Official Launch of the Festivities and Programming of the Montréal Pride Celebrations 2011 Presented by TD
Press Release, August 3, 2011 — PDF
Document: Portrait of the situation of LGBT people around the world — PDF
Official Picture: Mr. Éric Pineault, President of the Montréal Pride Celebrations, Mr. Jasmin Roy, Spoke-Person, Mr. David Pinsonneault, Senior Vice President, Business Banking, Québec & Atlantic, TD Bank Group and Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, Vice Président of the Montréal Pride Celebrations.
Montréal, August 3, 2011 — After the success of the first four editions, Montréal Pride Celebrations presented by TD is preparing another exciting and colourful program celebrating the LGBTA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Transvestite and Allies) community. Once again this year, this major event will underscore the energy and the pride of this dynamic and vibrant community, with an unforgettable parade under the artistic direction of “3011: Odyssey of the Future”. The Montréal Pride Celebrations 2011 will be held from Tuesday, August 9, to Sunday, August 14.
TD Bank Group joins Celebrations again
Again this year, Montréal Pride Celebrations can count on the support of a major partner that gets involved in the community by bringing its own distinctive touch to the event. “It is with great pride that we highlight TD’s support for a second year as the Official Presenting Sponsor,” stated Mr. Éric Pineault, President of the Montréal Pride Celebrations.
Mr. David Pinsonneault, Senior Vice President, Business Banking, Quebec & Atlantic, TD Bank Group, explains TD’s commitment to the LGBTA community: “At TD, we attach great value to fostering an inclusive environment in which everyone feels valued and respected. By supporting activities like the Celebrations and 14 other Pride festivals in Canada and the U.S., we hope to make a difference and to encourage acceptance.”
TD will surprise festival goers with its new TD Caravan, which has been transformed into a futuristic spacecraft for the occasion. With dance music blasting and free ice cream being given to the crowd, the TD Caravan is one of the Celebrations must-see attractions. In keeping with the theme for the 2011 Montréal Pride festival, 3011: Odyssey of the Future, the Caravan will also host a “TD Space City” themed photo experience with people’s favorite TD boy, girl or TD Drag Queen that is sure to engage passersby of all ages. The TD Music stage will bring back some fan favorites too, like the TD Comfort zone and misting station for all to enjoy.
“We are pleased to offer a rich and diverse indoor and outdoor program that will rally the entire population together during the six days of Pride. The majority of activities will still be available for free, but this year, those who purchase the pink Pride bracelet for just $5 will benefit from additional benefits, including rapid access to Place Émilie-Gamelin as well as exclusive access to the Pride Zone. We have a new and innovative take on fund-raising this year with the launch of our “Proud and Smart!” (Fier et Smart !) contest. For just $20, you could have a chance to win a Smart Fortwo Coupé 2011, the hot new two-seater city car! Funds from sales of the bracelet and from contest entries will ensure that we can maintain a high-quality Pride program while offering parade registration to community groups for free,” explains Mr. Pineault.
The Montréal Pride Celebrations program consists of three main components:
HUMAN RIGHTS COMPONENT
Under the theme, “Share the Pride”, the 2011 Montréal Pride Celebrations will strive to create awareness of the fact that, although there have been significant social and legal advances in Québec and in Canada, many members of the LBGTA community around the world face the violation of their fundamental rights on a daily basis. The Montréal Pride Celebrations will reach out to some of these communities, to try to work together to improve the current human rights situation.
As part of this mission, the organizers are proud to welcome Ms. Alice Nkom, renowned human rights lawyer from Cameroon and proud defender of gender equality, respect and human dignity, as Grand Marshal of the 2011 edition of the event.
In addition, on Wednesday, August 10, at 7 p.m., we will have the honour of screening the Latvian film “homo@lv”, directed by Kaspars Goba in 2010. This film shows the evolution of homosexual activism in Latvia. This screening will be followed by a discussion with Kaspars Zalitis and Kristine Garina, activists for the Latvian organization Mozaika and ambassadors for Montréal Pride and Ms. Alice Nkom.
A conference on same-sex parenting will be presented by CORIS (Conférence sur l’orientation et l’identité culturelle) in association with the Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Chapter, at the Delta Centre-ville Hotel on Wednesday, August 10, at 6:30 p.m. In addition, for the first time, the Claude-Tourangeau Prize will be awarded on Saturday, August 13, at 7:45 p.m. to a person or organization in recognition of their remarkable contribution to fighting discrimination against HIV-positive people.
CULTURAL COMPONENT
Theatre, music and exhibitions: a rich and diverse program with something for everyone.
To be performed for the first time in Montréal, Les Anciennes odeurs, written by Michel Tremblay, is a play that is both sensual and carnal, where the passions of the past cast a shadow on the present and where death hovers nearby. In a staging by Rita Lafontaine, the characters of Jean-Marc and Luc will be back on stage 30 years after the creation of this moving play. Francis Bourgea and David Marcel are two former lovers brought together by grief during a surprise visit to Jean-Marc; the story quickly turns into a series of confessions and admissions as old wounds resurface.
The official launch of the Montréal Pride Celebrations, at Place Émilie-Gamelin, will take place on Thursday, August 12 at 6 p.m. at the Café des Arts. Eight artists, under the artistic direction of Jean-Pierre Pérusse, will offer their interpretations of this year’s theme, “3011, Odyssey of the Future”.
