The Palais des congrès de Montréal is committed to sustainable development, integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into its operations to meet the needs of today while respecting those of future generations. Through concrete actions and partnerships, the venue supports event organizers in reducing their environmental impact and adopting more responsible practices.

As part of our sustainability initiative to reduce energy consumption and in efforts to be more inclusive, the indoor air temperature at the Palais des Congrès will be set to 25°C.

Sustainable initiatives include:

• A carbon-neutral building, achieved by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions generated by energy use.

• Partnership with Planetair to provide carbon footprint calculators and certified offsetting solutions for event travel and activities.

• Tools and recommendations to help participants reduce emissions, including promoting efficient travel and reusable items.

• A central downtown location connected to public transit, helping reduce transportation-related emissions.

• Ongoing commitment to supporting responsible event practices and minimizing overall environmental impact.

• Find out more on their website.

We recognize that attending our event will have an environmental impact. To minimize our collective energy consumption, please consider the following: 

Pre-Event (Before you leave your house) 

• Adjust the temperature or turn off the HVAC while you are away 

• Close all windows  

• Turn off all lights  

• Unplug all appliances and devices that are not in use 

• Offset your travel miles: Carbon Footprint Calculator for Travel 

• Walk, Bike, Take Public Transit or Carpool to the airport

During Event 

• Bring Your Own Beverage Bottle OR Use a Water Fountain 

• Compost Your Food Scraps 

• Avoid Single Use Plastic 

• Take a Picture, Not Paper 

Lodging 

• Turn off lights in your hotel room 

• Turn off /down temperature in your hotel room 

• Close windows in your hotel room 

• Reuse towels 

• Where possible, choose stairs instead of the elevator 

• Opt for a glass of water instead of the complimentary plastic water bottle 

• Request housekeeping services only when necessary, rather than daily cleaning 

Gender-neutral washrooms will be available on-site to promote inclusivity and ensure all attendees can access facilities comfortably and respectfully. You can find two gender neutral washrooms through out the conference:

• 5th floor on north side of 516 (refered to as F517O on Palais floorplans)
• 2nd floor on west side of 210A - near registration as we only have access to one set of washrooms on 2nd level

We would like to begin by acknowledging that we are located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within and around the Montréal community.

The event will include acknowledgments and land recognition of Indigenous communities, as well as a statement on climate action, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility.

Reserved seating will be available throughout the event for anyone who may need or prefer it, ensuring a comfortable and inclusive experience for all attendees.

A dedicated area for rest, quiet reflection, and prayer will be available Monday–Friday in The Panorama (2nd floor), as well as The Cottage and The Ski Resort located on the 5th floor. These areas are activations provided by the Palais and can be leveraged as flexible spaces, including for use as a prayer area.

Various workshops on the 5th floor will also incorporate inclusive movement and wellness-focused elements.

ISME is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for participants from around the world. To help reduce language barriers, AI-powered translation and live captioning will be available through Wordly during select conference programming.

Attendees can access real-time captions and translations on their own mobile device, tablet, or laptop, choosing from more than 60 available languages. This service has been introduced to help broaden participation, support accessibility, and create more equitable opportunities for learning, engagement, and connection throughout the conference. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR OWN HEADPHONES

Available Locations

• Real-time translation and captioning available during plenary programming.

• Real-time translation and captioning available within the Universal Access Room.

How to Access

• Scan the QR code for the room you are attending.

• Open the Wordly web application on your personal device.
• Select your preferred language.
• Listen to translated audio or read live captions in real time.