' Day, the Welcoming Earth mural was unveiled to honor the courage and resilience of First Peoples and mark the University's commitment to valuing their heritage within its walls. The mural features the word "welcome" in 11 Aboriginal languages, accompanied by the flower created by multidisciplinary artist Terry Randy Awashish.Welcoming Earth Mural UdeM is currently working with a private engineering firm to assess the accessibility of its campus. In the coming years, UdeM will be planning major rehabilitation work based on the firm’s recommendations. Adapting our Infrastructure to Students and Employees with DisabilitiesReligious observance room requests are treated on demand. The Buildings Direction receives the inquiries and they can frequently be accommodated. Some faculties and services also manage these requests independently. For example, local 142 of the Sports and Fitness Center (CEPSUM) is available for Friday prayer.Meditation/Religious Observance RoomCanada's Best Diversity Employers
129Gender-Neutral Washrooms Since 2015, the University has made available to its community 309 individual gender-inclusive washrooms. The number keeps climbing on a monthly basis.Gender-Neutral Locker RoomThe new Science Complex on the Campus MIL includes a gender-neutral locker room with showers. This neutral space facilitates the participation of everyone to the sports activities offered to our staff.Salon UatikSalon Uatik, which opened 7 years ago, allows aboriginal students to have a place where they can meet their fellow First Nation students. It is a welcoming space that promotes socialization, networking, and successful integration into the Université de Montréal community.The services offered at the Salon Uatik include linguistic and academic tutoring, free use of computers, free printing, a specialized library, a fridge, a microwave, coffee and teas, occasional and periodic cultural activities, mentoring, networking and peer support, visits from Elders, psycho-cultural support, and more!MITIG, UdeM's Indigenous Cultural Week MITIG, UdeM's Indigenous Cultural Week takes place on campus (or online!) every year. Created in 2015, this 5-day event highlights the heritage, cultures, and knowledge of Aboriginal communities, in addition to initiating discussion on issues related to Aboriginal Peoples. The rich and varied program of last year’s 8th edition was fueled by activities around literature, gastronomy, art, cinema, traditional medicine and conferences.National Day of Truth and ReconciliationOn September 30, 2023, Université de Montréal celebrated the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Since 2021, at the recommendation of the Kwe Kwe Committee, several activities have been held on this day. Among them, a conference on the theme "Education for Reconciliation" bringing together Aboriginal partners and researchers was presented to discuss the role that education can play in the reconciliation process. Many activities were also organized by faculties around the campus. Cine-Campus was offering a special movie, a new mural was inaugurated at the Faculty of Law, there were also workshops and a traditional music show on the Place Publique. Racism Prevention WeekFrom February 13 to 17, 2023, UdeM organized the very first edition of its new Racism Prevention Week and launched a campus-wide awareness campaign. These initiatives are part of a series of actions aimed at fighting discrimination and racially motivated violence that can occur within our community. Five racism and discrimination awareness booths were set up on different campuses of the university and a hybrid conference was hosted by Sophie Hamisultane, professor at UdeM School of Social Work, and Bochra Manaï, the Commissioner of the City of Montréal Office to Combat Racism and Systemic Discrimination.Pride Montreal In 2020 and 2023 Université de Montréal participated in Pride Montréal. This event is an opportunity to state loud and clear that UdeM is an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and that it is concretely committed to promoting diversity and inclusion on its campus. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the LGBTQIA+ community to our university. A Day to Remember and ReflectUdeM provides paid time off to staff members on Truth and Reconciliation Day. This decision reflects the University’s commitment to acknowledging the importance of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and recognizing the significance of this day in our country’s history. The UdeM community is encouraged to use this time for reflection, education, and engagement with Indigenous issues, contributing to our collective journey towards reconciliation.NEWCanada's Best Diversity Employers
Over the past years, the HR Department has been updating many of its recruitment practices to better address diversity issues. Among others, the team has been: • Establishing partnerships with local organizations that work in employability for people with disabilities, immigrants, and Indigenous Peoples (we currently have about 30 partnerships) • Adding self-identification questions to the application process in order to get a more accurate portrait of its personnel • Developing a pool of self-identified persons with disabilities among applicants and analyze resumes for positions for which applicants are most likely to be selected • Following-up on applications from people with disabilities to understand why they weren’t selected for a position, and adjust processes and educate recruiters and managers when necessary • Establishing a “Recruitment Accommodation Program” to facilitate the accommodation measures taken with a dedicated resource • Adding EDI elements to the recruitment process to make managers more aware of the importance of diversity and of UdeM’s engagement in the matter • Developing key EDI messages for recruiters at each stage of the recruitment process • Training managers on unconscious bias with a short video and distribute a “Bias Awareness Tag” to each manager participa-ting in a recruitment process • Adding an EDI requirement to all management-level job offer, to make sure our new manager has skills in handling diverse teams and maintaining an inclusive work environment • Participating in specialized job fairs like Mamu! and others, aimed at the recruitment of members of under-represented groups • Participating in La Maisonnée “speed recruiting” events, an organization that promotes employability for immigrants • Reviewing all UdeM’s job postings to make sure we are using inclusive writing. The HR department will also start to review all senior manager postings to ensure that women and people with non-linear career paths are encouraged to apply to the positions (list of requirements, assets vs skills, etc.)Recruitment PracticesUdeM’s Office for the Promotion of the French Language and the Francophonie launched in 2020 a practical guide to inclusive writing for the entire French-speaking community. In order to promote equality of rights and treatment between men and women, the guide recalls some general principles of inclusive writing, whose main objective is to avoid any possible discrimination that may stem from the style used in writing or communicating with others. Since its launch, the Office’s team has been publicizing the guide through training sessions and various communication tools, including a new web page. A Guide for Inclusive WritingThe presence of certain forms of diversity is leading more and more people on the Université de Montréal campuses to request accommodation measures to respect or take into account their situation. The duty of reasonable accommodation under the various grounds of discrimination prohibited by the Quebec and Canadian Charters of Rights and Freedoms is a cross-cutting issue that affects the entire university community, both students and professionals, and, to varying degrees, all of the institution's missions. In order to fully understand the nature and scope of the A Guide on Reasonable AccommodationIn January 2020, Université de Montréal launched its Preferred First Name procedure request, enabling students and employees across the campus to use an alternate preferred first name instead of their legal one while studying or working at UdeM. This measure aims to promote the integration of all members of the UdeM community and to recognize diversity within our institution. It also responds to a request from student associations, particularly from the UdeM Trans Action Group, which was an important partner for all the duration of this project.Even though many other universities in Quebec already offer their students the possibility to choose a preferred first name, it should be noted that UdeM was the first one to also offer this option to its employees and professors in addition to their students. The preferred first name is used in most communications and situations on campus. In particular, it is used on the student and employee card, for the corporate email address, in most administrative systems and websites such as StudiUM, in the telephone directory, in the Student Center and Synchro, for assignments and exams, and in all internal documents and communications that do not require the use of the legal first name.Being able to use a preferred first name is not trivial: it is a gesture that truly can change a life, and it is with that in mind that our team kept moving forward, and we are proud to offer this possibility to all members of our community. Preferred First Name Procedure130Diversity in our ProcessesUniversity's duty to accommodate under the law and to respond appropriately to requests for accommodation, the General Secretariat developed last year a practical guide for executives, managers and others who have to deal with such requests. This tool is available at all times on our intranet.Internal GroupsKwe Kwe Committee Created a few years ago by Caroline Gélinas, UdeM’s Indigenous Relations Senior Advisor, the Kwe Kwe Comity is a conglomerate of UdeM’s Indigenous employees. This very active committee is behind the creation of the new award Aboriginal Language Valorization Award launched each summer.Caucus des employées et des employés noirs de l’Université de Montréal (CEENUM) Created in 2021, the CEENUM brings together UdeM’s Black employees. The Caucus aims to create a space where employees can support each other and build bridges with other members of the community. It is thanks to the group that UdeM now has two new perseverance scholarships to offer to Black students. Cercle OK8API This association’s mission is to bring Indigenous populations and the Université de Montréal community closer together to fight prejudices about Indigenous Peoples and the discrimination they suffer, to promote the integration of Indigenous students to university life, and to encourage reciprocal sharing of knowledge and cultures.Comité Femmes et Droit (Women and Law Committee) The Women and the Law Committee (WLC) was created in January 2013. Its mission is to promote gender equality, raise awareness of various issues related to women, create a space for discussion of these issues, and denounce situations of discrimination against women. As of today, it has more than 1,900 members. SEUM-SL 1244 Aboriginal Committee Our technical and administrative support employees union created, many years ago, an Aboriginal Committee. It is, among others, responsible for the organization of the “Friendship-Em-ployment Aboriginal Event”, an event aimed at fostering a dialogue between members of the union and the Montreal Indigenous Peoples seeking employment, in order to increase the Aboriginal presence among UdeM staff and to make UdeM’s participants aware of the reality of Indigenous Peoples.Handicap, Accompagnements, Regroupement, Recherche et Projets (HARRP) Founded in 2020, HARRP is a group that promotes the campus’ universal accessibility. Over the past year they’ve been extremely Canada's Best Diversity Employers
131active and have contributed to make the CEPSUM’s premises and the Human Sciences Libraries more accessible. Click here to learn more about HARRP’s mission and get to know two of its members (video available in French only). Groupe d’action Trans de l’Université de Montréal (GATUM) The GATUM is a group that advocates for the recognition of trans people’s rights on the Université de Montréal campus. Its members have been a valuable ally and partner in many institutio-nal projects, like the launch of the Preferred First Name Procedure and the creation of inclusive spaces on campus.Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Relations with First Peoples of the Association des cadres et professionnels de l'UdeM Our managers and professional association created last year a new committee for equity, diversity and inclusion. The mandate of the committee is to support the implementation of Université de Montréal orientations and actions to offer everyone an equitable, diversified and inclusive work environment, free of all forms of dis-crimination. The committee offers advice and recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Association concerning these issues, and participates in the realization of the mission of the Association by representing and defending the interests of all members.to all First Nations children.First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec (FNHRDCQ) | As one of the regional commissions of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), the First Nations Human Resources Development Commission of Quebec (FNHRDCQ), on behalf of 27 First Nations communities, is responsible for administering the Indigenous Skills and Employ-ment Training (ISET) Program and the Urban ISET Program, which supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit people living in urban areas across Quebec. Kiuna InstitutionCEGEP Autochtone | Kiuna’s objective is to democratize access to post-secondary studies for First Nations members. Kiuna is a reco-gnized example of alternative educational services. This college has earned a reputation for its culturally adapted education ser-vices through its unique environment where the programs, student services, human resources, teaching methods, and material are based on Aboriginal culture and traditions. Centre de recherche d’emploi Côte-des-Neiges The Côte-des-Neiges Job Search Centre was founded in 1994. Since then, more than 20,000 people have benefited from its services and from the support of its counsellors. The Centre is financially supported by Services Québec, enabling it to provide its services free of charge and to contribute to the growth of Quebec’s society. Alliance pour l’accueil et l’intégration des immigrants (ALAC) ALAC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inform, accompany, help and support immigrants in their adaptation and socio-economic integration process. PROMIS, Support for Immigrants and Refugees PROMIS supports immigrants, refugees, and their families throughout their cultural, social, and professional integration. Ometz AgencyOmetz is a charitable organization offering employment, immigra-tion, school, and social services to help people fulfill their potential and secure the growth and vitality of the Montreal community. AIM CROIT (Association internationale des machinistes et des travailleurs et travailleuses de l’aérospatiale – centre de réadaptation, d’orienta-UdeM associates with several organizations to promote diversity and inclusion in its practices. Some of these partnerships include:Programme Interconnexion A long time partner, the Interconnexion Program, offered in partnership with Emploi-Québec, helps establish relationships between Montreal organizations and qualified newcomers to encourage their professional integration. Last winter, 4 new em-ployees were hired through this program, and our HR team often organizes special “open doors” events on campus to welcome members of the program. MAMU! Mamu! (which means “together” in Innu) is the only Aboriginal job fair in Québec. This event has been a success since 2010, and creates links with employers, training centres, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community organisations, students, and job see-kers. First Nations Education Council The FNEC is an association based on the collective strength of its 22 member communities in an effort to provide quality education Partnershipstion et d’intégration au travail) | AIM-CROIT is a non-profit organi-zation that offers employment assistance services to residents in the Montreal area who live with a physical, sensory or neurological disability. Multi-Ethnic Association for the Integration of Persons with DisabilitiesThis association contributes to the development of the full poten-tial of people with disabilities and immigrants, by promoting their inclusion.Horizon travail Horizon travail aims to actively contribute to the integration and professional development of people living with visual impairment or mental illness.Internal Trainings Institutional Training for Employees and Managers Here are a few of the diversity-related training activities offered to the members of our community. Note that some of them are mandatory. Developing an Inclusive Leadership by Minimizing Unconscious Bias Managers want to build trusting relationships with their collaborators to carry out their projects. However, their influence doesn't always live up to their expectations. This training helps managers understand what unconscious biases are, so they can identify them easily and minimize their impact on their daily decisions. NoteThis training is mandatory for all members of recruitment committees working in all executive positions (Chancellor, Deans, Vice-Chancellor). Sexual Violence Prevention 2-hour mandatory training for all employees and studentsA sexual violence education and prevention training was developed in 2018 by UdeM’s the Bureau du respect de la personne (formerly the Office of Intervention in Harassment). Inspired by the “Sans oui, c’est non!” (Without a yes, it’s no!) campaign (see Section 6 of this application for more details about the campaign), it addresses subjects such as consent and Canada's Best Diversity Employers
