Tonight! 5th Season Opening of les Jardins Gamelin, free activities signed 100%-Montreal.

Montreal, May 30, 2019 – The fifth season of Les Jardins Gamelin opens today, until September 29, welcoming Montrealers and visitors to a diverse, culturally rich, festive living space. The Jardins’ unique, comfortable layout, paired with a cultural program reflecting Montreal’s great artistic diversity, makes this Montreal’s best place to get together, have fun and relax with family and friends. There are free activities signed 100%-Montreal, for all every day!

The return of Les Jardins Gamelin comes with the same commitment to social inclusion and peaceful coexistence, continuing a remarkable revitalization experiment in this public space in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. The initiative is produced by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership based on an initial concept by Pépinière & Co., with the support of the borough of Ville-Marie and numerous partners, including Sentier Urbain and the Société de développement social.

“The opening of this 5^th season of Les Jardins Gamelin is wonderful news. This is a quintessential Montreal space: a place where mixing, creativity and diversity enrich our living environment. The space, transformed over the last five years, always has pleasant surprises in store, and I am delighted to see its return,” said Montreal mayor Valérie Plante.

We are launching this 5^th season with the same enthusiasm as we had at the beginning, only this time our main feeling is pride. We are proud to have transformed a neglected space into a beloved gathering place and living space for thousands of Montrealers and visitors. Proud to have created a revitalization model based on respect for every person, a place that reflects Montrealers’ hospitable nature – open to diversity and focused on culture. Last but not least, we are proud to have succeeded in mobilizing the major players in the area, our indispensable partners. We are committed to continuing to work with them to keep bringing people back to Place Émilie-Gamelin,” said Jacques Primeau, chair of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership’s board of directors.

ACTIVITIES EVERY DAY, FOR EVERY TASTE

There are 16 different activity series in Les Jardins Gamelin, day and night, every day of the week: dance, concerts, urban agriculture workshops, history workshops, many genres of music, and plenty of fun activities.

Early birds will enjoy starting their day with outdoor group meditation and yoga sessions. Many workers spend their lunch break on the Jardins’ large terrasse, with its charming musical ambiance, including Wednesday DJ sessions with Tupi Collective. The city’s cosmopolitan heart is on full display all week with the music series Ce soir on danse, Midis jazz and Mmm / Montréal musique du monde. (See MUSIC release)

The space is also an excellent spot for a light meal, made from fresh local ingredients by Dominic St-Laurent and his team. This year’s menu includes several vegan options, Happy Hour specials and children’s menus, all available daily until closing.

History buffs will appreciate BAnQ sort de ses murs, a series of workshops exploring Montreal’s heritage, particularly the rich history of Place Émilie-Gamelin and adjacent neighbourhoods. In the evening, take a musical trip to the hot Caribbean with the Apéros Criollo series, or sing along to the hits of your youth with the Étais-tu né? series. Once again this year, the brave of heart will take the mic during karaoke night, every Monday. Everyone who loves to dance has plenty to look forward to this season, with the Bals de l’été on Wednesdays, live music and DJs at the Ce soir on danse series every Friday, and the Soirées Salsafolies on Saturdays.

Sunday is undoubtedly a favourite time for families to come out for some fun and fresh air. Like last season, the Matinées familiales avec Petits Bonheurs feature activities and shows for kids of all ages. Board games and trivia night with Randolph are also returning, to everyone’s delight, with the T’as de beaux jeux series. (See FAMILY release)

Sentier Urbain’s garden tours, workshops and lectures on urban agriculture and environmental issues are more relevant than ever. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or an absolute beginner, don’t miss these free activities. Thanks to this 100% green project with a strong social component, it has never been easier to commune with nature in the heart of the city.

For the complete program and schedule of events and activities, visit our NEW WEBSITE: jardinsgamelin.com

MORE RETURNING FAVOURITES

Feast your eyes on Candide, the latest production by Montréal complètement cirque. The new outdoor show, created by Anthony Venisse, will transform the Jardins into a massive circus ring from July 4 to 14, with two shows nightly.

By popular demand, the Jardins en Cabaret evenings will return in August. These wild open-air cabaret nights are an unforgettable experience, by turns hilarious and poignant. This season there will be four cabaret nights presented by four different partners: Les productions Carmagnole, Pride Montreal, Festival Phénomena, and Marie-Paule Grimaldi.

Year after year, many partners and artists have stayed loyal to Les Jardins Gamelin, making rich contributions to the summer program. Several popular events are returning this season: the magic of Montréal complètement cirque and the music of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique will spice up July in the Jardins; the Montreal First Peoples’ Festival and Festival Under Pressure will set the tone for life in the Jardins in August; and Quartiers Danses, POP Montreal, and the Festival international de la littérature will close the season in September.

And, the Gamélites are back! Follow their adventures on Facebook all season.

For a complete list of the Jardins’ partners, see the appendix.

NEW: THE MARCHÉ SOLIDAIRE IN LES JARDINS GAMELIN

Les Jardins Gamelin welcome the Marché solidaire des Jardins Gamelin for the entire season. This lively new market offers 100% local products, at affordable prices. There will be an extensive selection of fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese, fish, meat and eggs. The market’s participatory model is consistent with the social values at the heart of Les Jardins Gamelin.

ABOUT LES JARDINS GAMELIN

In the spring of 2015, Place Émilie-Gamelin showed a new face to Quartier des Spectacles residents and visitors with Les Jardins Gamelin, open from May to September. A large, green and inviting civic space in the heart of downtown, Les Jardins Gamelin return every year with an original temporary layout and a versatile set of facilities. The space’s unique, accessible and human-scale programming, now in its fifth season, has become a part of daily life for residents and visitors, making Les Jardins Gamelin an inclusive gathering place in true Montreal style.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for managing and animating the Quartier’s public spaces, providing distinctive illumination, and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership is supported by the Ville de Montréal.

For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com

PHOTOS

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Please include caption and credit with all photos used: Les Jardins Gamelin in the Quartier des Spectacles. Photographer’s name.

MEDIA

Marie Lamoureux | marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com | 514 923-6772

APPENDIX

PARTNERS
The Jardins Gamelin project is produced in coordination with:
The borough of Ville-Marie
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

Social outreach:
La Société de développement sociale de Ville-Marie (SDS)
Cactus
Spectre de rue
Présence Compassion

Programming partners:
BAnQ
CHOQ.ca
UQAM
Debout : Actes de parole
Donner pour aider
Dominique Saint-Laurent and his team (snack bar)
Canada’s National Ballet School
Festival Afromonde
Festival international de la chanson de Granby
Festival international Nuits d’Afrique
Festival international de la littérature
Montreal First Peoples’ Festival
Festival Phénomena
Festival Quartiers Danses
Fierté Montréal Pride
Francouvertes
Haïti en Folie
Le Pictographe
Les Productions Carmagnole
Les Filles Électriques
Le Marché solidaire Frontenac
Ma première Place des Arts
Montréal Complètement Cirque
MU
Petits bonheurs
POP Montréal
Radio-Canada
Randolph Pub Ludique
Salsafolie
Sans oublier le sourire
Sentier Urbain
Syli d’Or de la musique du monde
Under Pressure
Vitrine MUZ
Yo-Yoga

And all the artists featured in the programming.