Participatory drainage: Infrastructural citizenship in Montreal’s back alleys

This article examines citizen participation in green infrastructure initiatives in two distinct back-alley drainage projects in Montreal. It studies how planners and city officials attempt to foster “citizen participation” in climate change adaptation, but often inadvertently stifle it through bureaucratic processes and narrow definitions of participation. Drawing on the concept of infrastructural citizenship, the study reveals a disconnect between official expectations and residents’ everyday practices, whose informal contributions and local knowledge are undervalued within formal project frameworks. The analysis highlights how participatory urban projects can depoliticize citizenship and conceal grassroots practices, ultimately undermining project success. By mobilizing critical infrastructure studies, the article sheds light on the power dynamics and governance challenges inherent in participatory drainage, offering insights into the complexities of citizen involvement in urban infrastructure.