The people behind CIMA+: Laurie Juneau-Paradis

Since joining CIMA+ in 2011, Laurie has demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead complex projects, particularly those with a significant impact on remote communities and Indigenous peoples. One of the most emblematic projects of her career was the residential expansion of the Whapmagoostui Cree First Nation community, an ambitious project costing nearly $18 million. In 2018, with only 7 years’ experience, Laurie was chosen to lead this major project. Her expertise in infrastructure engineering, combined with her deep respect for cultural and local issues, made her the ideal candidate for this challenge.

What sets Laurie apart is her commitment to designing projects in aboriginal communities in a sustainable way, to ensuring the constant involvement of community members at every stage of the project, and to ensuring respect for their culture. This also means understanding their history. Its ability to integrate these principles into every aspect of the project not only met the client's expectations, but also generated positive economic results for the local community.

Laurie Juneau-Paradis exemplifies what it means to be a modern engineer: a professional with exceptional technical expertise, inspiring leadership and an unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities she serves. Her nomination for the Prix de la relève by the Association des firmes de génie-conseil du Québec (AFG) testifies to her prominent place in the profession and her role as a model for future engineers. We are proud to share her journey and achievements in this blog, celebrating a career that embodies the promising future of engineering.

Why did you choose engineering? What do you like about it?

When I was young, I dreamed of becoming an aircraft pilot. Under the wise advice of my father, who was a pilot in the army before taking over my grandfather’s excavation business with his two brothers, I finally opted for engineering. After high school, I enrolled in a college program in natural sciences in English, to maximize my options for the future. At the time, I didn’t yet have a clear vision of my future career, but I wanted to give myself every chance of choosing my path.

After obtaining my DCS, I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Université Laval, a field I knew would be stimulating enough to ensure that I’d never be bored, while at the same time meeting the needs of our society. During my first years at university, I was still unsure of the precise direction I wanted to take in civil engineering.

It wasn’t until my first internship at CIMA+ in my 3rd year of undergraduate studies that I realized I’d made the right choice. It was then that I realized that consulting engineering was for me. What I enjoy most is being part of a team looking for solutions, supporting and advising clients at every stage of a project, outlining potential problems and possible solutions based on the decisions made. In short, piloting the plane. Since starting my career at CIMA+ in 2011, I’ve been lucky enough to bring this passion to life in the Infrastructure team.

What does engineering mean to you?

Over the past 12 years spent at CIMA+ as part of the Infrastructure team, engineering has taken on several meanings for me. Firstly, it involves a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs and values at the outset of a project, as well as their motivations for undertaking it.

Engineering also means analyzing the social, technical, economic and environmental aspects of a project, ensuring that each of these aspects is aligned with the project objectives and the needs of the client and the community, while staying within the established budget. Finding solutions to specific problems is also at the heart of our work.
Some projects can be particularly complex and challenging. In my opinion, good leadership is crucial in engineering. It’s essential to know how to surround yourself with experts in specific fields to solve complex problems. It’s a fundamental aspect of our role.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Managing an engineering project often involves overcoming technical and budgetary obstacles, but what I find most rewarding about my work is the sense of accomplishment that comes with the successful conclusion of a project, as well as client satisfaction. These are the moments that remind me why I do what I do.

Furthermore, training and transferring knowledge to younger team members is also very rewarding for me. I’m very proud to see my efforts bear fruit and contribute to the growth of our engineers and technicians.

I also derive great satisfaction from participating in organizational initiatives that shape the evolution of our company. I am particularly proud to have led the preparation of our Reconciliation Action Plan. It’s gratifying to see CIMA+ actively committed to ongoing collaboration with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, and to be part of this vital process.

Do you believe you can make a difference in communities through your role, and how?

Since 2016, I’ve had the privilege of being significantly involved in the design, supervision and management of projects in the Indigenous communities of Northern Quebec. Located beyond the 55th parallel, these communities have realities quite distinct from those of cities and municipalities in the south. Access to these regions is exclusively by plane or boat, reinforcing the unique character of these environments.

Collaborating with Indigenous Peoples is a truly rewarding and motivating way of sharing knowledge. Carrying out engineering projects in these remote communities not only contributes to improving infrastructure and quality of life, but also to transferring knowledge about project management and implementation. In return, this collaboration enables us to gain an in-depth understanding of their culture, origins and values.

Working with Indigenous communities also involves immersion in their history and an understanding of the specific issues they face. This requires close collaboration with members of these communities and the integration of an active consultation process throughout the project. The aim of this process is to ensure the acceptability of projects while respecting the cultural and social needs of the communities involved.

My involvement in these projects since 2016 has deeply motivated me to deepen my knowledge. In January 2024, I therefore decided to take a microprogram in Indigenous Studies at UQAT, to better prepare myself for the specific challenges of this unique collaboration.

Which projects are you most proud of? Why?

The project I’m most proud of is the implementation of a storm sewer system in the community of Whapmagoostui, carried out from 2016 to 2022. The aim of this ambitious project was to outfit all the community’s streets with a modern storm sewer system. What makes it particularly remarkable is our innovative approach, which departs from conventional market standards.

The design of the new network was developed by our Infrastructure team in Quebec City, and its implementation was supervised on site by our experts. When it came to carrying out the work, we took an original approach by choosing, in agreement with our clients (the Cree Nation Government and the Whapmagoostui First Nation), to entrust the work to a local Cree team, who had little initial experience in pipe-laying.

This bold choice not only enabled the project to be carried out efficiently, but also strengthened the bond of trust between community residents and our team. It facilitated the transfer of technical and organizational skills, while helping to empower a group of local workers for future needs. This project was recognized with an Award of Excellence in the 2021 ACEC Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards.