It is with great pleasure, on behalf of the Conference Organizing Committee, to welcome you to Québec City. Seven months from the start of the celebration of our city’s 400th anniversary, our conference theme, “Vision for the Future: Planning for Major Change”, offers us the opportunity to look toward the future and find solutions for the major changes facing us in the spheres of environmental protection, economic development, demographic change and urban design.

With over 50 sessions addressing these challenges and presentations by almost 200 speakers from all parts of Canada, we are sure to have an exceptional opportunity to look at the accomplishments of planners from Canada and abroad and to consider promising approaches for the future.

Our five keynote speakers will present their own, very personal, point of view on the challenges facing us and the mobile workshops will allow you to discover the Québec City region and appreciate projects realized by participants here.

We want this conference to be an opportunity for Francophone and Anglophone planners to get to know each other better during our discussions. For this reason, we have structured the program to provide many of the sessions with presentations in both official languages with simultaneous translation.

Finally, many of the charms of Québec City are within walking distance of the Convention Centre and the major hotels. I invite you not only to take full advantage of our beautiful city during the conference and to stay longer this year but also to return in 2008 with friends and family to participate in our 400th anniversary celebrations.

David Belgue MICU, urbaniste
Conference Chair