Gatineau appoints new Green Transition Director
Greg Newing
The Ville de Gatineau has appointed Mr. Frédéric Vandal as the city’s first Ecological Transition Director (directeur du Service de transition écologique). In this role, Mr. Vandal will accompany other municipal services to put into practice the city’s Climate Plan which was adopted in October 2021 and provides a framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond swiftly to climate related emergencies.
Mr. Vandal holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from l'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and has worked for the city for the past nine years. From 2013-2016 he worked as an urban planning analyst for Gatineau’s Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Service (Service de l'urbanisme et du développement durable). From 2016 to 2022 he worked for the city’s Environment Department as Environmental Policy Coordinator and then as the department’s Assistant Director. During this time, he played an active role in developing the Climate Plan.
According to a city press release published earlier this year in May, the new Ecological Transition Service will support other departments and services in the “mobilization, implementation and monitoring of ecological initiatives.” Among its major aims is to “demonstrate exemplary municipal action in the face of climate issues'', “ensure the mobilization of the entire Gatineau community in climate action”, and “take action using a rational, immediate and responsible approach.” It is also tasked with creating a framework to implement the Climate Plan and anticipating other needs related to the climate crisis. The new service reports to the adjoint director of Sustainable Development, Catherine Marchand.
The Ville de Gatineau’s Director General, Simon Rousseau, congratulated Mr. Vandal on his new position noting his “knowledge of the city’s environment and key issues as well as his communication skills” as important assets that will help him meet the demands of this role.
Photo caption: Frédéric Vandal, Gatineau’s new Ecological Transition Director (directeur du Service de transition écologique). Photo credit: Ville de Gatineau.
