Shanghai World Expo 2010 - Presentation of the Espace Montréal multimedia
show

MONTREAL , Dec. 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Mr. Michel Bissonnet , official responsible for Shanghai 2010, and Mrs. Nicole Ménard, Minister of Tourism, today attended the viewing of the multimedia show which will be featured at Espace Montréal at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. This was the one and only chance to attend the Espace Montréal show before the equipment used to develop Espace Montréal, including the progressive scale model, are shipped to China .

"Montréal chose to introduce the Complexe environnemental de Saint-Michel (CESM) to hundreds of thousands of visitors to Espace Montréal. The CESM, which is a true example of our creative know-how, will be introduced to the entire world as an example to follow in the field of sustainable development," said Michel Bissonnet.

The multimedia show, which is projected onto a moving surface measuring 5.75 metres X 3.5 metres, is composed of up of 720 mobile facets, tells the unique story of the evolution of the CESM and many innovative technologies.

Minister Nicole Ménard Ménard is happy the Government of Québec could contribute to develop the project. "We are convinced that the spin-offs will be more than positive both for Montréal and the rest of Québec. China has now approved Canada as a tourist destination. This will certainly increase the number of Chinese tourists to Canada and Québec. This is an extraordinary opportunity to promote Montréal as an imaginative, lively, cultural city, as well as one with green and blue spaces that are so appreciated by the Chinese people," the Minister added.

The multimedia presentation, developed by the Montréal firm gsmprjct, is the main attraction of Espace Montréal. The scenario highlights the site's evolution from its beginnings as a quarry, to landfill, to the current site, soon to become one of the city's largest public urban parks. This short history of the site will make visitors aware of environmental issues, teach them about the many challenges faced by the CESM and help them to appreciate the solutions devised by Montréal to address the various problems on the site.

After the viewing, visitors will enter an area featuring detailed information highlighting the city and private sector expertise on the CESM site. They will benefit from unique exposure over the six months of Expo 2010 to promote their know-how. Six challenges and project innovations will be featured, including: site rehabilitation, waste management, waste transformation and recycling technologies, landscaping, as well as green architecture with the Cirque du Soleil and TOHU buildings.

The total construction and installation cost of Espace Montréal is valued at $2.25 million . This includes the turnkey contract awarded to gsmprjct.

The Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA), which will be attended by Montréal, is a theme zone reserved for cities as part of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, to be held from May to October 2010 . The area includes four recycled industrial buildings and independent pavilions, and is home to some fifty cities that were chosen for their leadership in the field of urban innovation, giving them international exposure for six months. These cities include Paris/Région Île-de-France, Barcelona , Seoul , London , Madrid , Sao Polo and Cairo .

Expo organizers anticipate the participation of approximately 200 countries and international organizations, as well as 70 million visitors, exceeding Expo 67's 50-million visitor mark. They estimate that 90% of visitors will come from China and 10% from other countries, with peaks of up to 800,000 visitors per day.

For further information: François Goneau, Relations avec les médias, [phone]; Source: Bernard Larin, Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif, [phone]; Emilie Rouleau, Attachée de presse, Cabinet de la ministre du Tourisme