Montréal, Quebec, June 29, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of non-repayable funding to the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal for the establishment of the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan. These contributions include $1.5 million from Canadian Heritage and $1,476,584 from Canada Economic Development.
The Blumenthal building, a Montréal architectural gem, has been renovated to serve as the year-round home of the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan. This permanent infrastructure gives Montréal a new tourist attraction on which to further build its international reach, while showcasing the history and evolution of jazz music in Montréal and Canada. The uniqueness of this new facility and its strategic location in the heart of the city’s entertainment district promise to make the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan a major magnet for music industry artists, media, contractors and creators.
Awarded through the Community Diversification program, the funding from Canada Economic Development has gone to developing promotional tools to ensure the Maison maximum exposure and to renovating the building’s 2nd and 3rd floors.
“Montréal will reap the economic and tourism rewards of this new infrastructure, whose highly-professional, state-of-the-art facilities are sure to bolster the international reputation of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Canada Economic Development’s support of this project is entirely in line with our mission to stimulate sectors that, like tourism, play an instrumental role in Quebec’s economic health. I am proud to be involved in bringing about this new cultural showcase,” explained Minister of State Lebel.
The contribution from Canadian Heritage, awarded through its Cultural Spaces Canada (CSC) program, served to fund the building’s renovations and the acquisition of specialized equipment for the various halls of the Maison. The CSC program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation and increase access for Canadians to arts and heritage.
“Situated in the very heart of Montréal’s entertainment district, the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan promises to be a one-of-a-kind venue for jazz and musical performance. Once again, the architects of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal have given the city yet another opportunity to shine the spotlight on its cultural ingenuity and creativity. The construction of this cultural space is sure to stimulate Canada’s tourism and economic vitality,” noted Minister Moore.
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Sources:
Marie-Claude Lemire
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-2199
E-mail: marie-claude.lemire@dec-ced.gc.ca
Éric Amyot
Director, Regional Communications
Quebec Region
Canadian Heritage
Tel.: 514-283-4027
E-mail: Eric.Amyot@pch.gc.ca
Stéphanie Desforges
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-1282
Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communication
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Tel.: 819-997-7788
E-mail: deirdra_mccracken@pch.gc.ca
