How do you plan for the future of a community without losing what makes it special?

That’s the question the Municipality of Chelsea in Quebec set out to answer. Known for its breathtaking landscapes, strong community bonds, and deep ecological values, Chelsea’s ongoing growth needed a thoughtful plan to guide it into the future.

We partnered with the municipal leadership to co-create Chelsea 2040: a strategic framework grounded in the community’s voice that charts a regenerative, inclusive, and sustainable future.

It’s a plan and a shared promise to the people and places that make Chelsea special.

 

protecting while planning what’s next

Chelsea faced layered challenges. Managing population growth, protecting fragile ecosystems, reducing traffic, and improving communication with its team and residents… all while staying true to its character.

Residents were ready to engage. Leadership was ready to listen. Now it was time for concrete action.

listen deeply, plan boldly

We began with a multi-phase consultation engaging residents, business owners, and key stakeholders in open conversation and survey. There was a shared love for where they call home and a desire to see it thrive.

With the municipal leaders, we turned those insights into a strategic plan built around five key pillars:

• Identity
• Nature & Environment
• People & Community
• Mobility & Active Lifestyle
• Responsible Operations & Services

Each pillar has clear goals, measurable outcomes, and actionable steps: a practical blueprint designed to evolve with the community.

public and personal

We developed messaging in plain, accessible language so all residents could engage with the vision. Then, we brought it to life online through a dedicated microsite, chelsea2040.ca, that invites the community in with visuals of the community.

The site is a window into Chelsea’s future.

a regenerative roadmap

Chelsea now has a vision leading up to 2040 that’s bold, practical, and deeply rooted in community values.

• Clear, compelling direction for the municipality’s future
• Strong public participation
• Framework built on sustainability, inclusion, and regeneration
• Public-facing microsite
• A model for community-led rural development across Canada

 

Chelsea 2040 is a commitment to lead with care for the land, people, and generations to come. And it all started by listening.