With the voting deadline fast approaching, residents of Park Extension and across Montreal have only a few days left to take part in a unique civic initiative, helping choose the name of a massive tunnel-boring machine set to play a key role in the city’s expanding transit network.
The public vote, which runs until March 22, is part of a contest tied to the construction of a new underground tunnel between the future Vertières and Anjou metro stations. While the work is taking place in the city’s east end, the broader transit expansion is expected to benefit central neighbourhoods such as Park Extension, where public transportation remains essential for daily life.
A Symbolic Tradition With Public Input
Naming a tunnel-boring machine is more than a technical formality. In major infrastructure projects around the world, it is customary to assign the machine a name and a symbolic “godmother” before excavation begins, a tradition meant to bring good fortune and highlight the human side of large-scale engineering work.
In Montreal’s case, the chosen name will honour a living Quebec woman whose contributions have made a meaningful impact in fields connected to the project, including engineering, sustainable development, or public transit.
Five finalists were selected earlier this year following an internal call for nominations among project staff and partners. A jury evaluated candidates based on the relevance of their achievements, their connection to the project’s mission, and the scope of their influence.
The five names now put to a public vote are Florence, Geneviève, Lisette, Louise, and Michèle.
Connecting Communities Through Infrastructure
While Park Extension is not directly on the construction route, transit experts point out that any expansion of Montreal’s metro network has ripple effects across the system.
For residents in dense neighbourhoods like Park Extension, improved connectivity in other parts of the city can ease congestion, shorten travel times, and create more reliable service overall. Projects like this are part of a long-term effort to modernize infrastructure and respond to growing demand for public transit.
The contest itself is also designed to strengthen the connection between major infrastructure projects and the communities they ultimately serve, something that has not always been a priority in the past.
A Chance to Step Inside the Project
Beyond voting, participants are also entered into a draw for a chance to attend the official launch event of the tunnel-boring machine later this spring. Three winners will be selected at random and invited to the construction site for the unveiling of the machine’s name and the start of excavation.
The selected “godmother” will also have a more direct role, following the progress of the work and meeting the teams involved in the project.
A Rare Moment of Public Engagement
Opportunities for residents to directly participate in large-scale infrastructure decisions are relatively rare. While the naming of a machine may seem symbolic, it reflects a broader effort to make such projects more accessible and relatable to the public.
As the March 22 deadline approaches, Park Extension residents still have time to cast their vote and leave their mark, however small, on a project that will shape Montreal’s transit future for decades to come.