132provides tools to support a student or an employee who comes forward to share an incident. As of today, 6,368 staff and faculty members completed the online version of the training.A new mandatory 20-minute online training was launched in 2023 by the Bureau du respect de la personne. Available on StudiUM to all employees, this workshop aims to raise awareness in the UdeM community in order to prevent the trivialization of sexual violence.UPDATEDiscover Your Real Power of Prevention This training aims to enable managers to become mental health “preventive agents” for themselves and their teams. It covers various prevention topics so that managers are better equipped to ensure preventive follow-up, whether it is for an employee currently working, or for providing support for a team member coming back to work after a sick leave. Psychological Health in The Workplace – Help Building it on a Daily Basis This particular training aims to help managers understand how their work practices can affect the mental health of people under their leadership and gives them strategies to implement a “vir-tuous circle” of psychological health at work.5 Ways to Support Mental Distress This training activity aims to raise awareness of the psychological distress reactions that may result from stressful situations and allows to better detect signs of distress and develop concrete strategies promoting recovery and stress management.An Online Training on Racism and Systemic Discrimination The Vice-Rectorate for Community and International Partnerships launched in Spring 2021 an online training project on racism and systemic discrimination. Developed by a team of professors and students from UdeM’s School of Social Work, the Observatoire des profilages and the Canada Research Chair for Transgender Children and Their Families, the training is is co-constructed with people from under-represented groups from the Université de Montréal community.Librairies Branch Rencontres autochtones: A Training to Better Adapt UdeM’s Libraries to Aboriginal Peoples’ Needs In 2019, the Libraries Branch staff, in collaboration with the management team, organized the first of a series of training activities aimed to better understand the issues and realities of Aboriginal Peoples. The training’s objective is to recognise this community members’ needs, so that the Libra-ries Branch could offer adapted services and resources and could upgrade their collections accordingly. Every year, new workshops are offered to the Librairies teams. School of Speech Therapy and AudiologyThe School of Speech Therapy and Audiology has an EDI committee composed of 13 members: 6 students, 2 members of the administrative staff, and 5 faculty members. Its mandate is to support the School in creating a more inclusive environment for all members of its community.Accredited CoursesIn the past years, UdeM professors have created several new programs related to diversity: • Bachelor in Sociology – Feminism, Gender and Sexuality option• Master in Sociology - Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies• Minor in Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies • Minor in Indigenous studies• Short undergraduate program in Indigenous studies• Advanced graduate diploma in Indigenous stories and media• Introduction to Aboriginal Languages• Innu language courses (4 levels)The Faculty of Arts and Science also created last year an innovative Graduate Diploma in Women's Studies. The faculty’s goal in crea-ting this program is to train professionals able to understand and address contemporary issues raised by feminist concerns. A First Course Dedicated to First Peoples’ Health Since fall 2021, the Certificate in Public Health: Prevention and Health Promotion of UdeM’s Faculty of Continuing Education offers a new course dedicated to health and social services intervention with First Peoples’ communities. It is offered by Pierre Picard, senior consultant with the Groupe de recherche et d'interventions psychosociales en milieu autochtone and member of the Huron-Wendat Nation, and Samuel Blain, professor in the Faculty of Medicine, family physician and public health consultant. There is so much to do to adapt health and social interventions to First Peoples’ reality and culture, and with the launch of this new course, UdeM hopes to contribute to this transition in a non-biased manner. The objective of the course is to respond to the biological, psychological, and even social issues of the First Nations so that its members have access to relevant and safe care, as well as to ensure that the relationship between public services and Aboriginal organizations can be decolonized and reconciled. The 45-hour course is intended primarily for Public Health workers and is designed to help them orient health services and care towards greater cohesion with Aboriginal culture. It provides tools to help health care providers dispel prejudice and to facilitate the dialogue with First Peoples in health care settings.Other ToolsFaculty-Lead InitiativesCourses and Programs Offered to AllThe HR team also developed a Guide to Inclusive Behavior available on the Intranet to all employees. This guide offers a 3-level path for employees and managers, with avenues for personal reflection and ways to take action. Interactive and engaging, it leads to a concrete commitment to inclusion. The guide is also an excellent pretext to discuss inclusion among colleagues. Inclusivity and Openness as Core Corporate Values UdeM updated its leadership and institutional skills toolbox for all employees. It has been agreed to integrate a "openness and inclusion" competency, for which all managers will be required to assess and develop themselves.NEWNew Training on First Nations RealitiesThis training aims to inform and empower employees to better understand who the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are, what their realities are, and how to contribute positively to the process of reconciliation and decolonization in educational settings and beyond.NEWCanada's Best Diversity Employers
133An Online Training for a Better Understanding of Trans Peoples’ RealityIn December 2019, UdeM launched a new online training “Trans • Diversity | Understanding and respecting transdiversity through education” for all its employees and students. Trans • Diversity is a free online training course that focuses on gender identity, trans identity and best practices for supporting trans people, both in higher education and in everyday life. The massively open online course (MOOC) was developed through a partnership between the Canada Research Chair in Transgender Children and their Families and the Vice-Rectorate for Student Affairs and Studies, and was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Quebec Ministry of Education and Teaching. This training, the first MOOC offered in French on this subject, proposes three modules. The first one demystifies gender identity, the second one explores the main challenges faced by Trans people, particularly in higher education settings, and the third one explains best practices to support them. Each one of these modules includes interactive readings, short animated films, and testimonies that allow viewers to acquire the necessary knowledge needed to offer a more inclusive environment that respects everyone. So far, more than 2,060 members of the community have subscribed to the MOOC, including all the staff of the Registrar’s Office and the Students Services Department.If you speak French, and you have some time on your hands, we strongly recommend taking this training: it is extremely interesting, human and moving. It is available on EDUlib: https://catalogue.edu-lib.org/fr/cours/umontreal-dsg101/Community InvolvementUdeM’s engagement towards diversity and inclusion starts from within. Nevertheless, we hope this positive change will grow beyond our walls and hope to contribute, through our influence and involvement in the community, to create a lasting change in the community and correct past and present inequalities. Here are a couple of examples of the paths we take to make this dream a reality. UdeM’s Research Chairs, Bringing Lasting Change Here are a few of UdeM’s research chairs contributing to bring on social change: • Chaire de recherche du Canada sur les enfants transgenres et leur famille : mieux comprendre pour mieux agir (Canada Research Chair for Transgender Children and Their Families) | The “Canada Research Chair on Transgender Children and Their Families: Better Understanding for Better Action” proposes a research program anchored in trans-affirmative approaches with children and their families. The chair aims to Scholarships1. The Dialogue with First Peoples Scholarship targets students enrolled in a master's or doctoral research or professional program. This graduate fund was created by Dr. Marie-Josée Hébert, Vice-Rector, Research, Discovery, Creation and Innovation, to support the valorization and mobilization of Aboriginal knowledge, cultures and practices. As its name indicates, this award fosters a space for dialogue and collabo-ration between First Peoples and the academic community in a spirit of knowledge enrichment. 2. The Ricci Family Perseverance Scholarship is for First Nations students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. The fund was established by Joe Ricci and Ellen Taylor with an annual award of $2,000 to encourage Aboriginal people to pursue their studies at UdeM and to complete their educatio-nal plans. 3. The Mary Two-Axe Earley Graduate Accessibility Bursary is specifically for Aboriginal women students enrolled in a gra-duate research program in the fields of medicine (master's and doctoral degrees in basic medicine), health sciences, nursing, psychology, social work, education or public health . The fund, which offers scholarships of varying amounts, was established by Jean-Marie Van der Maren and Bernadette Ska. 4. Last year, the UdeM Black Employee Caucus launched two new scholarships to encourage perseverance amongst the Black students community. deliver on its objective by developing an innovative and more global understanding of the experience of transgender child-ren while taking into account all of the social, structural, and relational issues that these young people experience, and by developing action strategies to improve the living conditions of the children and their families. • Chaire de recherche du Canada sur les origines développementales de la vulnérabilité et de la résilience (Canada Research Chair in the Developmental Origins of Vulnerability and Resilience) | Despite our best efforts, 1 in 3 children is a victim of violence, while 1 in 5 is bullied or lives in poverty. These statistics are staggering given that children who face adversity and victimization are at greater risk for depression and anxiety, anti-social behaviour, and even suicide. Although this correlation is well known, it is difficult to translate these findings into actions that could effectively prevent these negative outcomes. Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Canada Research Chair in the Developmental Origins of Vulnerability and Resilience, wants to change this situation. She is studying the biological, cognitive and emotional factors that contribute to an increased risk of suffering from behavioural and mental health problems. She and her research team are trying to discover why some young people are resilient despite the challenges they face. • Chaire de recherche du Canada sur les approches communautaires et les inégalités dans le domaine de la santé (Canada Research Chair in Community Approaches and Inequalities) | Health inequalities, especially those related to poverty, are increasing. Research findings indicate that health inequalities are largely a function of social organization. Understanding health inequalities and taking action to reduce them requires multidisciplinary integration, with a strong emphasis on the social sciences in addition to traditional public health disciplines. The Chair's program aims to: • produce knowledge on the mechanisms by which living environments shape population’s health• develop, with the organizations concerned, a common core of data on the characteristics of the environments and the health status of the population; and• document the results and implementation of initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities • Chaire de recherche du Canada sur l'innovation et les technologies pour les services de soins de santé mentale pour les jeunes (Canada Research Chair in Innovation and Technology for Youth Mental Health Services) | In Canada, only a minority of youth receive the mental health care they need when they need it. Furthermore, information and communication technologies have been identified as a promising avenue for accessibility to mental health care for youth. As a result, the Chair's work will develop, implement and evaluate e-health innovations to improve access to and quality of mental health services for adolescents and young adults. • Chaire McConnell-UdeM en recherche-création sur la réappropriation de la maternité (McConnell-Université de Montréal Chair on the Re-Appropriation of Maternity) | Led by professors Marie-Marthe Cousineau, François-Joseph Lapointe and Vardit Ravitsky, the McConnell-UdeM Chair in Research-Creation on the Re-appropriation of Maternity is a project bringing together artists, researcher-creators, researchers and students interested in the contemporary issue of obstetric violence in a more general context of violence against women, as well as the re-appropriation of motherhood. Through artists’ residencies, exhibitions and interdisciplinary research-creation meetings, the Chair wishes to bring an original perspective to the medical and ethical issues related to reproduction and maternity, including the stages of procreation, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.Programs and Activities to Support our StudentsCanada's Best Diversity Employers
