High-Speed Rail in Canada: The Future of Inter-Urban Transportation

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
From 11:30 am to 1 pm

• Light refreshments will be served at 11:30 am
• Panel discussion from noon to 1 pm

National Arts Centre – O'Born Room (second floor)

1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario

Exterior food is not permitted at the venue.

Sessions are free and offered in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation.

We strive to host inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodation, please let us know as soon as possible.

Mélanie-Lan Dorémus, Studio Director, Building and Design Division, AREP

Mélanie-Lan Dorémus is an associate architect at AREP Architectes and an AREP studio director in Paris, France. A graduate of ENSAIS, the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Strasbourg, Mélanie began her career in Hanoi, Vietnam, before moving to France, where she spent several years at major Parisian firms (Valode & Pistre Architectes, Wilmotte & Associés and Ateliers Jean Nouvel) working on large-scale projects both in France and internationally, within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

As a professional involved in digital and ecological transitions, Mélanie founded her own architecture firm in 2013. Notably, she has contributed to the promotion of architecture among the general public and advocated for access to commissions for women architects. Invited by AREP to join its Vietnamese branch in 2018 and then to take over management in 2019, Mélanie worked for five years designing innovative solutions that aim to reconcile intensive urban growth in Southeast Asia with environmental and climate challenges.

Since returning to France in 2023, Mélanie has led a team of around thirty architects working on mobility, new station and rehabilitation projects throughout France.

Valérie Facchinetti-Mannone, Professor, Geography Department, Université Bourgogne Europe

Valérie Facchinetti-Mannone is a professor in the geography department at the Université Bourgogne Europe in Dijon, France, where she heads the first-year Master’s program in transportation, mobility, environment and climate (TMEC Master’s degree). She is also a member of the ThéMA research laboratory (theories and models for development).

Valérie’s research focuses on transport and territory interactions applied to passenger rail transport and addresses the territorial effects of high-speed rail and changes in station districts. Valérie is also interested in active transportation, the walkability and cyclability of public spaces and the influence of the urban environment on mobility practices.

Marc-Olivier Ranger, Chief Strategic Policy and Partnerships Officer, Alto

As Chief Strategic Policy and Partnerships Officer, Marc-Olivier plays a fundamental role in the organization’s success. His duties include shaping the strategic orientations and the public interest objectives for the Alto project. As well, he collaborates with the Government of Canada and academia to define the project’s policy, financial and economic frameworks. Marc-Olivier Ranger left his mark on the federal government over many years during which he contributed a wide-ranging collection of unmatched expertise in the areas of sound governance, the management of public finances, and the design, administration and implementation of sweeping programs and major infrastructure projects.

He was a senior director at Transport Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. Prior to joining Alto, Marc-Olivier oversaw the monitoring, policy orientations and appointment recommendations to support the mandates of all federal Crown corporations, shared governance organizations and the other entities comprising the Department of Transport’s portfolio. For many years, he supervised all construction work within the framework of the Canadian Parliament’s Centre Block rehabilitation project, the largest and most complex rehabilitation project for a heritage building ever undertaken in Canada.

Marc-Olivier pursued graduate studies in public and infrastructure administration at the Harvard Kennedy School and the École nationale d’administration publique.

Antoine Normandin, Director of Transportation Planning, NCC

Antoine Normandin is Director of Transportation Planning at the National Capital Commission, where he leads a team responsible for the development of federal transportation plans, policies and projects in Canada’s National Capital Region. In this capacity, he is involved in several major initiatives, including the replacement of the historic Alexandra Bridge and work on the Gatineau–Ottawa tramway.

Prior to joining the NCC, Antoine spent a decade applying operational research methods to measure the performance of both bus and rail transit networks. Antoine holds a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies and Geography from the Université de Montréal and a Master’s degree from the Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London.

Antoine is a chartered geographer of the Royal Geographical Society, a fellow and governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a member of the Explorers Club and a recipient of the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for services to Canada and the discipline of geography.

David Cook, Vice President, Systems Interface, Alto

David Cook has 20 years of experience in the railway industry. He has worked extensively with Canadian National Railway in a variety of senior engineering and leadership roles across Canada.

David has managed large design and construction teams handling major capital projects on a territory spanning over 6,115 km track miles, such as capacity increase assignments, grade separations and yard upgrades. This work included high-level planning and business strategies for various projects.

From 2020 to 2024, David was the technical director and project manager for QMOT, a VIA Rail high frequency rail project to transform passenger rail service between Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. This project was in collaboration with AECOM and Arup and provided owner’s engineer services to the VIA high frequency rail project.

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