The "Active in my Neigbourhood" campaign was implemented a few years ago by Équiterre and the Rosemont--Petite-Patrie CDEC, when stakeholders in that borough decided to get together to raise residents' awareness of the benefits of active and public transportation and shopping close to home for Montréal's economy. The objective was both simple and audacious: to improve the quality of life in their community.
With financial support from Canada Economic Development, the Côte-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grâce CDEC decided to rise to this challenge by inviting community and institutional partners in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce to increase recognition of businesses on Sherbrooke Street West, as well as Monkland and Somerled avenues, while making a concrete gesture for the environment. Here we would like to point out the valuable collaboration of Équiterre and, in particular, Marilyne Simard, who is responsible for the program within that organization and one of the founders of the "Active in my neighbourhood" campaigns in several Montréal boroughs. Over the past months, local stakeholders have joined in, and with the support of a representative from the Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough office, the CDEC kicked off the program at a working meeting on April 8. Over the coming weeks, residents of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce will be invited to discover businesses and shops in the neighbourhood using a form of active transportation, such as walking, running, cycling, or rollerblading.

We are convinced that by encouraging citizens to use their own two feet to get around, we can contribute to improving air quality, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and fostering a better quality of life in our neighbourhood. Public transportation will also be in the mix, as the "I'm active in NDG" campaign includes a component for the promotion and use of public transit. Many merchants on Sherbrooke Street West, as well as Monkland and Somerled avenues have responded to our invitation by participating in this "shop locally" campaign and the details will be revealed at the official launch on May 23. At the launch, borough mayor, Michael Applebaum, and local elected officials will drop the flag for a bicycle rally to discover participating businesses in the "I'm active in NDG" campaign.
This spring, why not get out in the sun and begin exploring your neighbourhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce?