TeC is a cross-sector alliance for socio-ecological transition founded in Montreal in late 2022. It brings together citizen groups, community organizations, public institutions, researchers, and coalitions to accelerate the socio-ecological transition (SET). We are working together to transform the city, neighborhood by neighborhood, system by system.

• Facilitate the creation of spaces for dialogue and the strengthening of a broader culture of collaboration with civil society

• To foster, promote, celebrate, and rally support around a shared vision of the socio-ecological transition

• Collectively equip ourselves with the means to implement the TSE, particularly through new institutional commitments and initiatives that shape the ecosystem

More than 150 organizations (including more than 120 as formal members) have joined the alliance: small neighborhood groups, community organizations, sector-specific networks, research centers, public institutions, and more… What unites us is the desire to take action to transform the city we call home. The numbers and profiles may not be up to date as you read this response. Visit the “About” section of our website to see which organizations are members, who serves on our governing bodies, and who makes up the general coordination team.

Because we can’t make the transition all on our own. A shared vision is what allows us to align our efforts, speak with a stronger voice, and present a united front.

Yes, in the noble sense of the word. We’re even radical, in the original sense of the term—that is, we question the root causes of today’s crises and challenges. We are committed; we take action to bring about change, and we do so with professionalism, strategy, and openness. We value diverse approaches, complementarity, and the combination of tactics and cultures of action. And we recognize the indispensable role of activist groups, as well as that of less activist institutions.

No. We do not support any political party. But we are clearly political: we take a stand on issues (housing, democracy, environmental justice, transportation, etc.), always in the public interest.

TeC is active on several fronts. Our public events (AGMs, summer camps, debates, neighborhood tours, community days, themed civic events, etc.) are the public face of the alliance: they’re where we reflect, build bridges, and take collective action… and have a good time together.

At the same time, our thematic working groups are developing concrete proposals, assessments, shared tools, and initiatives on issues such as local democracy, housing, reducing car dependence, and environmental justice.

Through Espace Quartiers, we support local initiatives, build connections between grassroots efforts, and celebrate the diversity of life in Montreal. We put neighborhoods first.

We are also working to influence the city government, other institutions, and civil society to bring about policy change.

And our communications serve to amplify voices, share knowledge, mobilize a broader audience, and build a collective narrative of transition.

We are not a funding organization; we are not a community or neighborhood organization that carries out grassroots projects or provides services to citizens; we are not a citizens’ movement; we are not a forum for consultation; we are not what our members are, because we do not wish to take their place, but rather to act collectively where each person encounters individual limitations.

The coordination team does not have a fixed headquarters. We operate out of several third places, such as the Cité-des-Hospitalières (Plateau) and La Balise (Rosemont), but most importantly: our activities take place throughout Montreal, in every neighborhood, with a particular focus on outlying neighborhoods and territorial inequities. The transition isn’t just a matter for “bobo” or central neighborhoods.

We’re based in Montreal, but we receive requests from outside the city and share what we’ve learned with other regions. We also work with partners in Quebec and across Canada to spread ideas and solutions. We certainly recognize that the transition doesn’t stop at the city’s borders.

We do our best to ensure physical, linguistic, cultural, and financial accessibility, as well as the cultural safety of the spaces we offer. And we’re learning as we go. Several measures to promote full participation have been put in place.

All our events are free. Whenever possible or upon request, we provide childcare, meals, and public transit passes. We also offer financial assistance to any individual or organization for whom a lack of funds would prevent them from participating. We ensure that our event venues are accessible to people with limited mobility. Our activities and communications are primarily in French, but we can also communicate in English, and we can arrange for simultaneous translation services as needed during events.

We’re also very committed to JEDI issues—not because we love Star Wars, but because justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are a mindset, values, and practices that are highly important and necessary. We’re not perfect in this area either, but we strive to lead by example rather than just preach. We offer our members training, publications, and updates on these issues; we view decolonization as an ongoing process that is never fully complete. We ensure that the composition of our governing bodies is diverse and representative—including not only leadership positions and the coordination team but also the audiences at our events. We have adopted the practice of incorporating territorial acknowledgments at the start of our public events. And much more.

