Media Advisory - Update - Gare du Palais: VIA Rail Celebrates 100 Years

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, François Blais, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume will join Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) to celebrate 100 years of the Gare du Palais on Wednesday, August 24, at 11 a.m.

Who:	The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
	François Blais, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region
	Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City
	Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada
Date:	Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Time:	11 a.m.: press conference
Location:	VIA Rail's Gare du Palais
	450, de la Gare du Palais street, Quebec City

100 years of history
This prestigious structure – built by Canadian Pacific during World War I, from plans by American architect Harry Edward Prindle – is now a designated heritage building with a rich history. The company sought to provide Quebec City with a rail terminal that would rival the grand stations of North America. Quebec City has long been considered a hub of Canada's rail network. A hiatus in passenger rail service in the downtown area began in 1976, since the trains hampered the free movement of automobile traffic. The station was re-opened in 1985.

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,600 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years. For more information, visit About VIA Rail at www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.

For further information: Mariam Diaby, Senior Advisor, Media Relations, VIA Rail Canada, 514 871-6010, 1 877 393-8787, [email protected], [email protected]; Follow VIA Rail: Twitter @VIA_rail, Facebook viarailcanada, Instagram @viarailcanada, VIA : Le Blogue