2018-2019 ANNUAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2019

Blue Metropolis at a glance

Blue Metropolis Foundation is a not-for-profi t organization founded in 1997 that brings together people from different cultures to share the pleasures of reading and writing, and encourages creativity and intercultural understanding. The Foundation produces an Annual Literary Festival of international calibre and offers a wide range of educational and social programs year-round, both in classrooms and online. These programs use reading and writing as therapeutic tools, to encourage academic perseverance, and fi ght against poverty and social isolation.

Our values

Cultural and linguistic diversity Promoting reading among the young International exposure Quality, respect and inclusion BLUE MET TEAM NOVEMBER 19, 2019

BLUE METROPOLIS IN-HOUSE TEAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILLIAM ST-HILAIRE PHILLIPE BÉLANGER General Manager and Artistic Director Chair of the Board of Directors MARIE-ANDRÉE LAMONTAGNE Partner, McCarthy Tétreault General Director, Programming and Communications LOUISE-ANN MAZIAK CÉLINE FERNANDES Vice-President Programming Coordinator and Assistant to the President-General Member of the Board Manager and Artistic Director CHRISTOPHE ROUBINET FRÉDÉRICK GAUDIN-LAURIN Treasurer Coordinator, Educational and Social Programs, Assisant Director of Investments Head of Volunteer Resources Business Development, Filaction PIERRE-ANDRÉ THEMENS EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS Secretary MARIO ALLAIRE Production Manager Counsel, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l./LLP LOUISE BÉLISLE Graphic Designer PETER DANIEL MYRIAM COMTOIS French-Language Media Relations Director, Ilian Consulting and Management INC SHELLEY POMERANCE Translator, English-language Media Relations STEPHEN POWELL WEBTMIZE Webmaster Associate Professor, English DUMONT ST-PIERRE INC. Accounting Concordia University JOFFREY BIENVENUE PROGRAMMING TEAM IT/IS Infrastructure & Operations Manager, Peerless Clothing Inc. LINDA AMYOT YOUSSEF J. FICHTALI Associate Director of Children’s Programming and Educational Lawyer, Fasken Programming CLÉMENTINE SALLÉE INGRID BEJERMAN Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Associate Programming Director, Spanish and Portuguese content

CHRISTOPHER DIRADDO Programming Associate, LGBTQ content ANNIE HEMINWAY Programming Advisor, French-language literature SHELLEY POMERANCE Associate Programming Director, English-language literature “ Reading is the fi rst instrument of freedom and that which must A WORD FROM THE CHAIR A WORD FROM THE GENERAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS be defended fi rst. MANAGER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR To defend the act of reading means To build on Christian Oster’s quote, An Enlightenment Cafe… a blending of I would add that by defending reading, to defend the knowledge. we also defend freedom of expression freedom to read. The Blue Metropolis Festival is a world-class and democracy. And therefore, literary event which is not only the largest During this last Festival, I was particularly as a fi rst step, multilingual literary festival in North America impressed by the subjects that were access to reading.” (as far as we can determine), but one with raised, powerful, hard-hitting, necessary a fi rm social commitment. As BishBaz and courageous, especially those Christian Oster – writer, magazine put it: “a literary festival with a Prix Médicis 1999 dealing with social inequality and conscience.” Every year, festival-goers cross racism. Impressed as well by our many paths with major novelists, essayists, and guests and their diverse worldviews and poets, from Quebec, Canada, and a dozen opinions, including many indigenous other countries. They get to rub shoulders voices committed to bridging the cultural with journalists, philosophers, academics gap in our society, all of them eager to from various disciplines, and sometimes — improve intercultural understanding. why not? — even an economist or two. All year long, the Foundation’s educational In 2019, the “Enlightenment Café” concept and social programs are driven by a that is Blue Metropolis reached 120,000 similar mission which is common to people, of all ages, either in Montreal at both our authors and our many fi nancial l’Hôtel 10, where Blue Metropolis pitches its partners. I would like to thank and tent, or in the surrounding neighbourhood at congratulate you for the courage you have various partners’ locations, at a bookstore shown in choosing, like the rest of us, near you, or even in daycare centres to promote the act of reading… throughout Quebec. The Festival has At the administrative level, which is just as organized 230 literary events, mostly in important to the fulfi llment of our mission, French and English, but also in Spanish, I’m pleased to announce that the Blue Italian, German, Arabic, Innu, and Creole Metropolis Foundation has fi led a positive — 17 languages in all. At each event, balance sheet for the 8th consecutive our experienced programming staff led year. This is the result of both strong by Marie-Andrée Lamontagne, presents management and unwavering support captivating themes for the participants. from both public and private sectors. Marie-Andrée has been our General Director of programming and communications since Let me take this opportunity to thank our last June. outgoing president, Hubert T. Lacroix, for having led the Festival team through I wish to thank my team, and the public for a critical, and promising, shift to digital its continued trust and support. technology. William St-Hilaire I begin this mandate in the fi rm belief that we will be even more numerous at the 2021 Festival and I thank William St-Hilaire and the team for their loyalty and dedication. Phillipe H. Bélanger Some highlights from the 21st editition