134The Nunavik ProjectEach year since 2008, the UdeM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s clinical veterinarians and their students tour the villages of Nunavik to vaccinate domestic and stray dogs. Other students are also offered the possibility to join them to carry out ad hoc internships in one of the villages. In exchange for their services, the professors and students have the unique chance to discover Indigenous cultures and share everyday life experiences with the communities, while enriching their training and sharing their knowledge. CAP CampusIn 2021, the SEUR Project metamorphosed into Cap Campus, a new unit under the responsibility of the Vice-rectorate for community and international partnerships. This important change reflects UdeM’s intention to perpetuate the SEUR Project mission and to integrate it into the University's structure.Cap Campus’ main mission remains the same: prepare future generations to meet the constantly changing needs of society, encourage student retention, and promote equal opportunity in access to university studies. But the new structure gives the team more resources to meet their objectives, and we are thrilled about it! Right now, the team is coordinating 7 programs in collaboration with 15 partner schools in underprivileged neighborhoods of the Island of Montréal, hoping to potentially change the life of 1,500 students.Click here to know more about their ongoing projects. The CAP Campus Accès Médecine ProgramIN 2020, Cap Campus launched Accès Médecine, a new project bringing together the youth wing of the Quebec Black Medical Association (AMPRNQ), and UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine around a common goal: to break the glass ceiling that slows medical and health studies among students from the Black community.Kuujjuaq’s First Permanent Veterinary ClinicThanks to the involvement of the UdeM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kuujjuaq’s first permanent veterinary clinic is under construction and should be operational in 2023, thanks to a partnership with Société du Plan Nord. Faculty-Lead InitiativesUPDATETogether, these associations have developed a mentoring program for high school youth. UdeM’s SEUR Project employees provides the AMPRNQ with a pool of high school Black students, and the association is responsible for pairing them with Black students from the Faculty of Medicine. This mentoring program works as follows: a high school student, generally in his or her last year of high school, is matched with a mentor studying in any of our health sciences’ fields. They meet on campus or in a clinical setting, or, if the young student finds these settings too intimidating, in a more informal place such as a cafe. The mentor then answers all the questions the youngster may have, giving him or her informa-tion about the program’s curriculum and how to get there. In this conversational setting they can also discuss other various topics, such life on campus or any other question the high school student may have. 11 schools located in the Montreal region are participating in this project, and many of our current students studying medicine have manifested their interest in becoming a mentor. We are very proud to see this new initiative gain momentum and hope it will contri-bute to opening the doors to many young people. The Cap Campus Acokanikew ProgramIn recent years, Cap Campus launched a new project, the Acokanikew Program. The program’s goal is to encourage First Peoples students to stay in school by engaging them in an immersive experience, in a culturally safe space, that lets them develop their leadership skills and build self-confidence in order to pursue post-secondary studies outside their community.The Acokanikew program’s approach to bridge-building revolves around cultural exchanges in which each person brings their own knowledge and learns from the others. It’s a long-term process: activities are held every year, alternating between Wemotaci and Montreal.In November, representatives of UdeM’s Cap Campus visited Nikanik high school in Wemotaci. Simulating triage in an ER, learning about chemistry by making Montreal bagels, constructing a model to learn about environmental design and exploring Indigenous cultures around the world: those were just some of the activities twenty-eight high school students took part in. The learning workshops were conceived and conducted as part of the Acokanikew program, created jointly by the Nikanik school administration, Coop Nitaskinan and Université de Montréal’s Cap Campus, in collaboration with Collège Ahuntsic.Thanks to Cap Campus, we’re going beyond our walls to revisit the linear framework for student retention. UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine Supports Joyce's Principle In the wake of Joyce Echaquan's tragic death, Quebec's faculties of medicine, including that of the Université de Montréal, have co-signed Joyce's Principle. Joyce's Principle aims to ensure that all Aboriginal people have the right to equitable access, without discrimination, to health and social services and the right to the highest attainable standard of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. UdeM’s Faculty of Medicine has since created a course on modern Aboriginal history and the Truth and Reconcilia-tion Commission of Canada. This course is offered to all first-year medical students and features an Atikamekw elder's testimony about his forced stay in a residential school.The Gift of Reading In February 2016, UdeM’s Libraries launched their new partnership with the Literacy Foundation's The Gift of Reading. The program, created in 1999, targets underprivileged Aboriginal children aged 0–12 from across Quebec and helps prevent reading and writing difficulties that can lead to dropping out of school, and subse-quently illiteracy. Happy to lend a hand to such a positive initiative, UdeM installed boxes in all the libraries around the campus during a full month. Every year, many new departments and units join the cause. Last year, more than 500 books were given to schools and kinder-gartens based in Aboriginal communities. L’Extension CenterLaunched in 2014, L’Extension offers pedagogical and health support to children residing in Parc-Extension, the most multicultural and underprivileged neighbourhood in the province of Quebec. This innovative centre intends to fulfil the following objectives: 1. Offering aid and services to children with learning difficulties in need of oral and eye care.2. Offering internships to students of the involved faculties as well as exposure to the realities and needs of these communities.3. Allowing the advancement of research in areas of care, services and support to disadvantaged communities.On January 22, 2020, the team moved into the centre’s new premises next to the new Science Complex. What started out as a crazy project funded by a knitting club has now become a 6,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art community clinic. With this new space and equipment, the team intends to provide services to a wider clientele, namely high-school students and preschool children. The centre will also diversify its service offer, establishing new collaborations with UdeM’s faculties and schools so the children who attend the center can get services in audiology, speech therapy, nutrition, occupational therapy, nursing, psychology and neuropsychology, social work, psychoeducation, public health, and music. For more information about L’Extension, read Section 13 of this application. Canada's Best Diversity Employers
135Internal AwardsExternal Awards And RecognitionsAboriginal Language Valorization AwardIn June 2020, Université de Montréal marked National Indigenious Peoples' Day by launching its Prix de valorisation de la langue autochtone (Aboriginal Language Valorization Award) an initiative aiming to promote Aboriginal languages. Every year, this new distinction is awarded to an Aboriginal person who has distinguished herself by her efforts to protect these languages. Yvette Mollen was awarded the very first edition of this prize in 2020. In 2021, the title was awarded to Kahtehron:ni Iris Stacey, a strong advocate for indigenous languages in her community of Kahnawake, and to Marcel Godbout, a cultural agent at the Centre de développement de la formation et de la main-d'oeuvre hu-ron-wendat who has been militating for the "awakening" of the Wendat language and culture in his community of Wendake for more than thirty years.In 2023, Mathieu O’Bomsawin was awarded the UdeM Indigenous Language Promotion Prize for his initiatives aimed at sparking interest in the Abenaki language among the younger genera-tions. At the age of 15, he began working as a guide at the Abena-kis Museum, and ten years later, he was appointed as its general director. Following his departure from the museum, he became a project manager at Niona, a company producing brochures, acti-vity books, children's books, and school presentations promoting Abenaki words. Today, O’Bomsawin shares his cultural expertise in language, history, territory, and traditions, working with artists, artisans, and knowledge bearers of the nation.2020 CCAE Prix d’Excellence - Bronze Medal - for Best Indigenous Relations InitiativeIn May 2020, UdeM’s Indigenous Student Achievement Ceremony won the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) bronze medal in the “Best Indigenous Relations Initiative” category. The ceremony, organized by Samuel Rainville, UdeM’s Aboriginal Students Liaison Officer in collaboration with the Student Services Office, was a new and innovative initiative aimed at highlighting UdeM’s Indigenous students’ successes in a significant way, celebrating their culture and their academic achievements. According to Samuel Rainville, a member of the Innu community of Pessamit, a small village located in northeastern Quebec, success is not necessarily synonymous with obtaining a diploma or a scholarship for Indigenous People; the beginning of a new school year or the pursuit of studies are events worth emphasizing in and of themselves. And by underlining exactly this in the presence of Mohawk Elder Charles Otsi'tsaken:ra Patton and Yves Sioui, coordinator of the First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program in the Quebec, the Student Services team managed to reach their objective of truly recognizing the academic successes of 14 Indigenous students present at the event. Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Canada's Greenest Employers
The Air is Always Cleanerat the Top
It is with great pleasure that I present Université de Montréal’s application to the 2024 Canada’s Greenest Employers competition. I am very proud of the work accomplished by our university community, from procurement services to urban farmers engaged in our educational greenhouses. Over the past two years, our Sustainability Unit has successfully implemented the university's 2021-2023 action plan. Indeed, we have been able to complete nearly 80% of the actions identified, with the remainder on track to be completed shortly. Nevertheless, we are now pursuing our objectives to accelerate our approach to making our institution ever more ecologically responsible. Over the next few months, we deliver UdeM’s next Sustainable Development Action Plan 2024-2029, which will focus on four themes: governance, teaching and research, operations and engagement. We, the Sustainability Unit, along with our university partners and beyond, are steadfast in our commitment to further embed sustainability into an increasing array of our endeavors in the years ahead. Happy reading, Ronald Jean-Gilles Sustainable Development Unit Director
TheNumbers33 1st 300070%4678%600EV charging stations across campuses Place for MIL Campus at the 2024 Sustainable Development Awards Bike parking spaces on all campuses Of our community commutes to work with a transportation mode other than solo driving.Concrete UdeM commitments related to the UN Sustainable Development GoalsOf actions outlined in UdeM’s Sustainability Strategic Plan have been completedTrees were planted over 250 m2 in the Darlington Ecological Corridor Project
Canada's Greenest Employers140UdeM’s Sustainable Development Highlights for 2024UdeM Withdraws From the Fossil Fuel Sector After dedicating several months to the issue of divestment from fossil fuels, Université de Montréal announced the following goal last summer: by December 31, 2025, UdeM will have divested from all publicly traded shares in its endowment fund of companies involved in the fossil fuel sector, whether held directly or indirectly. This commitment firmly positions the institution on the trajectory of sustainable development.The Endowment Fund primarily supports research projects and scholarships, serving as the outcome of the University's philanthropic endeavors. As of the most recent report, the fund's total value stood at an estimated $402 million, with fossil fuel investments accounting for four percent of its value.With this announcement, UdeM aligns itself with other influential universities in North America committed to divesting from the oil sector.Responsible Investment Several decisions regarding responsible investment have been made in recent years. UdeM has long upheld the United Nations' Principles of Responsible Investment, which encompass the consideration of environmental, social, and governance factors. Additionally, in 2021, UdeM pledged to decrease the weighted average carbon intensity of publicly traded stocks held directly or indirectly in its endowment fund by 20% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.UdeM Joins Forces With 10 Other Universities to Protect Biodiversity 11 Québec universities have joined forces and signed the Nature Positive Pledge, becoming founding members of an international movement that includes more than 117 universities worldwide. The Nature Positive Universities Alliance is a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Oxford University as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The universities that sign the Nature Positive Pledge recognize that higher education and research institutions have a vital role to play in the fight to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems. By joining the movement, Quebec universities are acknowledging their responsibility to address the biodiversity crisis and are committing to be part of the solution. Universities committing to the Pledge intend to do their part for biodiversity by pooling their knowledge for the greater good and working together to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. and commit to several actions: conducting a baseline assessment of their biodiversity footprint, establishing achievable and measurable goals, crafting an action plan, leveraging their influence to meet these goals, and providing annual reports on their progress.The École de technologie supérieure, HEC Montréal, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université du Québec à Montréal, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Université du Québec en Outaouais and Université Laval are teaming up because they believe in the need for concerted action to protect biodiversity. Through their management of their own campuses and operations, their teaching and research activities, their partnerships and their efforts to raise awareness in the broader community, they must set an example and take the lead in the movement to restore nature. UdeM Ranks 81st in the World in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings The continuous dedication of the Université de Montréal com-munity to sustainable development has garnered international recognition. This year's Impact ranking by Times Higher Education assesses the efforts of over 1,000 universities worldwide in mee-ting the development goals outlined by the United Nations.This year, UdeM was ranked 81th, in particular for its greening and biodiversity protection projects, as well as for its many partnerships with other communities. This recognition is in addi-tion to others obtained by the university, including STARS Silver certification and an excellent score from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, in the biodiver-sity-and-land-management category. The rankings show that we are on the right track, and that the several innovative projects that have been carried out in recent years to amplify the positive effects of UdeM’s actions, for example MIL Campus, our ephemeral projects, the Darlington Ecological Corridor and the L'extension Centre make a real difference in the community. Now let’s keep moving forward!