Feel free to challenge us on this. We’re open to criticism, and we have plenty of blind spots.

Contact us at info@transitionencommun.org to schedule an informational meeting. We’ll discuss together the best ways for you to get involved.

Yes. We’re always open to ideas. The general coordination team or the coordinators of the working groups and committees receive them and direct them to the appropriate channels. We tend to prioritize initiatives and proposals from members, but we’re not closed to other ideas.

The General Coordinator (GC) is appointed, evaluated, and, if necessary, removed by the Executive Committee (EC). This role may be filled by one or two people. It is responsible for establishing and implementing the TeC team’s operating procedures, in accordance with the principles of transparency, shared responsibility, and power-sharing. It proposes and adopts internal policies (finance, governance, etc.) to govern its responsibilities.

Its main functions are:

• Implement the action plan, including organizing events and supporting working groups

• Manage internal and external communications within the framework established by the Steering Committee

• To represent the alliance, on an equal footing with the co-spokespersons

• Update and present the budget at each Works Council meeting; Prepare activity and financial reports

• The Executive Committee may authorize expenditures of up to $10,000 without prior approval, in accordance with the budgetary guidelines adopted by the Executive Board/Board of Directors. It also coordinates the various bodies and implements the alliance’s action plan.

The CG also relies on an administrative service provider (accounting, payroll, insurance, etc.), whose mandate is governed by an annual agreement approved by the Works Council.

The Executive Committee consists of 32 members from 7 colleges. It approves major policy directions and official positions. It meets every quarter in a different neighborhood of Montreal.

They ensure balanced representation on the Steering Committee: citizen groups, neighborhood organizations and local nonprofits, regional and national stakeholders, municipal institutions, etc.

The Executive Committee (EC) serves as TeC’s Board of Directors (BD). It is composed of 9 directors (6 elected by the General Assembly and 3 co-opted), as well as an observer from the mayor’s office. It exercises the legal responsibilities associated with the role of director.

It is more closely involved in operations, overall coordination, and strategy than the CO. It oversees overall coordination and monitors financial decisions. It meets monthly.

A collaborative workspace focused on a specific issue: housing, mobility, resilience, democracy, etc. Here, participants build, learn, and propose ideas. These initiatives can be relatively short-term or focused on a 2- to 3-year timeframe, or they can be more structured and long-term in nature.

Thematic groups and working groups generally consist of about fifteen people who represent the cross-sectoral diversity of TeC’s members and partners (researchers, institutions, citizen groups, organizations, etc.). The initial composition and mandate of a working group or thematic project are approved by our executive committee. Their operations follow certain common guidelines and practices across groups and projects but are adapted to the specific needs of their mandate and roadmap, and thus take various forms (steering committee, subcommittees, core group, expanded collective, etc.). They have supervised autonomy, may communicate publicly in their own name without TeC endorsement, and their mandate may be adjusted or revoked by the Executive Committee/Board of Directors in the event of misalignment.

Each working group or thematic project:

• Receives paid coordination services;
• Decides for himself how often to meet;
• May request funding to support its work;
• Ensure adequate representation, particularly by taking into account issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and by ensuring that underrepresented voices have a meaningful influence on the work.

Each member of a working group or thematic project commits to:

• Actively participate in meetings and follow-ups with integrity;
• Get involved in the working group’s ad hoc projects;
• Maintain connections with other areas of involvement.

The working groups’ themes are rooted in TeC’s vision and strategic priorities: democracy, citizen participation, environmental justice, housing, mobility, etc. During the first few years, several working groups were established and are currently active.

The formation of new working groups follows this process:

• The General Coordination (CG) maintains a list of possible topics, based on the needs expressed at events or by various bodies

• The Works Council sets priorities from this list

• For each priority area, the CG prepares a proposal (background, mandate, budget, expected support, etc.)

• This proposal is submitted to the Works Council, which may approve it, reject it, or request revisions.

Through consultation within collective bodies, with a recommended decision-making process based on consensus. We aim to serve the collective interest, with full transparency. Some decisions are made by majority vote, such as elections to the executive committee. Other decision-making methods also exist; for example, members of the steering committee are appointed by lottery.

