Another Success for NOHEIC's Second Symposium

From May 24 to 26, 2026, the second symposium of the National observatory on health and environmental impacts of contaminants (NOHEIC) brought together about 100 people from diverse backgrounds—including scientists, representatives of local organizations, artists, and members of the public—in Rouyn-Noranda.

Community-Based Research

The presentations featured several recent studies on air, soil, and environmental contamination in the Rouyn-Noranda region. Some presentations also addressed citizens’ experiences with pollution and the conditions necessary for constructive dialogue among the public, institutions, and scientists.

Science in the Public Debate

The lectures by Yves Gingras and Chantal Pouliot provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of scientific knowledge in the media, politics, and public controversies. The discussions underscored that simply producing data is not enough: understanding and using that data also depend on how it is communicated and discussed.

Telling Environmental Stories in a Different Way

The conference placed significant emphasis on the arts and literature. A roundtable discussion on the art of portraying pollution demonstrated how creative expression can make realities—often conveyed through data—more tangible and accessible. Biz’s closing lecture, which explored the symbolic figure of the Windigo in fictional narratives, offered a different perspective on social, human, and territorial tensions in the context of resource extraction. The screening of the play *Fondre*, inspired by the diverse perspectives of Rouyn-Noranda’s residents on issues related to the Horne Smelter, and the historical walk through Old Noranda also helped anchor the discussions in the city’s history and cultural landscape.

Supporting Future Research

The final day was devoted to new avenues of research. In particular, the Fonds de recherche du Québec and NOHEIC announced the five projects selected under the Research Program on the Assessment of Contaminants and Their Impacts on Health and the Environment (Programme de recherche sur l’évaluation des contaminants et des incidences sur la santé et sur l’environnement (PRÉCISE). These projects will receive a total of $3.2 million in funding.

Through the diversity of perspectives brought together, this second symposium demonstrated that issues related to industrial contaminants concern not only research but also citizen participation, trust in institutions, and the future of local communities.

Several presentations are now available online to continue the discussions and make this knowledge accessible to a wider audience.