Montréal Will be Lit up in Colour This Winter

News Release

MONTRÉAL, February 22, 2018

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), announced that the Government of Canada will be providing funding to the 19th annual MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival, which will run from February 22 to March 4, 2018.

Canadian Heritage is investing $110,000 in the 2018 edition of the festival, through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. This support will help deliver a multidisciplinary program featuring new media and will help showcase the talent and creativity of Canadian and international artists. Canadian Heritage also provided an additional $22,500 to accommodate an international delegation of broadcasters at the festival.

The funding allocated by CED totals $751,000 over two years (2017 and 2018) and comes in the form of a non-refundable contribution under the Quebec Economic Development Program. This funding will be used to market and promote the festival in international markets to attract tourists to Montréal and thereby generate significant spinoffs that will benefit all residents of Montréal. It also made possible the design and implementation of a new activity in 2017: curling en lumière.

Quotes

“During MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, our city will celebrate our northern climate and showcase our strengths in unique ways, notably through the use of interactive media arts. Through its dynamism and creativity, this event delivers a uniquely Montréal experience in an unusual setting.”

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“By shining a light on the heart of winter, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE makes the entire city shine. Each year, the variety of activities and the brilliant, breathtaking program dazzle festival-goers from near and far. The Government of Canada is pleased to support events that have a positive impact on tourism and the local economy and that resonate far beyond the city and the country.”

—The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Quick Facts

  • Founded in 2000, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is a winter festival that attracts nearly one million visitors to the Quartier des spectacles each year.

  • The 19th annual MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival will run from February 22 to March 4, 2018, and the theme will be knowledge transfer. The event will feature discussions between top culinary schools and a partnership with the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ).

  • The fine dining component will offer dozens of activities and showcase the North Shore as this year's featured region.

  • The artistic component will include about 120 shows, including music, dance, circus and theatre, while the outdoor site, iLLUMiNART, will return for a second edition with its luminous, interactive installations.

Associated Links

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Simon Ross
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca

Media Relations
Canada Economic Development
for Quebec Regions
514-283-7443
dec.media.ced@canada.ca

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