1412021-2023 Sustainability Strategic Plan We finished the third year of our Sustainability Strategic Plan that addresses 9 key elements of sustainability on our campuses: • Sustainability integration • Education and research • Climate change • Sustainable buildings • Mobility • Greening and biodiversity • Sustainable procurements • Health and well-being • Social engagement These themes describe areas of activity in which the University plans to advance its sustainability initiatives and they have given place to a complete action plan. As we are writing these lines, we are proud to announce that many of the 46 actions of this plan have already been achieved. Here is a short list of all the work that has been done over the last years: • Creation of a traveler's guide to reduce the carbon footprint of business travel • Development of an application to measure GHG emissions on a personal level • Reduction of heat islands by the proliferation of biodiversity • Adoption of a new and stronger supplier code of conduct for social, economic and environmental responsibility • Development and implementation of a global plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to enable UdeM to become carbon neutral by 2040 • A strong commitment from University’s Rector in favor of sustainability in the curriculum • Crossing the 50% local food mark in university food service procurements 78% of the actions outlined in our Sustainability Strategic Plan have been completed. And 22% of the actions have been partially completed. To know more about the action plan, click here. Canada's Greenest Employers
142Employee and Senior-Level Involvement A Bit of History…Sustainable development has a long history at UdeM and was established in the early 1970s through research. In the 1990s, sustainability concerns were also brought up by students, who asked for recycling. In 2011, the Rector signed the Talloires Declaration on behalf of Université de Montréal. This Declaration for sustainability, created in 1990 for and by presidents of institutions of higher learning, was the very first official statement jointly made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education. In 2020, UdeM’s commitment to making sustainable development a priority was reaffirmed by the appointment of Ronald Jean-Gilles as the new Sustainable Development Director. The UdeM’s Sustainable Development Unit has demonstrated over the years all its dynamism and ability to carry out multiple projects that have changed the face of our campuses for the better. By creating this new position, the University is giving the team extra support so it can get its involvement on campus (and beyond!) even further. Last year, the team hired a new Communication Agent, Tess Sidot-Salmon. An amazing asset to the team, she lends a hand on many projects and helps sharing their achievements and engaging the community. The sustainable development team keeps growing, proof that she’s not idle! Six full time members now form this incredibly creative and dynamic team. Our Sustainable Development Team • Ronald Jean-Gilles, Sustainable Development Unit Director • Stéphane Béranger, Sustainability Officer • Alexandre Beaudoin, Biodiversity Advisor • Luc Surprenant, Sustainable Development Advisor • Thierry Gras-Chouteau, Climate Change Advisor • Tess Sidot-Salmon, Communication Agent Recognition for Sustainable Development Actions at UdeM 01. Silver Rating of STARS The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework created by the Associa-tion for the Advancement Sustainability in Higher Education (AA-SHE) to measure sustainability performance of colleges and universities. It is intended to engage and give recognition to the full spectrum of educational institutions - from community colleges to research universities - and encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability. With nearly 1000 registered institutions, it remains the international benchmark for sustainable development in the higher education sector. 02. LEED GOLD and LEED AQ Certifications for UdeM MIL Campus The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) awarded LEED Gold certification to the MIL Campus building last summer. This certification was received with enthusiasm and pride by the members of our community who contributed to the construction of this unique building, which provides an exceptional work and study environment for our student community and staff since its opening in 2019. Projects pursuing LEED certification receive points for adopting sustainable building strategies in several categories: green site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials and resource selection, indoor environmental quality, innovation and design, and regional focus. The sum of the points received determines the project's LEED certification level. The Université de Montréal project was awarded a Gold rating. The CaGBC's evaluation shows that the Science Complex particularly stood out because of its location at a crossroads with easy access to public transit and several active transportation options, its ability to optimize its energy performance, its reduced water consumption, its design innovations, its stormwater management and the site's development to limit heat islands. The MIL Montréal neighbourhood, consisting of the MIL Campus and its surroundings, also received the LEED AQ certification for the design of the project, according to the LEED for Neighbourhood Development rating system. This CaGBC standard aims to reduce urban sprawl, protect the environment, encourage UdeM was proud to obtain once again in December 2023 the STARS Silver rating. This was the fourth time UdeM received this rating. The first one was obtained in December 2016, and the second in 2020. STARS framework allows UdeM to define sustainability objectives and to develop ways to achieve them. UPDATEhealthy living and increase transportation options while reducing dependence on personal cars. 03. Sustainable Mobility Award Université de Montréal received the Leaders in Sustainable Mo-bility award in the Prix Fédérateur category, from the Centres de gestion des déplacements du grand Montréal. UdeM is firmly engaged in creating sustainable mobility and such a recognition shines a light on our efforts across all campuses, especially on the mountain campus, to promote this. UdeM has implemented measures to facilitate and secure cycling on its campuses. This includes providing 255 bike racks, showers (with 13 more to be installed on the mountain campus), 9 repair sta-tions, and 248 bike ramps for overcoming stairs. Signage, ground markings, cyclopedestrian paths, and secure bike shelters have also been established to enhance safety. NEW04. MIL Campus Wins International Sustainable Urban Planning Award Designed by architect Anik Shooner, the MIL Campus and its “sponge” neighborhood captured the interest of the jury of the 2024 Sustainable Development Awards. In itself, the project envisions a network of public spaces combining social and recreational areas with new biodiversity zones, all while enabling ecological rainwater management. The project is also noteworthy for having women in leadership roles in structural engineering and construction, as reported by the Université de Montréal in 2019. also been established to enhance safety. NEW05. UdeM Recognized for Biodiversity In November 2022, Université de Montréal was recognized by the Association for the Advancement Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as one of the best higher education institutions in the world for its biodiversity and land management. UdeM’s biodiversity actions particularly stood out for their proactivity towards threatened and vulnerable species, their focus on the redevelopment of habitat for native species, the reforestation efforts, and the fact that no pesticides are used on the campus premises. Canada's Greenest Employers
14306. Recognizing the Expertise of the Sustainable Development Unit Following the success of the MIL Campus and Darlington projects, both created by the Sustainable Development Unit, surrounding boroughs have established a link with the small but productive team. Based on the various successful projects, the city of Outremont, as well as the boroughs of Cote-des-Neiges and Parc-Extension wish to maintain a relationship with the team to inspire other collective projects. We are glad that our colleagues help our institution shine within the community and go beyond their role for the common good and the future of our city. 07. Fair Trade Campus Recognition by Fairtrade Canada The Fair Trade campus designation, awarded by Fairtrade Canada and the Fair Trade Association of Quebec, was awarded to UdeM and Polytechnique Montréal in March of 2017. The recognition was since renewed. The Fair Trade Campus program recognizes colleges and universities demonstrating strong commitment to fair trade. To obtain the designation, all coffee served at the various cafeterias, outlets and cafés must be fair trade identified and at least three varieties of tea and a choice of chocolate must be offered, all certified as well. UdeM and Polytechnique Montréal have also increased their offer by adding a fair product in each vending machine. By receiving the Fair Trade Campus designation, we become the largest francophone fair campus in Canada and together with Polytechnique Montréal, 60,000 potential consumers are contributing to buying fair trade on a daily basis. It's as if a small town became fair trade certified! Canada's Greenest Employers
144UdeM is Bike-FriendlyVélosympathique Silver Certification In June 2019, UdeM’s Sustainable Development team proudly received the 2019 Vélosympathique (Bike-Friendly) “silver” certification. This was an accomplishment we had every reason to be proud of, since only two other Quebec organizations (Eco-Compteur and Optel) had obtained the superior Gold certification. By awarding this certification, Vélo Québec, the organization behind the Vélosympathique movement, recognizes the efforts made by Université de Montréal in recent years to promote and support cycling within its community. Université de Montréal’s Laval Campus also distinguished itself in January 2020 by obtaining an honourable mention from Vélo Québec during the presentation of the Vélosympathique cer-tification. In January 2023, UdeM was awarded once again the Vélosympathique (Bike-Friendly) “silver” certification, reaffirming its commitment to establishing a bicycle culture on its Montréal campuses. Mon campus à vélo (Cycling my campus)Since September 2017, Université de Montréal has celebrated its yearly cycling week called “Mon campus à vélo” (Cycling my campus), a week of events oriented towards employees and students, aimed at promoting cycling as a healthy mobility habit.! Among its many activities, the week usually showcases conferences, documentaries, information stands, repair workshops, and free smoothies are offered to all cyclists coming on the campus. Additionally, in 2019 the University started the installation of new equipment for bicycle users on its main campus. Bike slides were installed on the main outdoor stairs to allow cyclists to get around more easily, and new secure bicycle parking spaces using Bikeep™ technology are now offered to our community. Mon campus à vélo was back full speed last fall after a few smaller editions due to the pandemic. A whole week of activities was organized in September 2022 and bike workshops were set up around the campus for employees and students to fix their bikes and share a smoothie (and a laugh!). For the first time this year a special Mon campus à vélo day will be held on April 20th to give bikers around the campus the opportunity to launch the 2023 season in a big way. A conference, some games and a networking event are among the activities offe-red during this special event. UniverCyclo, a Long-Term Bike Rental Service for Foreign StudentsOften in Montréal for a short period of time, foreign students who would like to cycle around town are either forced to buy a bike, or to use a bike-sharing service, adapting to the constraints it entails. Wanting to offer a new option to its foreign students, UdeM launched in 2017 UniverCyclo, a long-term bike rental service. For $40, foreign students can rent a refurbished bike for the whole semester. To build its bike fleet, UNIVERCYCLO reuses bicycles abandoned on campus and recovered by the Université de Montréal Security team. These bikes are sent to a partner repair shop before being rented out. UNIVERCYCLO seeks to promote active transportation, sustainable development, socio-economic mutual aid, and the development of skills through student involvement. This initiative constitutes a fine example of a circular economy. Recently,, UniverCyclo’s rental bikes were provided to Ukrainian refugees that are now members of our UdeM community. In 2023, the fleet was almost entirely renewed with refurbished bikes. Canada's Greenest Employers
145Environmental Management Programs Waste Management Plan Here are a few of the measures that have been implemented as a result of our waste management plan (WMP):Bottled Water Ban Université de Montréal launched in 2013 a vast effort to ban bott-led water on its campuses. More than a mere statement, the University also worked on adding swan necks on water fountains, repairing equipment (flow, water temperature, metallic taste, etc.), installing new fountains, and replacing obsolete fountains. The ban on bottled water helps to avoid the waste of 80,000 plastic bottles each year and was announced as a clear support to the city's water system. Electronic Waste Recycling Eight bins are installed on the UdeM campus and allow customers and employees to responsibly dispose of small electronic devices that are obsolete or non-functional. Electronic waste contains lead, mercury, and many other hazardous substances that, once in the environment, gradually contaminate the air, soil, and groundwater. A New Single-Use Plastic Recycling Program in Our Labs A project to recover single-use plastic from laboratories has been implemented at the MIL Campus, a pavilion with a strong scientific vocation. The plastic recovered is sent to a company that recycles this material in order to reintegrate them into an industrial loop. In 2023, approximately 60 laboratories are involved in this project. UPDATE A PIlot Project for Reusing Single-Use laboratory items A venture aimed at repurposing single-use laboratory items was initiated in two laboratories within the J.-Armand-Bombardier pavilion, spearheaded by the startup company Phoenix Impact, founded by Polytechnique Montréal student Fiona Milano. The pilot initiative sought to evaluate the viability of refurbishing rigid plastics like tubes through a cleaning process for potential reuse within the same laboratory setting. Initial findings show promise: the cleaning process's effectiveness has been demonstrated, along with its potential benefits. The project holds the promise of reducing waste production by 4.5 tons and generating departmental savings of $15,000, particularly in fields like biochemistry and molecular medicine. As a result of its success, NEWthe project has been extended until December 2023 and now encompasses a third partner laboratory at the CHUM Research Centre.Recovery and Reuse of Furniture Office redesigns are quite common at the Université de Montréal. Indeed, units, according to their needs, may dispose of certain furniture items or reuse them. Most of the retrieved office furniture is still in good condition and reusable. The Buildings Department retrieves office furniture that units no longer use, such as desks, tables, filing cabinets, chairs, lamps, etc. It not only collects these items but also gives them a second life by making them available to the community through its sustainable development service. Canada's Greenest Employers
