Mr. Serge Poitras is a seasoned professional in the field of landscape architecture, holding a Bachelor's degree from the University of Montreal (1982) as well as two Master's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, one in landscape architecture (1984) and the other in urban and regional planning (1986).
An active member of both the Quebec Association of Landscape Architects (AAPQ) and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (AAPC) since 1989, Mr. Poitras has played a significant role within the AAPQ as an elected member of the board of directors from 2000 to 2006, serving as president from 2002 to 2005. During his tenure, he led the revision of the association's strategic plan and contributed to raising the visibility of the profession by participating in initiatives such as the fundraising campaign for the Faculty of Planning at the University of Montreal and the establishment of the Quebec Interdisciplinary Design Professionals Conference (CIPDQ). Since 2005, he has been a member of the AAPC's Professional Growth Committee, co-chairing the AAPC congress in Havana, Cuba, in 2007, and presiding over the AAPC congress in Mexico in 2015. Since 2020, he has held a seat on the jury of the AAPC College of Fellows.
Mr. Poitras is also affiliated with several organizations in the field of landscape architecture. He has been a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) since 2007, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) since 2011, the Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects (APALA) since 2015, and he has been registered with the Quebec Order of Urban Planners since 1989. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the profession, he was elevated to the rank of Fellow of the AAPC in 2006.
With a rich and diverse career, Mr. Poitras began as a regional planning coordinator for a regional county municipality in Quebec before joining Plani-Cité in 1989, where he eventually assumed the presidency in 1998. In 2009, he became vice president of Plania, a Quebec-based development firm, before joining AECOM in 2014 as director of landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning services. Since 2024, he has held the position of Director of Planning and Development for AECOM.
Throughout his career, Mr. Poitras has coordinated numerous studies on urban and regional planning, redevelopment, and development, highlighting key issues such as heritage preservation, environmental protection, local economic promotion, sustainable transportation solutions, and sustainable development. With exceptional communication skills, he has successfully organized and facilitated many planning and design workshops, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders for various cities and government institutions including Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Hydro-Quebec, the National Capital Commission, the Department of National Defense, Parks Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada. His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including five from the AAPC.
For several years, Mr. Poitras has focused his interests on integrating sustainable development principles into all planning projects, as well as their resilience to climate change. Drawing inspiration from best practices such as Smart Cities, Complete Streets, Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™), Envision certification, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®), he strives to ensure that every study, design, and development project achieves high levels of quality and significantly contributes to environmental, economic, and social aspects.
Photo Credits
- Lien Nord-Canal Lachine-TPSGC
- Promenade de la Grave-Ville de Percé
- Route de l'Église-Ville de Québec
- Rue piétonnière Prince-Arthur
- 3D Prince-Arthur
- Centre de la nature-Ville de Laval
- Plan Directeur Centre de la nature-Ville de Laval
- Corridor de biodiversité-Ville de Terrebonne
