{This article was translated from its original French via Google Translate}
The Borough of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension announces that part of 2nd Avenue located between Jarry Street East and Deville Street, in the Saint-Michel, will change its name to Cirque Avenue, a tribute to the artisans of the circus arts sector, including Cirque du Soleil.
The announcement of the new place name took place this morning during a ceremony at the international headquarters of Cirque du Soleil in the presence of Mme Giuliana Fumagalli, Borough Mayor, Mme Magda Popeanu, Vice President of the Committee Executive of the City of Montreal, responsible for culture and diversity of Montréal, Mr. Jonathan Tétrault, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil’s business, M me Diane Lemieux , Chair of Directors TOHU, by Sébastien Guénette, President of the Board of Directors of the National Circus School and members of the Circassian community of Montreal.
“Naming a place allows us to highlight aspects of our culture, our identity. It allows us to remember who we are and where we come from. This change of name allows us to recognize the immense contribution of the circus arts to the development of our cultural metropolis and the international influence of Montreal,” said Ms. Magda Popeanu, Vice-President of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, responsible for Montreal’s culture and diversity.
“By choosing to establish its international headquarters in Saint-Michel in 1997, Cirque du Soleil has become a leading player in the revitalization of the neighborhood. We are happy to take advantage of its 35 th anniversary of foundation to celebrate its contribution to the development of Saint-Michel . Through the new place name, we want to pay tribute in a lasting way to the artisans of the circus that make our district the City of circus arts,” said Mme Giuliana Fumagalli, mayor of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Park-Extension.
“There are more than 20 years, Cirque du Soleil is rooted on the 2 th Avenue in the district of Saint-Michel with the desire to infuse a creative and inspiring energy in its new environment,” says Jonathan Tétrault, president and chief executive officer of Cirque du Soleil. “As we celebrate our 35th anniversary this year, we are honored and grateful for this change of name that recognizes the positive impact created by the circus arts. We are determined to remain a committed and involved neighbor with the large community of the borough of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension and the City of Montreal. ”
“The Avenue du Cirque represents the foundations of what brings Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and TOHU together since the creation of the Cité des Arts du Cirque in Saint-Michel . For TOHU, sustainable development through culture, especially the circus, brings people closer to Saint-Michel , who are at the heart of the organization’s three core values: the circus, the earth and the human. This gazetteer change confirms that our everyday actions make a real difference, “said M me Diane Lemieux , Chair of Directors of TOHU.
“Montréal is proudly positioned on the international scene as a hub of creativity and innovation, and the Cité des arts du cirque is an eloquent symbol. By placing the word Circus in its toponymy, the City of Montreal stresses the importance of the largest circus company in the world, whose quality stimulates a unique artistic ecosystem and reflects on all of us, “added Sébastien Guénette, President Board of Directors of the National Circus School.
The toponym “Avenue du Cirque” will come into effect next March.
The City of Circus Arts
In 1997, Cirque du Soleil decided to set up its international headquarters, a place of creation, training and production, in the Saint-Michel district. This decision was a precursor to the development of the Cité des arts du cirque. At the dawn of the 2000s, Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and En Piste, the National Association of Circus Arts, unite around a promising idea: to build adequate and accessible infrastructures to reaffirm their leadership and position Montreal as the international capital of circus arts. They will establish a non-profit organization to accomplish this purpose.
In addition to Cirque du Soleil, the Cité des Arts du Cirque is now home to the TOHU, an organization dedicated to the dissemination of circus arts, thanks in particular to its theater and its festival, the École nationale de cirque, which hosts students from around the world to learn from Montreal’s know-how, and Julie-Hamelin Park honoring the memory of the co-founder of Cirque Éloize, author, designer and producer of Finzi Pasca.
{ SOURCE: CISION }
