International Recognition of Montreal Project Management - PMI-Montreal is Named Best Chapter Internationally

MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Montreal chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), its mission to promote excellence in project management, is proud to announce that it is the recipient of four International awards including Chapter of the Year within its category. This is the highest distinction awarded by PMI, a collective of over 650,000 members, 266 regional chapters in over 187 countries and located in distinguished cities including New York, Berlin and Singapore.

In Canada alone, PMI has 19 chapters, two of which are in Quebec (PMI-Montreal and PMI-Levis-Quebec). Created in 1977 in the wake of large-scale projects such as the James Bay and the 1976 Olympic Games, PMI-Montreal is celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year.

"These awards are another attestation of Montreal as a established international standard for excellence in project management," states current PMI-Montreal President, Benoît Lalonde. The city is home to successful research projects as well as several research chairs in project management. Among them is the most important research center in project management; the Project Management Research Chair, established in 2007 at the École des sciences de la gestion department at the Université de Quebec à Montréal (ESG-UQAM). Held by Professor Brian Hobbs, the center comprises of 14 researchers and numerous business partners from the public and private sector, university partners including Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, McGill University, Concordia University and l'École technologie superieur.

In addition to the Community Award for Chapter of the Year within the over 2,000 members category, PMI-Montreal received three other awards; the Chapter Award for Leadership, Planning & Operations- over 2,000 members category; the Chapter Award for Collaboration & Outreach - over 2,000 members category; and the Chapter Award for Member Services - includes all chapters). This is the second time since 2005 that PMI-Montreal has been awarded Chapter of the Year.

PMI recognizes that the chapter's engagement is expressed in many forms. An organization largely supported by volunteers, PMI-Montreal has put much of its effort in recent years towards increasing services to its members. The chapter was already popular for its networking activities and Project Management Professional (PMP) exam preparation program, adding to its activity portfolio an innovative interuniversity case study competition for students, bursary programs, an annual Symposium and the Élixir Gala evening where PMI-Montreal awards project management excellence.

«Due to the current climate, it may seem difficult to believe that Quebec has seen great things in project management. Notwithstanding, we have developed an expertise that is envied the world over", affirms Benoît Lalonde. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal concert hall, successfully completed in 2011 according to quality standards, within the estimated time and costs; the Quartier International de Montréal, recipient of the 2005 International Award for Project of the Year, prove that large projects succeed here within the guidelines of the discipline. Furthermore, in 1998, the large-scale urban revitalisation of the Montreal downtown joined the ranks of such prestigious projects as the Mars Pathfinder mission.

Project management professionalism and the recognition of proven best practices are continuously on the rise. Quebec newly announced measures to improve project management controls, notably within the area of roadways infrastructure, as a means to avoid a repeat of the incidents and tragedies of recent years. Another example is the adoption of Bill 133 for the administration and management of information resources for public organisations and government enterprises.

About PMI-Montreal
Founded in 1977 by Mr. Pierre Menard, the chapter brings together project management professionals in Montreal and the surrounding regions; Laval, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Outaouais, the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Mauricie Centre-du-Québec. PMI-Montreal has 3,500 members and is celebrating 35 years since its foundation. (http://www.pmimontreal.org)

Photo available upon request.

SOURCE: PMI-Montreal

Isabelle Paquette
Communications Infrarouge
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