An Evening with Valérie Plante

Join us for an evening with Valérie Plante, the first female mayor of Montreal, co-chair of the Elbows Up for Climate campaign, and an expert practitioner at the University of Montreal's House of Public and International Affairs.

She will deliver a keynote address on the topics of municipal climate action, case studies of decarbonization policy, adaptation to the damaging impacts of climate change, and protection of urban biodiversity.

The keynote will begin with a speech by Plante, followed by a fireside chat and audience Q&A.

Seats are limited, register now.

This event is a part of the Ontario Climate Summit, hosted by the Urban Climate Alliance (UCA), a network of municipal-level environmental nonprofits working to advance climate action in their communities. The UCA consists of: Toronto Environmental Alliance, Ecology Ottawa, Environment Hamilton, and Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario

About Valérie Plante

First female mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante made history by leading Québec’s metropolis for eight years.

Her two consecutive terms ushered in bold public policies aimed at building a more affordable, more resilient, and more people-centered city.

An anthropologist by training with roots in the community sector, her election marked a progressive turning point, inspiring a new generation of local leaders to step onto the political stage.

A seasoned manager, she champions mobilizing leadership to support and empower her teams.

A natural communicator, she has become one of the most prominent and widely covered political figures, recognized for her ability to navigate crises and lead complex change with confidence.

Her concrete actions in affordable housing and environmental policy have earned her international recognition, enabling her to extend her influence beyond borders.

Author of two books, she brings to life the character of Simone Simoneau, through whom she recounts, with humor and clarity, the achievements, challenges, and paradoxes faced by those who seek to transform their communities and venture off the beaten path.

An honorary graduate of the Université de Montréal and recipient of the Jean Paul L’Allier Award, Valérie Plante continues her engagement with curiosity and a deep commitment to social justice.

Writing, speaking engagements, documentarie, she welcomes opportunities that combine relevance, originality, and thoughtfulness.

Venue Accessibility

The venue is wheelchair accessible with accessible/all-gender washroom available. The event will have chairs set up theatre style and the chairs can be moved to make room for mobility devices if needed. Please note the chairs are AODA-compliant and they have armrests. 

If you need to secure a seat or have specific accessibility needs, please inform us on your registration.

Funders, Partners & Supporters

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Echo Foundation. Thank you to our generous sponsor: The Biking Lawyer

We are seeking for more financial support to this event and there are a few ways you can support us: 

• If your organization is interested in sponsorship opportunities, please see sponsorship invite package and contact us at uca@torontoenvironment.org, we would love to hear from you. 

• If you would like to make a larger donation eligible for a charitable tax receipt, you can donate here to the Ontario Climate Summit. Please note donations made on this ticketing page are not eligible for charitable tax receipts.