146Dining and Food Service The ‘’Chez Valère’’ cafeteria replaced all disposable dishware in 2010 with reusable dishware, including metal cutlery, cold and hot beverages containers. In all other service outlets on campus, the cafeteria has introduced compostable dishware in 2014. Since 2018, it has also started multiple projects to curb the use of take-out containers, such as coffee cups and trays, by offering reusable containers and charging for take-out containers. No More Single-Use Containers on Campus We are very proud to announce that since February 2023, UdeM has removed all single-use containers from its food counters on campus. Paper coffee cups, plastic utensils, lids and stir sticks, and other disposable items are no longer available. Instead, our cafe-terias offer Cano porcelain dinnerware for those eating their food on site, and Cano reusable plates and utensils for those who want their food to-go. Members of our community are already familiar with Cano, since their reusable mugs have been in use in our different cafes for a while. Cano is a Montréal startup offering zero waste packaging solutions for food service providers. The idea with their reusable cup and food-container is simple: customers download the Cano app to their smartphone, then they can scan the QR code on the bottom of an item and borrow it. They drink their coffee, eat their salad. Then they have 14 days to return the item to a designated bin. If they return it within 48 hours, they earn points that will allow them to get free coffees later on. Now that’s what we call a win-win! Goodbye, Useless and Damageable Straws! Plastic straws have been banned from UdeM’s food services provider Local Local since July 2018. Local Local Goes… Local In 2019, Local Local was awarded the Aliment du Québec label certification for five of the meals on its menu, recognizing its effort to provide local ingredients to the community and to encourage local producers. In 2022, we were proud to cross a 50% local food mark in our cafeterias around the campus. In 2023, Chez Valère included on its menu a fish from aquaculture, raised and caught right here in the city: Arctic char. This native Quebec fish will replace trout and salmon on the customers' plates twice a month. Thus, UdeM becomes the first institutional client of the young aquaculture company Opercule, whose facilities are located in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. UPDATENEWThe establishment of a greenhouse-school on the MIL Campus in 2023 allowed the community to grow kale, strawberries, tomatoes, basil, as well as ginger and hibiscus plants. Some of these foods ended up on the menu at the UdeM’s Local Local cafeteria. The greenhouse-school also aims to transmit horticultural know-how to all age groups. Three researchers from UdeM, specializing in nutrition, sociology, and planning, are involved in the greenhouse-school project. Surplus Food Doesn't go to Waste at UdeMTo reduce waste, UdeM food services provider Local Local launched in the fall of 2018 a new project to sell meals, salads and other surplus food at low cost to students living in residence. Every evening at 7, about 40 students buy the surplus food sold by resi-dence staff – making the project an unqualified success. "We wanted once again to contribute to sustainability and meet expectations in terms of reducing food waste at its source,” said Aurélie Feuerstein, assistant chef and catering manager at Local Local. “In rich countries like ours, waste accounts for 30% of food loss. We can't just sit back and do nothing." Students have been very responsive to the surplus-sale initiative. They appreciate the food and our effort to provide it in a way that respects the principles of sustainable development. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are always the first to go, which shows that our customers are very aware of the environmental impacts of food. They ask a lot of questions about our supply. To comply with Que-bec regulations, the surplus food is sold in packages, but those can be composted. Students can dispose of them onsite in the university’s compost bins. Waste Management Station at Chez Valère Tray trolleys filled with dirty dishes at the Chez Valère cafeteria are now a thing of the past! Thanks to a collaboration between Local Local, the Sustainable Development Unit and students from the School of Design, cafeteria users can now easily sort their own waste in a functional station including compost. A Fidelity Card for Green Customers Bringing your own dishes to Local Local is paying off! Customers who buy a meal with their reusable plate or container will receive a stamp on Local Local's new loyalty card. After 10 stamps, a free filter coffee and a pastry is offered. The idea is to encourage the UdeM community to take action for the planet and to participate in food service waste reduction efforts. Canada's Greenest Employers
147Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan Over the last decade, Université de Montréal has been elevating up its actions to combat climate change. This sustainable development strategy will make it possible to identify, update and define the processes by which UdeM will be able to measure its performance, assess its ability to take action and implement the corrective measures necessary to achieve its ambitious long-term targets. In this spirit, the Sustainability Unit developed and implemented last year a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan that will enable UdeM to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. An Interactive Summary to Follow UdeM's Carbon Footprint Our Sustainability Unit launched last year a new interactive tool to monitor UdeM's carbon footprint in (almost!) real time. The summary includes 3 scopes of emissions – scope 1 emissions, which deals with direct emissions from owned or controlled sources; scope 2 emissions, that are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy; scope 3 emissions, including all indirect emissions which are not included in scope 2. The summary, which is updated regularly, allows anyone to view the current and historical results of UdeM’s GHG emissions. Click here to access the interactive summary (available in French only). A New GHG Emissions Calculator Last year, our Sustainability Unit developed a new GHG Emission Calculator that allows any member of the UdeM community to measure their personal carbon footprint. By knowing exactly what impact their everyday activities have on the environment, they can find ways to adapt their habits and contribute to UdeM’s footprint. The tool has been successfully tested with a group of 100 people, and the team hopes to be able to launch it to the entire community in the coming months. Carbon-Reduction Plan Canada's Greenest Employers
148Informal Employee-Led Green Initiatives 01. Reforestation Efforts For years now, many members of our community have joined in a reforestation effort to compensate for the damage caused by the emerald ash borer on the hundreds of trees on the main campus. Over the years, the reforestation work done by the volunteer team is significant, as almost 3,000 trees were planted on the campus. The trees were donated by the Société de verdissement du Montréal métropolitain, one of UdeM's partners. 02. My Ecolab (“Mon Écolabo”)Teaching and research labs are an important part of UdeM’s infrastructure and mission, but they are also heavy consumers of energy resources and produce huge amounts of waste production. It is in this context that two former employees, Olivier Leogane, Chemical Risk Management Advisor and Jacqueline Kowarzyk, Lab Research Officer created “My Ecolab”. My Ecolab aims to reduce the environmental footprint and improve working conditions, without compromising research conducted by the laboratories. All at a lower cost. My Ecolab relies on the cooperation of laboratory managers who are committed to promoting sustainable development. Four levels of certification are provided, the first corresponding to resources and energy reduction, cleaning dishes, etc. whereas the fourth level represents environmentally responsible management practices at the heart of each research team’s behaviors. For example, by collecting and redistributing chemicals for disposal, Olivier Leogane has enabled UdeM’s Chemistry Department to save nearly $ 9,000 per year. 03. Local Green CommitteesMany faculties and unions are committed to sustainable development and wanted to find ways to get involved. Some of them decided to set up a green committee to discuss the issues and deploy initiatives within their community. This makes the Sustainable Development team very happy, as we can never be too many to help Mother Nature! Faculties such as Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Design and the Audiology and Speech Therapy School, as well as the Managers and Professionals Association and the Support Employees Union, all have informal green committees. All of them organize activities for their teams and, sometimes, for the entire community. We strongly recommend that you participate in the Faculty of Environmental Design’s Clothing Swap Event that takes place during spring. We guarantee that you will find some hidden gems! 04. Agriculture Projects Since its creation more than 10 years ago, the Sustainable and Ecological Urban Agriculture Production group (P.A.U.S.E.) has grown from a small group of idealists to a crowd of urban agricul-ture enthusiasts! Every year, dozens of volunteers join the group to lend a hand with the many agriculture projects on the campus. Urban agriculture is part of UdeM’s sustainable development principles, especially in its desire to promote biodiversity in all its forms. Not having been able to satisfy the thirst for projects of some participants, two interest groups have also been founded on the campus: the GIDDAU (Interest Group in Sustainable Development and Urban Agriculture) and the SAUFA (Urban Agricultural So-ciety of the Faculty of Environmental Design). Both have a goal of creating a student community mobilized for urban agriculture and sustainable development issues. Canada's Greenest Employers
149Other Initiatives to Encourage Active Transportation Modes Discount on BIXI Subscriptions To encourage the campus community to embrace active and sustainable transportation, employees and students receive a 10% discount for an annual subscription to BIXI, the public bicycle sharing system. Plus, there are eight public bike stations on our main campus, in which more than 180 BIXI bikes are available to the community. Providing a Welcoming Environment for Cyclists Easy Public Transportation Access • Students and employees have access to on-campus facilities to recharge metro and bus transit fares on the OPUS card, that gives access to Montréal’s public transports. • For an easy access to the Montréal campus by public transport, five metro stations on the blue line serve our Montréal campus: Parc, Édouard-Montpetit, Université de Montréal and Côte-des-Neiges, Acadie, in addition to three bus routes (51, 80, 129). Interesting fact: almost 70% of our community commutes to work with a transportation mode other than solo driving. • UdeM is also present on the outskirts of Montréal, Laval, Brossard, Trois-Rivières and Saint-Hyacinthe. The Laval and Brossard campuses both benefit from easy access by metro or bus with the Montmorency station to the Laval campus and Longueuil station to the Brossard campus. • A 15-space sheltered, lockable parking named The Bunker lot is available free of charge to UdeM users, with a $20 deposit for the key. Located on the roof of the J.-A. Levesque building. It is accessible via the Jean-Coutu pavilion parking lot. NEWNEW• Eco-responsible travel guide. Whether by plane, bike or car-sharing, the Sustainable Development Unit has produced a guide to help the community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. • Cycling lanes surrounding the campus • Fixit repair points • Community Bicycle Repair Workshop (Biciklo) | Open all year long, cyclists can learn to fix their bikes • University offers lots of bike parking places that can easily be located on University Website’s campus map: • 2,500 bike parking places available on the main campus (394 of which are sheltered) • 554 bike parking places available on our other campuses (72 of which are sheltered) • A 60-place secure bike parking has been installed on the main campus, as well as bike ramps to make it easier to climb staircases. Since the main campus is located at the top of Mount Royal, the ramps are very much appreciated by cyclists!Canada's Greenest Employers
150Partnerships With Community Organizations UdeM is a board member for various partner organizations and is associated with several organizations to promote environmental projects, for example: 01. Les Amis de la Montagne In addition to participating for many years at the Mont Royal Concertation Table, a member of the Sustainable Development Unit joined in 2020 the Centre de la Montagne des Amis de la montagne and the Aménagement et Concertation (COAC) committees. Combined with all the activities shared between our institution and Les amis de la montagne (clean-up operation, inventories, calendar of activities for the month of Mount Royal), UdeM is a true and committed partner in the protection of Mount Royal. 02. Urban Forest AllianceWith almost 3,500 trees planted on its land and around its campuses, UdeM is a proud partner of the Urban Forest Alliance. The objective of this group is to increase the Montréal canopy. UdeM has been a partner in this movement since 2012 and acts as a leader on the board of this group since 2015. 03. SOVERDI The Société de verdissement de Montréal métropolitain (SOVERDI) is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 whose mission is to green the Montréal landscape by planting the right tree in the right place. Its action aims to significantly increase the urban forest and to "democratize green" in order to improve the health and quality of life of the population. SOVERDI installed a nursery of nearly 10,000 trees and shrubs, produced largely as part of the Seeds of the Future for Mount Royal, a collaborative project with Friends of the Mountain for Pupils in primary schools. Young trees continue to grow until they are transplanted into public spaces or near institutions. The partnership might be over since 2023, but it left a significant heritage for the next generations.04. Jardins CRA-TERREJardins CRA-TERRE is a working cooperative based in Montréal. It specializes in urban agriculture, ecological landscaping, edible landscaping and consulting. In addition to providing these ser-vices, the cooperative aims to contribute to the socio-ecological transition through various community projects, including local food production and the re-appropriation of underused urban spaces for the benefit of the community. Located on Université de Montréal's MIL Campus site, Cra-terre gardens produce hundreds of kilograms of vegetables that are sold to local restaurants, neighbours and neighbourhood workers. These gardens are anchored in the community, with dozens of active volunteers and a great number of ongoing projects. 