FLOW’s Montreal region‘s community partner, the Conseil SAM (Montreal Food Policy Council), has been organizing participatory workshops during 2025–26 to establish a common vision for the future of the Montreal food system. With the guidance of FLOW PI Alison Blay-Palmer, the Montreal team has applied a backcasting approach to this work. In Phase 1 (Fall 2025), discussions centered around the elements of a common vision in which every Montrealer has access to healthy, diverse, local, affordable, and sustainably produced food. Key milestones to achieve that vision were also identified. In Phase 2 (Winter/Spring 2026), workshops are focusing on surfacing promising initiatives to reach these milestones.
To date, the process has involved over 200 participants who shared a wide range of perspectives and aspirations, including those related to food security, urban agriculture, citizen engagement, environmental protection, school food, the roles of city and provincial officials, engagement with food businesses, and healthful eating, among others.
Results of this participatory consultation process will inform the Conseil SAM’s strategic plan and policy advocacy priorities for the next four years, as well as identify key initiatives that can benefit from wider support.