Starting at 7 p.m. at the TD Music stage, the opening show, Dream Académie, will explore the rich and diverse array of Drag Queen talent in Montréal. Over fifteen of these exciting entertainers will take you on an extraordinary and colourful voyage in a show lasting almost three hours!
Next up will be a musical revue of the 70s, 80s and 90s, DECADES, which will roll out the hottest pop, rock and disco hits in series of medleys. This electrifying musical show presented by Alter Ego Productions will serve up top talent and great music starting at 9 p.m. on the TD Music Stage at Place Émilie-Gamelin
Starting at 7 a.m. on Friday morning, the public is invited to take part in a video shoot of a lipdub to the new Beyoncé song “Who Run the World (Girls).” Vanessa Duchel (Star Academy, TVA) and Karl Hardy (VJ Recherché, Musique Plus) will join our spokesperson, Jasmin Roy, in transforming the TD Music Stage and Place Émilie-Gamelin into a massive lipdub!
For the very first time, on Friday, August 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., children are invited to take part in the Montréal Pride Celebrations during Kids Day: inflatable games, guest artists, face painting and many other surprises are in store to entertain the young and the young at heart!
In the evening, Montréal Pride Celebrations are delighted to pay tribute to one of Québec’s most famous songwriters, Luc Plamondon. Martine St-Clair will present the show “Les uns contre les autres… avec Martine” and will have the honour of interpreting the Plamondon’s greatest hits. She will follow by performing her own hits, with long-time collaborator, Marc Hervieux, joining her on stage for a few songs.
On Saturday, August 13, Place Émilie-Gamelin will welcome “Movement, Music and Meditation”, the largest yoga event in Canada, under the direction of renowned yogini Line Trépanier. All that is missing is a big turn-out by the public, who are invited to take part at 3 p.m. Later during the day, the winner of Queer of the Year 2011 will be unveiled at 7:30 p.m.
To close the evening with a bang, Michel Dorion will take to the stage once again this year to present the third edition of “Michel Dorion présente : C’est la fête !”, a variety show featuring a multidisciplinary cast of artists from the LGBTA community (singers, dancers, drag queens, musicians, etc.). This year, the show will start in cabaret style with a nod to the late Lady Alys Robi. Claudette Dion, Jessy Gauthier and Jacynthe will also add their voices and talents to this exciting show.
FESTIVE COMPONENT
The important Community Day will take place on Saturday, August 13 on Sainte-Catherine Street, between Papineau and Berri, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event allows members of both the LGBTA and mainstream communities to discover many exciting organizations, community groups, businesses and sports teams, run by and/or catering to the LGBTA community.
Throughout the same day, visitors are invited to discover the Green Avenue of Health, a special space dedicated to information on healthy living and creating a greener environment.
The Pride Parade, presented by Viagra for the very first time, is set to start on Sunday, August 14, at 1 p.m., following the same route along René-Lévesque as last year, from Guy to Sanguinet streets. This year’s artistic direction, “3011: Odyssey of the Future”, will cast a futuristic eye on how the LGBT cause might evolve in the next 1,000 years. The minute of silence is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
The parade will finish at the heart of the festivities near Place Émilie-Gamelin and the TD Music Stage, where the celebrations will wrap up with an outdoor mega T-Dance. DJs Charles Poulin, Erez Bi and Stephan Grondin will have everyone dancing until 11 p.m.
Many parties in various clubs will also be held: the Official Boys Party at Parking on Friday with DJs Stephan Lippé and Ian Key; the BlacKKocktail III on Saturday; and festivities will wrap up Sunday evening at Unity with the Official Closing Party featuring DJ Stéfane Lippé. Meanwhile, on the TD Music Stage, DJ Vito V will be spinning on Friday and DJ Kola Papass on Saturday.
The Montréal Pride Celebrations would like to thank its public and private partners and underscore their role in making the Pride in Montréal possible in 2011: special thanks to TD, the Official Presenting Sponsor of the event, the Government of Québec (Minister of Municipal affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, Minister of Tourism and Minister of Justice), the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and Viagra, Presenter of the Parade.
In addition, we want to thank our grand partners: the Borough of Ville-Marie, Trojan, the SDC du Village, Winners, Priape, Molson Dry, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), le Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles, Barefoot Wine, Via Rail, Eska Water and the Delta Centre-Ville, Gouverneur Place Dupuis, Zéro 1, Opus Montréal and Lord Berri hotels. As well as our major media partners: Fugues, Rythme FM, Virgin Radio 96, 24h, Mirror, OutTV and Grindr.
— 30 —
Dyllan Labonté, Public Relations
Alain Labonté Communications
dyllan@alainlabonte.ca
Telephone: (514) 523-9922 | Cell. (514) 616-7133
Éric Pineault, President
Montréal Pride Celebrations
epineault@fiertemontrealpride.com
Telephone: (514) 903-6193 # 27 | Cell. (514) 616-7170
Fiona Hirst
TD Bank Group
fiona.hirst@td.com
Telephone: (514) 289-1670 | Cell. (514) 250-2383
About the Montréal Pride Celebrations
Célébrations LGBTA Montréal was formed by the LGBT community, following the Divers/Cité decision, in May 2007, to cease the organization of the Pride Parade and Community Day. Célébrations LGBTA Montréal (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and their Allies) is a non-profit organization created in June 2007 that proudly organizes the Community Day and the Montréal gay and lesbian Pride Parade.
TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2010, TD donated over $50 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.