05. BIXI BIXI Montréal is a non-profit organization created in 2014 by the City of Montréal to manage its bike-sharing system. The BIXI network has 9,600 bikes (including 2,395 electric bikes) and 800 stations spread out across the areas of Montréal, Longueuil and Westmount. Much more than just a simple mode of transport, BIXI is a great way to zip around the city. Many BIXI stations are lo-cated close to our Montréal campus, which made the partnership between UdeM and BIXI very natural. For the eighth consecutive year in 2023, UdeM offers a 10% discount on the annual BIXI subscription to its community. The promotion is also valid for students and employees’ relatives and friends! 06. Member of the ECPARQuebec’s consultation board for responsible procurement practices (ECPAR)’s activities aim organizations actively working to strengthen and publicize the environmental, social or economic performance of their procurement practices and products, services and processes. The purpose of this organization is to advise companies and organizations on responsible purchasing practices through the provision of tools, training organization and networking and exchange of best practices.07. CRE-MontréalSince its creation in 1996, CRE-Montréal has acted to make environmental issues such as green spaces and natural environments, residual materials, transportation and water a priority for the Montréal community. The team is also involved in a lot of projects related to sustainable development, environment planning and climate change. Every year, the CRE-Montréal Gala highlights innovative and inspiring achievements of committed organizations from all over the island of Montréal. Alexandre Beaudoin, our Biodiversity Advisor, was invited to join the jury in 2021. 08. Phyto ActionLast year, we developed a new partnership with Phyto Action, a non-profit organization whose mission is to use plant science to preserve or improve soil quality. They joined forces with our team to implement long-term phytoremediation solutions in order to minimize erosion caused by rain and winds. 09. MulticafMulticaf is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide food assistance, create social connections, and seek resources for low-income individuals in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood. Udem and Multicaf have jointly obtained a $220,000 grant over 3 years to develop food spaces in the borough. We work together in the food security approach by involving our student community to brainstorm innovative ways to address this growing issue. UdeM has thus become a partner in the development of a one-hectare food production area on the former site of the Montreal Hippodrome. This site truly embodies a living laboratory of urban resilience.Canada's Greenest Employers
151Green Procurement Strategy | Code of Conduct for Suppliers Educational ActivitiesUniversité de Montréal is committed to sustainable development and expects the same commitment from its suppliers, as well as ethical sourcing practices throughout their supply chain. Our Code of conduct demonstrates an institutional commitment to work for continuous improvement towards excellence. Suppliers of goods and services are expected to subscribe and to ensure that their operating practices and those of their own suppliers are in sync with the commitments of the University's Code of conduct. The institution has also published explicit sustainability criteria for these categories of products: • Paper must contain 30% of post-consumer recycled fibre and must be certified under FSC, SFI or PEFC; • Chemical products subject to an agreement now meet sustainable development criteria • Some food products must be from local sources or meet at least one criterion of sustainability. • All computers must meet the EPEAT gold standard. Sustainable Development Educational Tools and Resources In 2020, the Sustainable Development Unit built a toolkit intended primarily to help program managers and faculty members to inte-grate the broader concept of sustainable development (SD) into their academic activities. But other members of the community who wish to learn more about concepts like sustainable development, ecological transi-tion, social and environmental justice and circular economy are also more than welcome to use the toolbox and share it with their colleagues. UdeM’s Arboretum Université de Montréal launched a few years ago its very own educational arboretum. Open to everyone, it makes visitors discover the incredible diversity of the Mont-Royal forest made up, amongst others, of nearly 130 fruit trees. 13 "remarkable" trees have been numbered and then recorded in a guide to help visitors better understand the vegetation that surrounds them. The guide presents elements on the biology of the tree but also on its use. Illustrations make it possible to become familiar with the bark, the leaf and the fruit of the specimens. Summer Camps Biodiversity Camp | Last year, the very popular Biodiversity Camp celebrated its 9th anniversary. Offered to kids 8 and 9 years-old as well as preteens between 10 and 12 years-old, this week-long camp allows its participants to discover the wonders of Mount Royal’s fauna and flora and teaches them how to preserve it in the years to come. ECO-Camp |The Sustainable Development team launched the Eco Summer Camp. This week-long camp is intended for kids aged 10 to 15 who have an interest in becoming more aware of themes such as ecology, biodiversity, urban agriculture, sustainable trans-port, energy and sustainable development, etc. Activities Organized in Collaboration with UdeM’s Daycares Implementation of the Forest School Model As mentioned in section 8 of this application, Université de Montréal offers two government subsidized daycare centres to its community. In 2021, the Sustainable Development team helped the daycare's directions to transition toward a “Forest School” model. Forest School is an outdoor education delivery model in which children visit natural spaces to learn personal, social and technical skills. Through this model, the Mont-Royal becomes a means to build independence and self-esteem in children. Many outdoor activities are organized in collaboration with the team, and every year we are hoping to develop new educational activities to continuously improve the curriculum. With funding from the Ministry of Family, the childcare center has developed an outdoor rest area with a landscape architect from Indigenous communities. This project, using indigenous plants, aims to create a haven of tranquility for our young ones, in line with the Forest school model.Sustainable Daycare (CPE Durable) Recognition CPE Durable is a support and environmental certification program specific to daycares. It encourages environmental education and is intended for all members of the organization: management, members of the board of directors, employees, parents and children are involved in the activities. Through its Certification component, the CPE Durable Program encourages environmental education and facilitates the implementation of sustainable management in a long-term approach. In 2021, UdeM was awarded the Level 3 recognition, highlighting all the efforts made over the last year to make sustainable development an important part of our daycare's curriculum. Canada's Greenest Employers
152Biodiversity 2020-2035 Master Plan for the Development of the Territory UdeM launched in February 2021 its new master plan for the development of its outdoor space. Along with the protection of heritage and indigenous recognition, sustainable development is one of the three axes around which the new master plan revolves. The result of more than two years of collaboration with the City of Montréal, external experts, consultants and representatives from UdeM, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, this new plan proposes strong actions to protect the Mont-Royal and strengthen the “Green Path”, a green space connects the new MIL Campus and the main Campus, as well as the Darlington Ecological Corridor. With these actions, UdeM hopes to promote the migration of flora and fauna and create habitats where animal species can feed and live freely. In the coming years, 106 parking spaces will be eliminated and reforested to make this new habitat possible. The plan also focuses on promoting active and public transportation and improving rainwater management. U7+ Statement on Climate Change and Sustainability For many years now, Université de Montréal has been a member of the U7+ Alliance, an international alliance of university presidents who engage both in discussion and in concrete action by making commitments that universities may take to address the most pressing global challenges in a multilateral context. It is the very first alliance of university presidents aimed at structuring and advancing their role as global actors across the multilateral agenda. In October 2021, U7+ Alliance universities across 12 countries gathered virtually for the 2021 U7+ Meeting of the Presidents, which culminated in the U7+ Statement on Climate Change and Sustainability. The statement sets forth a set of specific commitments to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and offering enhanced access to climate education for students, while also acknowledging the disproportionate impact that climate change is having on vulnerable communities as well as the need to better engage youth. We are very proud that UdeM decided to make this commitment, and look forward to seeing how these actions will take form in the coming months. Biodiversity Centre and Plan In 2011, Université de Montréal inaugurated the Biodiversity Centre in partnership with the City of Montréal. In this context, the team developed UdeM's plan for biodiversity, a document that promotes both the maintenance of biodiversity and the public's awareness of its stakes. It is our duty to protect our common good so as not to leave a heavy and sad legacy to the generations that will succeed us. The biodiversity plan has eight points and is aligned with Aichi ob-jectives and UdeM’s involvement with the City of Montréal. Gardens If you walk on campus in the summer, you will have the chance to visit 8 gardens located all around the campus. Each garden is maintained and harvested by employees and students. A variety of plants, vegetables and fruits are grown for the greatest pleasure of all. The beneficial effects of greening concrete areas are well known: reduction of heat islands, reduced runoff of rainwater, etc. It is also a great way to strengthen the sense of belonging to the university community.Gathering and Discovering Indigenous Medicinal Plants on Campus On September 29th, an activity for gathering and discovering indigenous medicinal plants found on the Université de Montréal’s Mount Royal campus was organized by the First Peoples' Gardens committee. The group also engaged in some light work in the food forest located near the Université-de-Montréal metro station to ensure preservation of the areas where these medicinal plants grow for the upcoming season. The gathered plants were shared among the participants, who were able to enjoy a tasting on-site and learn more about the traditional use of the plants and responsible harvesting practices. Garden for Monarchs Beyond the meadows on the mountain, complete surfaces have been converted to the benefit of the monarch butterfly and a partnership with the Department of Biological Sciences will enable the program to monitor its benefits. Canada's Greenest EmployersNEW
153Beekeeping UdeM has six hives and produces 60 kg of honey per year, equivalent to five hundred (500) jars of 110ml. Produced within a radius of 1 km around the campus, the characteristic UdeM’s honey, called UdeMiel, is attributed to its wide variety of pollens. Indeed, “our” bees are free to forage an impressive variety of flowers around the campus. Composed of more than 45% pollen vinegar, UdeM’s honey also includes a healthy dose of pollen and sweet clover as well as a slight amount of lime tree pollen and fruit trees. Several groups of students, employees or les “Amis de la montagne” visit UdeM to learn more about the role of bees and honey in the heart of the city. In addition, when the honey is ready, employees can purchase our own UdeMiel. But you must be quick; the small jars go in just a few hours! Since 2018, our food services also have their own hives to produce honey for their kitchens. Additionally, our own honey is used in the fabrication process of our UdeM beer, made from our hop production. UdeM was the first institution to position itself in Montréal to integrate urban hives in 2011. Hop The draft hop was born as an original effort to reduce heat islands on the UdeM campus. Hops are big, space-hungry plants that like to climb. Only 2% of hops used in Quebec are produced local-ly. In the interests of biodiversity, several varieties were selected to create the “Houblonnière”. The Houblonnière was first built on the black pyramid structure of the Louis-Colin Pavilion, one of the warmest spots on campus. But this year, it will be moved to the Marie-Victorin Pavilion. Every year, more or less 5,000 beer cans are produced. People interested in purchasing a few Sur la montagne cans can do so by visiting the Local Local cafeteria, the McCarold Pub on chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges or the Les Amis de la montagne food counters. Kombucha Production A hot trend in recent years, kombucha, this effervescent alco-hol-free fermented tea is making its first appearance among Local Local's products. The first batch is flavored with blueberry tea and hibiscus. A version with ginger and sumac and another with lavender and lemon balm soon will follow. True to the concept of UdeM's productions, all these ingredients, except for the blueberry tea, are sourced from within or around the University: the hibiscus, lavender and lemon balm are grown in a greenhouse between the residence hall towers, and the vinegar sumac grows freely behind the towers. Mushroom ProductionAt UdeM, we grow mushrooms - Upland areas were seeded with mycelia in order to produce edible mushrooms and rebuild the soil where activity and planting already allow certain varieties of mushrooms to be picked! Apple JellyMade from the crabapple trees bordering the main entrance of our main pavilion, we turn the harvested fruits into crabapple jelly that can be found in our cafeterias. Pesto Production Recently, Local Local started its very own production of pesto made with our very own basil. This new delicacy served to brighten the dishes of the cafeteria Chez Valère over the winter! Local Production of Maple SyrupSince 2013, maple syrup has been produced on campus from UdeM maple trees. This production is made possible by a partnership with the Chemistry Department, the Sustainable Development Unit and Local Local. Sugar shack activities are organized on campus every spring and small jars of UdeM maple syrup are on sale at Chez Valère. In 2022, the Sustainable Development Sugar Shack visited both daycares on campus. More than 160 children were able to feast on taffy on the snow and discover how this delight is created right here on campus! Canada's Greenest Employers
