Where the world comes together
Gala Dinner Dance
MONTREAL AU COEUR DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Dr.
Klaus Töpfer |
The United Nations Association of Canada held a Gala fund raising dinner
dance on November 17th at Le Windsor. Former Canadian Ambassador to the
United Nations, Yves Fortier was Honorary Chairman of the event.
The guest of honor, Dr.
Klaus Töpfer, Assistant Secretary General of the UN and Executive
Director of the UN Environment Program and of the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlementsd (Habitat) was introduced by Senator Lucie
Pépin representing Minister of Environment Christine Stewart.
Mme Michelle Bussières, Sous-ministre au Ministère des Relations
internationales du Québec thanked Dr. Töpfer.
The theme, "Montréal au coeur de l'environnement international"
underscored Montreal's role as the North American centre for international
organisations in environment and sustainable development. The evening was
a great sucess, and it raised well over $75,000.
Diana
Thébaud Nicholson & Pierre Marc Johnson |
The Honorary Committee included Pierre
Marc Johnson, Janine Ferretti, Executive Director of the CEC
and her husband, Gary Gallon, President of the Canadian
Institute for Business and the Environment, Malcolm Mercer, Director
of the Canada bureau of the IUCN- World Conservation Union and a director
of the World Water Council (of which Montrealer Bill Cosgrove is
Vision Director), Jacques Gérin of the International Institute
for Sustainable Development, Lise Lachapelle, President of the Pulp
and Paper Association,Marie Lambert M.C.,, Member of the Forum on
Climate Change of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy,
Michael Cloghesy, President of the Centre patronal de l'environnement
du Québec and Jean Piette, a leading member of the Canadian
Association of International Environment lawyers.
The Gala committee headed by Carolina Richer-Laflèche, well-known
Montrealer with a background in environmental law, included Diana
Thébaud Nicholson, the Executive Cordinator, Angus Archer, Donald Barwick, Micheline
Corriveau, Pierre D'Amour, Paul Gagner, Denise Grossman, Margaret
Lefebvre, Astri Reusch, Linda Sutherland and Ysabel Trujillo
Mayor Pierre Bourque emphasized the importance of this event for the
City of Montréal, which has become the "international environment
capital of North America" as home to the Sectretariats of the Biodiversity
Convention, Montréal Protocol (Ozone Layer) and NAFTA/CEC Commission,
the E7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment, the International
Water Secretariat, the Canada bureau of the IUCN - World Conservation Union
and, most recently, the North American office of the World Water Council.
Senior representatives of these important international organisations,
NGOs and a number of major companies in the environment and energy
sector attended the Gala.
Every year for the last ten years UNA-Canada has organized a gala dinner
in either Montréal, Ottawa or Toronto featuring a special "star"
from the UN's leadership. These national galas attract Canada's corporate
élite as sponsors and have proven to be the most efficient means
of raising funds for UNA-Canada's work educating Canadians on UN issues
such as humanitarian and refugee assistance, human rights, peace and security,
protection of the environment and international sustainable development.
Angus
Archer |
Briefly, this was an exceptional occasion for prominent Montrealers to
meet and mingle with international and national leaders of the Environment
from the public, corporate and academic sectors and to learn more about
issues which are so important to the future of our planet and also, to
understand how important Montreal has become in this sector.
Dr. Töpfer arrived in Montréal immediately following
the 4th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change
and Subsidiary Bodies which was held in Buenos Aires. He delivered a most
eloquent outline of the major developments of that meeting and the challenges
which face our planet.
This was a sparkling event. People involved in environment and sustainable
development are also amusing, entertaining and very cosmopolitan!
ASTRI REUSCH
The artwork used as a theme for the Gala was taken from the large-scale
environmental works of the Tropical Rain Forest Series by Astri Reusch.
Original oil paintings up to 30 feet (9 meters) long, these works are part
of an ongoing series of hundreds of images which the artist has created
to celebrate the strength and diversity of the natural environment.
David Nicholson |
The artist was born in the tropics of South America and in this series
she has immersed herself in the imagery of the tropical rain forest of
her childhood. She has had the opportunity to observe both the beauty and
the devastation of this resource and her artwork reflects her awareness
and concern with respect to this process.
In January of this year, Astri Reusch explored this theme in
the sets which she created for a multi-media performance work by the experimental
dance group Danse-Cité at the Théatre du Monument National.
Ms. Reusch has received international recognition for her sculpture,
glass and major architectural works. Her work in glass has been exhibited
throughout the world from Montreal to Tokyo, including the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the
Corning Museum of Glass,the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Musée
des Arts décoratifs in Paris and many others.
Greg & Ros Block |
She also created the monumental sculpture La Débâcle in
the main hall of the Musée de la Civilisation in Quebec City, inspired
by the force and drama of nature as expressed in the break-up of the massive
ice floes which takes place every year on the St. Lawrence River. She has
also created sculptural works in entrance halls at the headquarters of
IntelSat in Washington DC and Belcourt Construction in Montreal.
The artistic theme of the evening was in the capable hands of Astri
Reusch and Denise Grossman, two incredibly creative individuals.Some
of Astri's "exuberant" paintings of tropical vegetation were hung in the
Salon Versailles, including a huge work as a backdrop to the head table.
These were complemented by lush plants from the Botanical Garden and graceful
centrepieces emphasizing the "greening of Montreal".
Catering was by the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Michael Marentette, President
of Les Agences Whitehall provided the wines for dinner - new wines now
being introduced to the Québec market. Music for dining and dancing,
supplied by Peter Freeman and his orchestra featured a guest
appearance by talented Montreal soprano Susan Eyton-Jones (who was
flown in from Europe for the occasion by Air Canada), accompanied by Michael
McMahon. Susan returned the next day to perform in Amsterdam.
Major sponsors of the evening included BOMBARDIER Inc and Imasco. Other
donors included Air Canada, Bowne of Montreal, COSMAIR, Les Agences Whitehall,
the City of Montreal Botanical Gardens, The Consulate General of the German
Republic, Les Breuvages Nora and Astri Reusch.
For information and/or donations, call the UNA -Canada office
in Ottawa at :
(613) 232-5751
For more Environment
Links
After
the speeches Click for Page Two
![[Version en français]](fr.gif)
?Subject=Gala98">©
1997, 98 by David T. Nicholson
?Subject=Gala98"> ?Subject=Gala98">
Please phone (514) 934-0023
?Subject=Gala98"> ?Subject=Gala98">or
e-mail us more info.
|