She may be suspended or expelled from the alliance, following a review by the Executive Committee, in accordance with the rules of our governance framework.

Yes.

When the alliance was launched in November 2022, the City of Montreal partnered with TeC through a co-creation process to envision and implement an ambitious vision for Montreal’s socio-ecological transition. The City of Montreal is one of TeC’s founding partners and is a formal member. We collaborate on a daily basis with representatives from various departments and boroughs, as well as with elected officials.

In late 2024, after 18 months of collaboration, a formal agreement was reached with the City of Montreal. It includes a financial commitment from the City of Montreal of $150,000 per year for three years. It also includes a formal framework to better guide this collaborative relationship. This framework—which takes the form of a participation guide—defines the terms under which City employees may participate in TeC’s governing bodies and activities, while ensuring the independence of both parties.

This partnership is based on three key principles:

• Mutual recognition of each other’s roles

• A structured yet flexible collaboration

• Transparency Regarding Limits and Areas of Autonomy

This framework is evolving and continues to be refined in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders. It is one of TeC’s strategic tools for amplifying the collective and institutional impact of the transition in Montreal.

We collaborate and communicate, but we maintain our independence.

It ends on December 31.

Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media, or come see us in person!

Yes, with some exceptions. We want our work to be useful, shared, and reused. We also believe deeply in open knowledge. Check out our knowledge base on En Commun.

Yes, on the issues. Not on political parties, nor on our members. Our positions are the result of a consultative process, grounded in our shared vision, discussed with our members, and adopted by the Policy Committee (CO). We even have a formal, documented process for taking public positions.

During the first two years of the alliance, TeC did not take any public positions. This was a deliberate choice, partly due to the complexity of establishing a position for a cross-sectoral alliance committed to ethical principles and respectful of its members’ diversity. But over time, a framework for taking positions was established, both to enable the alliance to take clear stances and to define the conditions under which it does so.

Why is it important to take a stand?

• Because it allows us to fulfill our first objective: to bring to life and promote a shared vision of the socio-ecological transition.

• Because it contributes to our Goal 2: to create new avenues for collective action, including by challenging the status quo.

• Because it supports our Goal 3: to mobilize a broad base of support and build a culture of solidarity among members.

Our adopted policy positions are listed in our policy booklet, available here.

The team members’ email addresses are listed in the “Team” section of our website. You might also run into us out in the field, at events, at our offices, or while relaxing on a café terrace.

TeC is funded by public partners (City of Montreal, Government of Quebec) and philanthropic partners (Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, etc.). We would like to clarify: we avoid applying for funding programs intended for small organizations. Instead, we work to mobilize new resources for the transition in Montreal. As for TeC’s budget, we set caps on our funding targets and budget to avoid concentrating too many resources and competing for funding with our members and the TSÉ ecosystem. We are committed to doing the best we can with this budget—and no more.

In 2023, our budget was $350k, and $750k in 2024. For 2025 and beyond, we’ve set a target of a maximum budget of $1M.

The budget is monitored and guided by the executive committee and managed on a day-to-day basis by the general coordination team.

Our main expenses are:

• compensation for the coordination team

• some professional fees for consultants, projects as needed, or our communications subcontractors

• a solidarity-based compensation fund

• expenses related to the organization of public events

• The Neighborhoods Initiative and each working group have a dedicated budget allocation

• We keep our administrative costs as low as possible and pay a percentage of our expenses to our administrative service provider

Audited financial statements are prepared annually in accordance with accepted practices for nonprofit organizations and are presented at the AGM for approval.

We’d like to think not, but inevitably, yes. We’re not trying to replace anyone in the existing ecosystem. We’re here to strengthen, promote, and connect. We respect the existing driving forces. We are a shared space, a catalyst—not a superstructure. Our approach is unifying, strategic, and collaborative.

Yes. We receive many requests for this type of support. We give priority to our members. Our support must align with our values, priorities, and activities. Whenever possible, we partner directly with projects and are able to provide in-kind and/or financial contributions. Please contact the general coordination office directly.