For its 375th anniversary, Montréal lights up, gets moving, ignites and renews

MONTRÉAL, Dec 11, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The countdown is on! Nearly a year before the start of the 2017 celebrations, the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary today gave an outline of its festive, unifying and inspiring programming. Drawing from its editorial line Building bridges, it promises to bring Montrealers of all backgrounds together.

"We are on the eve of a truly extraordinary time for Montréal. The rich and varied programming presented by Montréal's 375th celebrations will showcase the city's creativity, history, culture, joie de vivre, beauty and vitality. Each and every Montrealer can be proud of this major celebration, which will welcome visitors from around the world," said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal.

"Considering the number of people mobilized and committed to making Montréal's 375th anniversary a success, 2017 is shaping up to be a landmark year, with economic spin-offs that will benefit both the people of Montréal and Québec. In addition to investing in a number of long-term legacies, which will leave a genuine heritage for generations to come, the Québec government is proud to support programming that highlights Montréal's dynamism. By showcasing Montréal's cultures, creativity and talent, the 2017 celebrations will help position Montréal as a major cultural and economic metropolis on the world stage," said Robert Poëti, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.

Programming
The four major themes to the 2017 celebrations are Montréal lights up, Montréal gets moving, Montréal ignites and Montréal reinvents. The projects created for Montréal's 375th will celebrate Montréal's effervescent character. At different moments throughout the year, the spotlight will shine on the city's history, culture, arts, sports, technology and gastronomy, particularly during the major gathering planned for the Fête de Montréal activities on May 17. The aim of the 2017 festivities is to look to the future and capitalize on the enthusiasm and positive energy generated by the celebrations to propel Montréal forward.

"The programming was designed to bring people together and showcase the city's dynamism through, among others, cultural, gastronomic and sports activities. We will highlight Canada's 150th with the illumination of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 with a number of projects, including welcoming 50 chefs from different countries and provinces. The 375MTL celebrations were conceived with everyone in mind. There will be activities for all tastes, for 375 days straight," said Gilbert Rozon, Commissioner for Celebrations for Montréal's 375th anniversary.

Specific projects
To set the tone for the 2017 festivities, here are details on several projects:

Sports are part of the fun and will be celebrated during Winter Diversions, which will take place over four weekends in February 2017. There will be a friendly component for citizens that will encourage everyone to get outside and play. There will also be a thrilling competitive component featuring events that challenge sports enthusiasts and international-level competitors.

Circus arts, museums, radio and gastronomy will all take centre stage during Spotlight on the Neighbourhoods, an event that will take place in Montréal's 19 boroughs over 19 weekends, from May to October 2017. This signature project invites all Montrealers and tourists to discover the city's many vibrant neighbourhoods and their unique personalities.

Montréal will also welcome the city of Lyon in the winter of 2017 for a special edition of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival.

To view the video presenting the themes of the celebrations: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08T6-kqEPg4

About the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary
The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the 2017 celebrations. With a focus on promoting Montréal expertise, it acts as a catalyst to realize its mandate: mobilize the community, implement a funding strategy, rigorously manage funding, devise quality programming and ensure visibility of the celebrations. It does not look after the legacy, which falls under the responsibility of different public authorities. The Society is supported by the Ville de Montréal and the Gouvernement du Québec. For more information: 375mtl.com

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SOURCE Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

Image with caption: "Michel Leblanc, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal, Yves Laumière, Tourisme Montréal, Monique F.Leroux, Desjardins Group, Alain Gignac, 375MTL, France Chrétien Desmarais, 375MTL, Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal, Robert Poëti, Québec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Gilbert Rozon, 375MTL and Louis Arseneault, Montréal International (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151211_C6168_PHOTO_EN_563212.jpg

For further information: Information: Anne Dongois, 514-826-2050, [e-mail]