154Ongoing ProjectsDarlington Ecological Corridor Project The Corridor Écologique Darlington is the brainchild of UdeM biodiversity advisor Alexandre Beaudoin. Its purpose is to give Mount Royal's wildlife safe passage to other green spaces in Montréal that had been blocked off by urban development. The route starts at UdeM's main campus on Mount Royal and follows Darlington Avenue and then the railway until it reaches the old Hippodrome de Montréal site in the west. In the east, the corridor ends at UdeM's MIL Campus Projets éphémères site, which won the same award at CRE–Montréal's 2016 gala. The Corridor Écologique Darlington also aims to improve the quality of life of residents in this hemmed-in part of the city by developing an integrated ecological network through greening, urban agriculture and rainwater management. It also responds to various issues arising from climate change, such as heat waves and heavy rainfall, and the resulting risks to human health. An urban project of this scale comes with its own challenges, and students at UdeM and its affiliated schools conducted case studies to resolve them. To date, around 70 studies completed as part of their university education have been converted into real-life projects. This is a fine example of the benefits of a “sustainable development ecosystem,” a kind of living lab for the ecological transition and the fight against climate change backed by the Sustainable Development Unit. The Project at a Glimpse • In 2015, the Darlington green corridor was inaugurated thanks to the support of Lionel Perez, City councilor, and the Borough Mayor. The Côte-des-Neiges borough also contributes to the implementation by giving away large flower boxes to practice urban agriculture. Residents could use them to plant herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables throughout the summer. • In 2016, the borough supported the project again by providing large flower boxes to encourage urban agriculture. Other initiatives, such as creating a foster forest in the Darlington Park by planting 50 fruit trees, or replacing public and private land turf by flowering honey plants were implemented. • In spring 2017, three new projects were deployed: the development of the Darlington Square, a partial closure of the Louis-Collin Street to limit car traffic and give more surface to pedestrians (800 m2) and the creation of a garden for bees, in partnership with the Chateaufort Gardens. Their 180 small gardens being on the Darlington corridor, 200m2 of wasteland were transformed into honeydew (plants for bees of all kinds)! • In 2018, a landscape architecture intern was dedicated solely to this project for three months. • At its 14th annual gala held on October 7, 2020, the Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal (CRE–Montréal) presented the Corridor Écologique Darlington Project with its Innovative Organization award. • Over the last years, the Darlington Corridor has become the host of a number of “food security” oriented projects. Last summer, an Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSS) located on the Corridor did its part by converting four of its outdoor spaces into gardens that members of the community used to grow their own fruits and vegetables over the summer and fall. As mentioned in other sections of this application, Park Extension and Côte-des-Neiges are amongst the most disadvantaged neighborhoods on the island of Montréal, and these initiatives make a real difference in the participants' lives. • In 2023, we planted 30 trees in this location, constituting our third food forest in partnership with Tree Canada and MultiCaf. We also planted the very first micro-forest there, thanks to Park People and a partnership with the Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, in addition to mobilizing local communities, including nearby CIUSSS employees. A total of 600 trees were planted over 250m2.Canada's Greenest EmployersNEW
155The Mont-Royal Differentiated Management of Green Spaces ProjectA collaborative project has taken shape between the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery (NDN) and Université de Montréal as a result of the Rencontres des grands propriétaires institutionnels du Mont Royal (Meetings of the Large Institutional Owners of Mount Royal) on the ecological management of their properties organized by Les Amis de la montagne. Since summer 2021, the two institutions have sought to bring about a major change in the approach to planning and maintaining their exterior spaces through the implementation of a joint ecological restoration project on their respective properties. Using the differentiated management of green spaces (DMGS) model, they have replaced small, grassy areas with a variety of native plant species with a view to transforming these spaces into sites that better support biodiversity. The two partner institutions plan to extend the practice to a larger land area over the next few years. Following the meetings, Les Amis organized a community of prac-tice to address the DMGS approach in further detail. On October 12, 2021, all the institutional partners met with experts and repre-sentatives from community organizations and the City of Montréal to talk about how DMGS is to be implemented on their properties. The group discussions were inspired by input from the confe-rences held with Horticulture and Green Space Management Spe-cialist Jean-Jacques Lincourt and Université de Montréal Biodiver-sity Advisor Alexandre Beaudoin. The project is still going on. Ephemeral Projects at MIL CampusSince 2015, UdeM has been using the site of MIL Campus to encourage creativity and interact with citizens by launching every year temporary urban projects for citizens of all ages and of all neighbourhoods. To set up these Ephemeral projects, our Sustainable Development team works in collaboration with several local organizations. Together, they created a unique space that gathered in one place, beekeeping, horticultural and educational activities. Very quickly, it became a hub of learning and education on how cities’ transform their activities and ways of doing development in a context of cli-mate change.Ephemeral Projects + Science = A Great Combination!Over the last years, science has entered the site of ephemeral pro-jects. The site is now home to 2 research projects. 1. Since 2020, Phyto-action, whose mission is to use plant science to preserve or improve the quality of the environment, is using the Ephemeral Projects to investigate phytoremedia-tion through willows. Phytoremediation is a plant-based ap-proach, which involves the use of plants to extract and remove elemental pollutants or lower their bioavailability in soil. 2. Since 2021, Les jardins de transition (The Transition Gardens) use the Ephemeral Projects space to study the genomic reac-tion of certain plants to climate change. 3. A new 3-season greenhouse was launched during the 2021 season. It is currently used by Local Local, UdeM’s research teams and our partners within the community who may need it for their projects or activities. Summer Activites In addition, many activities are organized for UdeM’s community and the public: movie projections, site visits, workshops, music shows, potlucks, eclipse observation, puppet shows, a sugar shack and much more! One of the most popular events is the Harvest Festival, during which the community is invited to pick up vegetables, visit the new gardens, buy fruits and vegetables and meet with local organizations and UdeM’s Sustainable Development team. Last year’s edition of the Ephemeral Projects brought together hundreds of people from the Montréal community. Outdoor film screening, conferences, happy hours, exhibits, gardening, harvesting, and cooking activities were on the menu from June to August 2023. Once again this summer, all activities were offered for free to all members of the community. Canada's Greenest Employers
156Montréal Climate Plan 2020-2030In response to the climate emergency, Montréal is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions with the objective of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. The 46 measures in the Climate Plan will set Montréal on the path to being a resilient, inclusive and carbon-neutral city. Amongst other measures, the city plans to plant 300,000 trees in the coming years. Université de Montréal joined forces with the City, and was awarded a grant that will make it possible to plant 1,000 new trees over the next 2 years on our main campus. Yé! Seeds for the Future Project (Semences d’avenir) UdeM developed the “Seeds for the future” project in collaboration with primary schools from the neighborhood. Through this project, students collect tree seeds from the Mont Royal protected area. Back at their school, they stratify and germinate these seeds. Once a certain height is reached (about 10 cm), the trees are brought to the Ephemeral Projects site and repotted by Les Amis de la Montagne. Once in larger pots, these trees are transferred to Soverdi who moves them to another nursery. Eventually, these trees are reintroduced into Soverdi's annual batch of 10,000 trees and planted elsewhere in Montréal. This is a way to protect the endemic genetics through an educational project involving several members of our community. Transition Pathways (Chemins de transition) Acceleration of climate change, collapse of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources: everyone today has heard about the rapid, profound and irreversible changes in the conditions of life on the planet. In the light of the unprecedented ecological crisis facing humankind, Université de Montréal and Space for Life have joined forces to present Transition Pathways, a project for involving the vital actors of society in the necessary debate on transition in Québec. In the framework of the Transition Pathways project, transition issues are approached in the form of three major challenges calling into question our ability to develop and flourish within the limits of the planet: food challenge, land-use challenge and digital challenge. The project offers to the community conferences, workshops, training activities, summer schools and more. Visit their website for more information about this wonderful initiative: https://cheminsdetransition.org/ (available in French only). Canada's Greenest Employers
157Environmental Footprint for Organization Building FootprintClimate Emergency DeclarationUniversité de Montréal, along with 10 other Quebec universities, joined forces in implementing a collective response to declare a Climate Emergency, recognizing the need for a drastic societal shift to combat the growing threat of climate change. Additionally, UdeM signed a commitment to become carbon-neutral by 2040. https://www.sdgaccord.org/climateletter Adoption of the Leave No Trace Principles Following the recommendations found in a student study in Environment and Sustainable Development, the Leave no Trace principles are now applied to UdeM’s woods. Posters will be developed in order to inform our community of the best practices to follow when traveling on a conservation site. Science Complex | MIL Campus The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) awarded LEED Gold certification to the MIL Campus building last summer. This certification was received with enthusiasm and pride by the members of our community who contributed in any way to the construction of this unique building, which provides an exceptional work and study environment for our student community and staff since its opening in 2019. The building stands out for its integration of many sustainable development measures such as exemplary management of construction waste, site decontamination, use of recycled materials, the energy efficiency and performance of the building envelope, the installation of a green roof and the reduction of water consumption. Green Roof The UdeM campus now has two 800 square meters green roofs. Green roofs meet multiple sustainable development objectives. On the one hand, with more fauna and flora, they promote biodiversity in the area. On the other hand, they contribute to the reduction of urban heat islands as well as to the reduction of the energy balance of the buildings. They also contribute to the retention of rainwater in order to prevent it from being redirected to the sewers.Biodiversity CentreLEED GOLD - 2009 - A green roof, the collecting of rainwater for water needs (for example, flushing toilets) and a geothermal system for heating and air conditioning are amongst the features that contribute to this award. Daycare CentreBuilt in 2012, all rooms and furniture of the daycare centre, from the kitchen to the playrooms, meet the most demanding sustainable development criteria, including a heating system and geothermal air conditioning. A state-of-the-art daycare center is currently being built, as one of the main parts of the Marie-Victorin pavillon renovation plan. Residences UdeMThe residences hold the Green Key Eco-Rating Certification that recognizes the Studios Hotel’s environmentally responsible sustainable development initiatives as well as its local implications. Thérèse-Casgrain Pavilion The pavilion was recognized for an Excellence Award in Architecture 2011 for its architectural heritage enhancements.Canada's Greenest Employers
158Other Green Features Responsible Investment Social Economy Initiative Charging an electric car Since the beginning of 2019, Université de Montréal has made available to community members and visitors 33 recharging points for electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The terminals are located on our various campuses in Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe and Laval. The MIL Campus also offers 10 additional charging stations. On-campus parking special price Employees who own a hybrid or electric vehicle benefit from a 10% reduction on the purchase of an annual parking permit on campus. Communauto Those who wish to travel by car can also use the car sharing system, which has several stations in the vicinity of the University, as well as Flex vehicles - available in most Montréal neighborhoods. Carpooling Since its launch in 2012, the web carpooling system has evolved into a high-tech and flexible app. Netlift combines carpooling and public transportation to provide commuters a more efficient, stress-free, and environmentally sustainable commute. Students and employees can easily browse their matches and route details, and book online using the in-app messaging system. UdeM is glad to promote Netlift and its many advantages to its community. In February 2021, Université de Montréal joined forces with 10 other Canadian universities through UNIE, the University Network for Investor Engagement. UNIE is an effective and persistent corporate engagement program for university endowments and pension plans that leverages their power as institutional investors to meaningfully address climate change-related risks. Their engagements focus on accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy in key sectors where advocacy can make the biggest difference, including energy, utilities, finance, transportation and manufacturing. With this new association, UdeM hopes to have a positive influence on corporate behavior and leverages its power to bring about change. https://share.ca/UNIE/ In 2020, the Université de Montréal joined the ‘’L’économie sociale, j’achète’’ (Social Economy, I’m Buying! a broad movement in Montréal. Through this initiative, the University is committed to considering social economy enterprises among its potential suppliers of goods and services and to promoting the procurement of goods and services from the social economy among its various faculties, schools and services. Canada's Greenest Employers
One More StepNoteworthy recognitions, successes and news that go beyond the contest parameters; presented through our employer brand prism.
