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OASIS | QUARTIER CHINOIS: CULINARY DELIGHTS, PUBLIC ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING ALL SUMMER

Press release | For immediate release

Montreal, July 21, 2022 - La Pépinière | Espaces Collectifs, Marché de Nuit, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Tourisme Montréal are pleased to announce the official opening of Oasis | Quartier chinois and the Asian Market as part of the Moments du cœur de l’île initiative. The public space welcomes Montrealers and visitors to an enchanting, authentic and intergenerational space seamlessly integrated with the historic neighbourhood. Until October 2, everyone is invited to sample food from several street food stands operated by local restaurateurs, many of them based in Chinatown; to discover a new temporary public artwork; and to enjoy captivating performances and activities all summer!

Second annual Asian Market and its Night Market event

After a successful inaugural edition in 2021, the Asian Market is back with an exciting and varied selection reflecting Asia’s rich culinary traditions. In a festive and inviting setting, every Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Hoho Street Food (Chinese street food), Egina BBQ (Mongolian barbecue) and World Tea House (Chinese BBQ and beverages) will serve their delicious offerings.

The market’s design is the work of multidisciplinary artist Le Lin, who took inspiration from hyper-mythical Asian pop. Visitors are immersed in a celestial world featuring the moon, sun, clouds, butterflies, magnolia blossoms, dragons and Chinese lanterns.

On two special long weekends – July 28 to 31 and August 25 to 28 – the Asian Market will become a Night Market. More than 20 restaurants in Chinatown and downtown will offer a huge selection of Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean dishes.

A symbolic artwork

In the heart of Oasis | Quartier chinois, Le Peigne rests in the large tree at the centre of the site. Made entirely from plastic collected in Chinatown and decorated with a giant magnolia blossom, Le Peigne, which is illuminated by night, is presented as a fossilized urban artifact. Transdisciplinary artist Wawa Li and space designer Sarah Tu teamed up to use the artisanal plastic-recycling techniques of Studios Ascètes, whose work is focused on the global waste crisis. With this piece, the creators invite visitors to reflect on hyper-consumerism and the production of plastic.

Rich cultural programming

Fridays and Saturdays, numerous activities and performances await visitors of all ages. More than 70 performances and activities will be presented by nearly 200 artists and collectives, showcasing the incredible diversity of Asian culture and representing more than 10 countries. The program includes Chinese calligraphy workshops, Cantonese language lessons, tea ceremonies, Chinese opera, traditional and contemporary dance and music with Andy Khun, Lørra and The Earthtones and Sarah May Vézeau among others.

The complete program, with details and schedules are on coeurdelile.com

QUOTES

“Montreal is so beautiful and lively! And that is particularly true of Chinatown, which is fortunate to host the Oasis and Asian Market again this year as part of the Moments du cœur de l’île initiative. I am delighted with the collaboration that led to these successful projects, and I invite all tourists, workers and families to enjoy them to the fullest,” said Steven Guilbeault, Member of Parliament for Laurier–Sainte-Marie and Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

“This project is the result of an exemplary collaboration, and it is a perfect expression of the Ville de Montréal’s core values of inclusiveness and social economy. I am also delighted that Chinatown, an important symbol of our city, is once again hosting one of the eight Moments du cœur de l’île oases. I invite the public to come out and discover this welcoming, festive and wonderfully creative space,” said Montreal mayor Valérie Plante.

“Thanks to its cultural, historical and culinary offerings, Chinatown is a tourism hub linking other key downtown areas, namely the business district, the Quartier des Spectacles and Old Montreal. The arrival of the Asian Market will raise its profile and that of the merchants, artists and restaurateurs who proudly represent the neighbourhood. We congratulate the partners who have worked together to create this new Montreal attraction,” said Yves Lalumière, CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

“As a businesswoman of Chinese heritage, a Montrealer and an active member of the city’s Asian community, I am proud to join our partners in this project, which has tangible benefits for the community. Together, we have worked very hard to achieve the project’s goals: contributing to the revitalization of Chinatown and providing a high-profile platform for the neighbourhood’s merchants,” said Yifang Eva Hu, founder and CEO of the Night Market.

“La Pépinière is pleased to be part of this excellent initiative, which showcases the rich diversity of the Asian community. This new public space in the heart of Chinatown will be a destination to discover for Montrealers and tourists alike. Music, dance, food, drink, crafts – there’s a whole world to explore,” said Maxim Bragoli, executive director and co-founder of La Pépinière | Espaces Collectifs.  

“We are very happy to continue our productive collaboration with Chinatown and its stakeholders for this third year of the Oasis | Quartier chinois, a lively temporary public space. This destination stands as proof of the power of culture and food together. It is a potent contributor to the attractiveness and energy of the neighbourhood and downtown Montreal,” said Monique Simard, chair of the board of directors of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Oasis | Quartier chinois and Le Peigne
Until October 2, 2022
The cultural program is presented on Fridays and Saturdays.

Second annual Asian Market
Until October 2, 2022
Thursday to Sunday, 5 to 11 p.m.
Night Market: July 28 to 31 and August 25 to 28, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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Crédits

Asian Market

The Asian Market is an initiative of La Pépinière | Espaces collectifs in collaboration with Marché de Nuit and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership. The project is made possible by the support of the Quebec tourism ministry’s Fonds de maintien des actifs stratégiques en tourisme (strategic tourism assets support fund), administered by Tourisme Montréal. 

Le Peigne
Creation: Wawa Li and Sarah Tu in collaboration with Studios Ascètes.
Production: Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

Cultural programming
The program is an initiative of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership in collaboration with Yifang Eva Hu, founder and executive director of the Night Market, Parker Mah, cultural worker, artist, multimedia producer and Winston Chan, entrepreneur.

ABOUT LES MOMENTS DU CŒUR DE L’ÎLE

The product of a fruitful collaboration between the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Montréal centre-ville, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Ville de Montréal, in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal, Les moments du cœur de l’île is downtown Montreal’s collaborative summer project. Bringing together the district’s cultural and economic stakeholders, the initiative encompasses a wide variety of activities presented by each partner. From Atwater to Papineau streets, between Sherbrooke St. and the St. Lawrence River, downtown is the place to go for countless cultural activities thanks to a variety of pedestrian zones, safe public spaces, spontaneous performances and an enhanced cultural offering. From June to the fall, these initiatives invite Montrealers, visitors and tourists to enjoy the best of the island outdoors.

More information: lecoeurdelile.com

ABOUT MARCHÉ DE NUIT

Since 2017, Marché de Nuit – Montreal’s Asian night market – has organized events that highlight the local Asian community. The organization’s mission is to support Chinatown merchants by giving them a high-profile platform and contributing to the neighbourhood’s revitalization. Marché de Nuit is proud to be part of Chinatown’s economic success.

ABOUT LA PÉPINIÈRE | ESPACES COLLECTIFS

La Pépinière Espaces Collectifs is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating living public spaces at the neighbourhood scale. Since its inception in 2014, the organization has completed more than 50 projects that helping make our cities and towns inclusive and unifying living environments. A Quebec placemaking pioneer, La Pépinière has unique multidisciplinary expertise allowing it to produce innovative projects that strengthen communities.

Motivated by the significant impact of its work, La Pépinière has a comprehensive vision for the city of the future: a city where each community has a central space that brings citizens together and serves as a hub for community life.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Quartier des Spectacles Partnership

Mélanie Mingotaud
melanie@mingo2.ca
514 582-5272

Marché de Nuit

Yifang Eva Hu
marchedenuitmtl@gmail.com

La Pépinière | Espaces Collectifs

Marianne Larsen
info@pepiniere.co