Shanghai, May 14, 2010 – May 14 is Montreal Day, as designated by the Expo 2010 Shanghai, chosen for the fact that it commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between the two cities – Montréal, Canada and Shanghai, China. This day also marks the grand opening of the Espace Montréal in the Urban Best Practices Area in the Expo’s Zone E. 

　　To celebrate this special day, two exciting performances at the Expo, a contemporary art exhibition at Times Square and a mosaiculture entitled “The Man Who Planted Trees” at public park nearby Expo site, will present a cultural, artistic and creative Montreal to Shanghai. Gérald Tremblay, the Mayor of Montréal who leads a business delegation on an official visit to Shanghai for the week of Montreal Day, will also partake in the opening ceremony of the Espace Montreal and other celebrations today.   

　　Espace Montreal

　　Expo 2010 Shanghai’s Urban Best Practices Area will showcase ingenuity in urban planning from some fifty cities from across the globe. Montréal will be represented in the UPBA as one of only two North American cities to occupy a site for the full six months of the Expo.  The Espace Montréal will demonstrate one of the city’s most outstanding examples of innovation in sustainable urban development, as well as sharing its city-planning know how with the world, making use of the latest in creative experiences。

　　“The fact that Montréal has been selected for the Best Practices categories eloquently attests to the brilliance and creativity of the Quebec people. Because cities are key sources of innovation that play a crucial role in defining the world of tomorrow, we must share our skills with the rest of the world,” said Minister of International Relations and Minister responsible for La Francophonie Pierre Arcand。

　　Espace Montréal is ideally located by the Gate 3 of the Urban Best Practices Area.  Its main attraction is a multimedia projection onto a screen measuring 5.75 m by 3.5 m and composed entirely of 720 mobile facets that render the projection a three-dimensional experience, telling the story of the Complexe Environmentale Saint Michel.  Once a 20,000 sq m and 70-m deep quarry-turned-landfill, the municipal government of Montréal has transformed this space into a large public park. 

　　11,373 kilometres to celebrate friendship with Da Shan and Cirque Eloize

　　Montréal is the birthplace of contemporary circus and home to the world-renowned nouveau cirque troupe Cirque Eloize.  In honour of the Expo 2010 Shanghai and the 25th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Montréal and Shanghai, Cirque Eloize has designed a bespoke performance which will be performed exclusively at the Expo’s Plaza of the Americas on May 14th.  11,373 kilometres to celebrate friendship is the visual interpretation of a Montréal legend that tells of a man who tunnels all the way through the earth to emerge on the other side, in China. 

　　The show is a leading-edge production, combining contemporary dance and acrobatics set against a modern fusion of special visual and sound effects.  Mark Rowswell, aka Da Shan or “China’s most famous foreigner”， will host this exceptional event。

　　Angèle Dubeau and La Pietà

　　Angèle Dubeau is one of Canada’s foremost virtuoso violinists.  Her extraordinary career has spanned three decades, which has seen her performing in some 30 nations at some of the world’s top concert halls.  Her talent, her virtuosity and musical expression, all of which have been recognized with multiple awards, are only part of the reason behind her success- Angèle Dubeau’s unique appeal lies in her ability to connect with the audience, delivering to them her captivating, rich and passionate interpretations of seminal classics.  In 1997, Angèle Dubeau established an all-female, 12-piece string ensemble, which she named La Pietà. 

　　May 14th will see Angèle Dubeau and La Pietà will be performing ‘Opus Montréal’ at the Cities Square.  The violinist describes the Opus Montréal as “a musical program organised as a journey through space and time.  The selection will emphasise virtuosity and diversity.  This trip around the world in six musical pieces will highlight the work of two Montréal composers- François Dompierre and Claude Gagnon.  Compositions will reflect the multiculturalism of Montréal’s melting pot。” 

　　Contemporary Art Montréal

　　The Contemporary Art Montréal project officially represents Montréal’s contemporary art at the Expo 2010 Shanghai.  It is held from May 13 to 19 in Shanghai. In the spirit of urban creativity, the exhibition transforms the popular downtown Shanghai commercial centre Times Square into a live exhibition site, displaying 45 major works from 15 of Montréal’s best artists and its most prestigious galleries, selected by Montréal’s Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC) and Art Souterrain. The exhibition also features a short, purpose-filmed documentary on Montréal’s galleries, screened in a public lounge area.  Thirty hosts will be available along the exhibition path to guide visitors on a journey to discover the modern art and creativity of Montréal。

　　“The Man Who Planted Trees” takes root in Shanghai

　　As a token of friendship, Montréal gives Shanghai a mosaiculture entitled “The Man Who Planted Trees,” to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the twinning of these two cities.  The creation was implemented by Mosaicultures International of Montréal and consists of 100 trees and over 200,000 plants or flowers.  This floral sculpture won the top award at the Hamamatsu International Mosaiculture 2009 in Japan, and was deemed by the jury members to be the most beautiful work ever presented in the Mosaiculture International®. It will be installed in Bailianjing Park, near a principal entrance to the Expo 2010 Shanghai site.