Revealing your Potentialin a Workplace that is... Bigger than Ourselves
161One More StepPeak Stargazer has Deep UdeM RootsAstrophysicist Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette, from the Université de Montreal, was recognized as an emerging leader in technology by The Peak, a Toronto-based ZoomerMedia online news site, in its 2024 list of young leaders. Ms. Ouellette, 36, served as the Deputy Director of UdeM's Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx) and of the Mont-Mégantic Observatory, earning her a spot among the 31 young leaders in the tech category. The Peak's jury selected 327 young Canadians across 13 fields, sponsored by CIBC, honoring those shaping Canada's economy, culture, and society. Ouellette expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing her team's work and Canada's contributions to astrophysics. Recognized by the Women's Executive Network as one of Canada’s 100 "most powerful women" in the past, Ms. Ouellette's leadership extends beyond research, encompassing extensive science communication efforts and advocacy for increased funding for space science. The Peak's jury commended her dedication to promoting scientific literacy and curiosity, particularly among youth and the public, through her work in the field of astrophysics.Withdrawal from Fossil Fuels is Only the BeginningAfter working for several months on the issue of divestment from fossil fuels, Université de Montréal presented the following plan last summer : by December 31, 2025, UdeM will have withdrawn from its endowment fund all publicly traded shares of companies active in the fossil fuel sector, whether they are held directly or indirectly. This commitment decisively sets the institution on the path of sustainable development. The Endowment Fund is used primarily to finance research pro-jects and scholarships, in other words, it is the result of the University's philanthropic activities. As of April 30, 2022, the total value of the fund was estimated at $402 million, with fossil fuel investments representing four percent of its value. With this announcement, UdeM joins other influential universities in North America that are committed to divesting from the oil sector. Responsible Investment Several decisions have been made in recent years with respect to responsible investment. UdeM has long adhered to the United Nations' Principles of Responsible Investment, which include the consideration of environmental, social and governance factors. And in 2021, UdeM committed to reducing the weighted average carbon intensity of publicly traded stocks held directly or indirectly in its endowment fund by 20% by 2025 and 35% by 2030. A Voice at COP28University of Montreal participated in international discussions on combating climate change at COP 28 in Dubai and the Climate Dialogues event. Carmela Cucuzzella, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, was among the participants in a virtual roundtable on the impacts of university partnerships on ecosystem decarbonization. "Participating in COP 28 through the international roundtable provided an opportunity to share ideas on how universities work with communities to support ambitious carbon emission goals," she emphasized.This roundtable was organized as part of the U7+ Alliance, which brought together 90 universities from 19 countries and aimed to highlight the role of universities in addressing major global challenges with G7 countries.UdeM Joins Science | Business Network in BelgiumBased in Brussels, near the European decision-making centers, this network constantly monitored various research and funding programs and organized regular meetings with key players in the innovation and public policy sectors across Europe. This membership came at a time when Canada was on track to become an "associated country" of the Horizon Europe research program, the European Union's framework program for research and innovation. This new status would allow Canadian research stakeholders to collaborate more closely on this prestigious and well-funded initiative (€95.5 billion, equivalent to over CAD 137 billion, for the period 2021-2027). Science | Business's priorities aligned with UdeM's focus on science serving society and addressing major global challenges that impact our daily lives.
162Mila / UdeM Open Summer School Built Around Human Rights and Responsible AILast June, approximately forty individuals from 20 countries gathered at Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute in Montreal, for the first-ever summer school on Responsible AI and Human Rights, organized by Mila and Université de Montréal.Throughout the week-long event, the participants engaged with experts from various fields, delving into topics such as accoun-tability, transparency, ethics, law, and governance in the context of designing and implementing AI systems responsibly. They also took part in skill development workshops and devised responsible AI projects based on real-world scenarios.According to Catherine Régis, a researcher at Mila and full professor of law at the Université de Montréal, who served as the scientific director of the summer school, it provided an opportunity to enhance the integration of human rights concepts into discussions surrounding responsible AI on both national and international fronts.Benjamin Prud'homme, director of the AI for Humanity team at Mila, highlighted the importance of the summer school in foste-ring interdisciplinary collaboration and contributing to the global dialogue on responsible AI.A Bit More About Professor Catherine RégisUniversité de Montréal law professor Catherine Régis recently assumed the new role of Director of Social Innovation and International Policy at IVADO, the Montreal-based artificial intelligence consortium. Additionally, she holds the positions of Special Advisor and Associate Vice-Rector for Strategic Planning and Responsible Digital Innovation. Régis holds the Canada-CIFAR AI Chair and the Canada Research Chair in Collaborative Culture in Health Law and Policy. She is also an associate academic member at Mila - the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute - and conducts research at the Center for Public Law Research, the Center for International Studies and Research at UdeM, and the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology.Active on the global stage, Catherine Régis co-chairs the Responsible AI Working Group of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, which comprises 29 member states. She also leads the group's efforts on digital innovation and responsible AI within the U7+ Alliance, a network of over 50 universities worldwide. Régis has previously served as a member of the OECD's Trustworthy AI Working Group and is a fellow of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research's scientific diplomacy program.One More Step
Revealing your Potentialin a Workplace that is... Effervescent
164Top Local and International MindsTwo of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women Work at UdeMTwo standout individuals from Université de Montréal have been named to the 2023 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards list, announced today by the Women's Executive Network.Marie-Josée Hébert, a nephrologist-transplant physician, whose impactful work includes co-founding initiatives like the Canadian National Transplant Research Program and leading interdisciplinary research projects. She was appointed chair of the governing council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in September 2022.Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette, astrophysicist specializing in galaxy formation and evolution, developed educational programs and engaged with the media to share her passion for space science. Ouellette's leadership has significantly contributed to iREx's success, securing substantial funding and enhancing student enrollment. She holds roles at the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic and serves as an outreach scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope Mission in Canada.Shaping the Sciences of TomorrowYoshua Bengio appointed Member of the UN’s Scientific Advisory BoardUN Secretary-General António Guterres has established a new Scientific Advisory Board to guide UN leaders on the latest developments in science and technology. The Board aims to harness the benefits of these advancements while also addressing potential risks.Comprising seven distinguished scholars, alongside Chief Scientists from UN System entities, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, and the Rector of the United Nations University, the Advisory Board will collaborate with diverse scientific institutions worldwide. The Board's primary goal is to provide independent insights on the intersection of science, technology, ethics, governance, and sustainable development. By working with its network, the Board aims to assist UN leaders in leveraging the latest scientific advancements for the benefit of all.A Bit More About Professor Yoshua BengioProfessor Bengio is a full Professor at Université de Montréal, and the Founder and Scientific Director of Mila – Québec AI Institute. He co-directs the CIFAR Learning in Machines & Brains program as Senior Fellow and acts as Scientific Director of IVADO. He is one One More Stepof the three “godfathers” of deep learning. His name appears in the Petit Larousse Illustré. He was awarded the “Nobel Prize in computer science.” He has made Montreal a hub for artificial intelligence (AI). Thanks to his research we can, for example, deposit cheques by simply taking a photo, be understood when talking to our phones, and have web pages translated into French. And now AI researcher Yoshua Bengio is cementing his reputation by ranking third among the world’s most recognized and influential researchers in all fields, and first in the field of information technology and communications. These results are based on bibliometric data compiled annually by Stanford University in California last Fall. He is an amazing human being, an extraordinary professor and researcher, and we are extremely proud that he chose Université de Montréal to pursue his career.
Revealing your Potentialin a Workplace that is... Human
166Strengthening Ties with First Nation CommunitiesProject Mamik: A Groundbreaking Accredited Training in First Nation CommunitiesDue to a shortage of qualified labor in Indigenous communities for psychoeducational intervention, there was a high demand for training in this discipline. The program targets First Nations members, offering decentralized training that can be completed full-time and within work schedules. It plays a vital role in developing staff skills, particularly in addressing the increasing mental health challenges post-pandemic. Focusing on proven psychoeducational practices, the program is now offered within the living environments of First Nation Communities. This initiative aims to enhance interventions and ensure quality services for those struggling to adapt.Mélanie Boivin, program founder, is delighted to see this training program implemented, considering it a significant step forward for the Mamik centers. It is the first university offering in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, with over twenty participants enrolled, mostly staff members.This project facilitates Indigenous people's access to higher education by allowing them to remain in their secure living environment, fostering a supportive learning community. Boivin plans to explore additional programs, such as criminology and addiction intervention, to address pressing issues affecting First Nation peoples.A Bit More About Mélanie BoivinOver the past seven years, Mélanie Boivin has created several services for Indigenous people in urban areas in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, emphasizing the importance of education for community empowerment. She anticipates that other Indigenous individuals will also have the opportunity to pursue university studies and work within Indigenous organizations.Sharing Fun Times with People Far From HomeUdeM Staff Invites the Community to a Holiday DinnerSeveral Université de Montréal staff members participated in a new holiday pairing project, hosting international students who couldn't be with their families. Initiated by the Student Life Services, 47 staff members were matched with 110 students. The project, expanding an existing tradition, garnered diverse motivations from the UdeM community.Nathalie Sanon, IVADO Training Program Manager, aimed to recreate her childhood experiences of celebrating with international friends, fostering cultural exchange and warmth. Joëlle Andraos, International Affairs Advisor at the Faculty of Medicine, emphasized the value of cultural exchange and forming new friendships for both students and hosts.For some, like music professor Sylvain Caron and Internal Audit Office senior advisor Georges-Marie Dehaut, personal experiences of studying abroad fueled their desire to provide support during the holidays. Mr. Caron sought to understand students' experiences better, while Dehaut aimed to alleviate the loneliness she once felt abroad.Opening the Kitchen Doors to the ElderlyNewly-Created “École du printemps” Receives AwardIn the aim of enhancing its scientific outreach efforts, the Department of Nutrition recently launched L’école du printemps, a spring school focused on nutrition and related disciplines specifically designed for seniors.To develop this pilot project, the department explored the offerings of the University of the Third Age in Quebec and surveyed the interest of seniors. The format of the spring school emerged as a favorite. Once the topics and logistical aspects were clarified, the organizing team could begin planning its first academic program for older adults.Whether in history, occupational therapy, nutrition, journalism, or communication, the experts consulted expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to engage with this clientele, right here at the Liliane-de-Stewart and Marguerite-D’Youville pavilions of UdeM, to share their passion in accessible terms.The beautiful endeavor didn’t go unnoticed! L’école du printemps recently won the DUX Grand Prize, which recognizes and celebrates the efforts and leadership of agri-food companies, organizations, and institutions that have developed products and projects contributing to improving the health of the population and the planet.One More Step
Thank You
For going...
Achouri, HayderAdam, KarinaArchambault, SophieBarriault-Fortin, MyriamBeaudoin, AlexandreBéland-Goyette, CamilleBélanger, GuyBoivin-Soly, MaudeBoyer, VéroniqueBrasseur, IsabelleBrisebois, SophieCarrier, PascaleCléroux, Marie-JoséeDe Sainte Marie-Villemer, CatherineDolbec, DianeFréchette, NathalieGélineau, AnnikGirier, DimitriGuérard, FrançoisJean-Gilles, RonaldJussaume, SophieJutras, DanielLabrie, AndréeLam, Thanh-NguyenLeBlanc, VincentLeduc-Ostrowski, BéatriceLétourneau, MarielleNowicki, MarcinMénard, SophieOuellet, Marie-ÈvePelletier, CarolePhilibert, AmélieRioux, MartinRondeau, NicolasRoyle, PhaedraSabourin, PatrickSchneider, AudréeSurprenant, LucTouré, YasmineTranclé-Armand, Pierre-LucTurbide, VéroniqueZanussi, Marion