The Lourdes delegation, comprising Rémi Buffo, municipal councilor in charge of international relations and twinning, and Julien Jacob-Lemaitre, deputy mayor for commerce, public space commercial occupation, and communication, represented the City of Lourdes at this international event. SIIViM brings together elected officials, local authorities, innovative companies, and start-ups with the common goal of finding solutions for medium-sized cities, addressing themes such as mobility, citizen services, ecological transition, attractiveness, and risk prevention. This edition gathered over 600 participants, 100 municipalities, and 80 innovative solutions.
After winning the 2025 Innovation Trophy for Medium-Sized Territories with the "Chemin numérique de Bernadette" project, Lourdes had submitted a new application for its new crèche construction project. Although not a winner of the 2026 Trophy, this application helped promote a municipal project and highlight the City's commitment to integrating innovation into its public policies.
Beyond the summit, the delegation explored several Quebecois initiatives, including a visit to Bain Magique for its industrial innovation model in bathroom renovation, and Espace Aéro in Mirabel, an innovation zone dedicated to aerospace and autonomous technologies. Visits to the Jean-Bouchard amphitheater in Mirabel, the former La Rolland paper mill in Sainte-Adèle, and the Mont X incubator in Mont-Tremblant also provided insights.
The Sentier des cimes Laurentides was presented as an inspiring example of public-private partnership for inclusive outdoor tourism. These experiences offer concrete avenues for Lourdes, particularly in site redevelopment, economic development, service innovation, accessibility, and tourism diversification.
Contact was made with Wever, a company specializing in digital sustainable mobility solutions, for a potential partnership to improve residents' travel, especially for those with reduced mobility. This initiative follows up on exchanges with innovative companies like MédecinDirect (teleconsultation) and Flowstop (flood prevention).
As a member of the SIIViM network since 2022, the City of Lourdes benefits from this cooperative dynamic, exemplified by the L’Altitude incubator. The trip to Quebec strengthened exchanges and identified new avenues for international cooperation, with the aim of transforming these contacts into concrete projects for the residents.
The City of Lourdes thanks Ivéo and its director, Benoît Balmana, for organizing SIIViM, as well as Nevers Agglomération and its president, Denis Thuriot, and the Mission Ecoter. Thanks are also extended to the Quebecois elected officials met: Ms. Roxanne Therrien (Mayor of Mirabel), Ms. Nadine Brière (Mayor of Sainte-Adèle), Mr. Marc Lamarre (Mayor of Saint-Eustache), and particularly Mr. Pascal De Bellefeuille (Mayor of Mont-Tremblant) for his welcome.