The 2019 edition of the Festival saw the introduction of a The awarding of the Blue Metropolis International Literary new award, co-sponsored by l’Observatoire québécois des Prize was without a doubt one of the high points in the inégalités. For its first edition, the Anthony Atkinson Equality Festival program. In 2019, the prize went to the American Prize was awarded to the eminent American economist and novelist Annie Proulx, whose work has garnered Nobel Prize laureate, Joseph E. Stiglitz. numerous distinctions (Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Pen/Faulkner Prize, Irish Time International Fiction Prize ) for its insightful depiction of the human heart and the narrative power that gives it life. Once again this year, the five other literary prizes shine a spotlight on talented authors from widely different origins: the Words to Change prize went to Reni Eddo-Lodge, a British essayist and journalist of Nigerian descent; the Blue Metropolis/ Montreal Arts Council Diversity Prize to the Palestinian-Canadian novelist, Yara El-Ghadban; the Blue Metropolis LGBTQ Violet Prize, presented by Air Canada, to the novelist and essayist Dionne Brand; the First Peoples Literary Prize to author Terese Marie Mailhot; the Premio Metropolis Azul to the Argentinian novelist and journalist Claudia Piñeiro.

Hubert T. Lacroix, outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors of the Blue Metropolis Foundation. ©Camille Trudeau-Rivest

This award ceremony was one of the highlights in the “Observing Inequality” series, which brought together writers, thinkers, researchers, journalists and various stakeholders from civil society, to discuss key issues in inequality and social innovation, in the hope of reducing the former through the latter. Through literature, the heart of its mission, the Metropolis Blue Festival has opened an area of enquiry that will take up the next two years, as we focus on the question of inequality from various perspectives.

The second major series of the Festival “Ecology and Litera- ture. Humans, animals, the planet” had us thinking about the future of humanity, thanks to writers with contrasting points of view. Among them: the French philosopher Elisabeth de Fontenay, a noted authority in animal studies, the Quebec anthropologist Serge Bouchard, and the Australian aboriginal writer Bruce Pascoe. Two prominent guests of the 2019 Festival edition: French journalist and essayist Aymeric Caron (left) and Quebec anthropologist and essayist Serge Bouchard. ©Camille Trudeau-Rivest

230 EVENTS, IN 17 LANGUAGES 275 AUTHORS, CULTURAL MEDIATORS AND GUESTS FROM 25 COUNTRIES Annie Proulx Winner of Blue Metropolis International Literary Grand Prix, 2019

Every year, the Blue Metropolis Festival celebrates one nation’s Claudia Piñeiro literature in particular. 2019 was decreed by UNESCO as the Winner of the Premio International Year of Indigenous Languages, and by the UN as the Metropolis Azul, 2019 International Year of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Since Canada has entered into a far-reaching process of reconciliation with its own First Peoples, it seemed only natural that Blue Metropolis should focus on indigenous literatures. The Festival includes aboriginal authors in all its editions, year in and year out. In 2019, the “Indigenous Literatures and Voices” series, at the adult Festival, featured indigenous writers from Canada, Latin America, and Reni Eddo-Lodge Australia. In addition, ten Canadian universities participated in the Winner of the Words 2nd edition of the students’ essay contest, based on excerpts to Change Prize, 2019 from past winners of the First Peoples Prize. Student laureates in 2019 were Matthew Leblanc (University of New Brunswick) for the English-language essay, and Coline Souilhol (Université de Montréal) in French.

Terese Marie Mailhot Winner of the Blue Metropolis First Peoples Literary Prize, 2019

Dionne Brand Blue Metropolis Violet Literary Prize, 2019

Yara El-Ghadban Winner of the Blue Metropolis / Conseil des arts de Montréal Diversity Prize, 2019

Innu poet Joséphine Bacon at the Blue Metropolis Festival 2019. ©Camille Trudeau-Rivest

Joseph Stiglitz Winner of the Anthony Atkinson MORE THAN 122,000 VISITORS Equality Prize, 2019, presented by the Blue Metropolis Festival 231 MEDIA REFERENCES and L’Observatoire québécois OVER $60,000 IN BOOK SALES des inégalités 133 JOURNALISTS PARTICIPATED OR WROTE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Key moments from the 21st edition

The Festival’s ongoing series continue to be popular with the Something new in 2019: thanks to a close collaboration with public: the Azul series hosted the Canadian-Argentinian writer the Canada Arts Council, the Festival hosted a special event Alberto Manguel; the LGBTQ series highlighted the works of for six winners of the 2018 Governor-General’s Award: writers writer, producer and activist John Greyson, among other Darell J. McLeod, Karoline Georges, Michaël Trahan, Sarah activities. And there are those fruitful partnerships we’ve Henstra, the translating team of Phyllis Aronoff and Howard renewed with the CBC, Concordia University, and Les Rendez- Scott, and translator Paul Gagné. The title of the event: “Le vous du Premier Roman (UNEQ and Festival de Chambéry). pouvoir de la littérature / The Power of Writing “. With poet and translator Katia Grubisic acting as moderator, each participant got five minutes to give a mini-exposé on how literature can change the world… if at all… or maybe a bit. Professionals day at the Blue Metropolis Festival The second edition took place on Friday, May 3, 2019, at l’Hôtel 10. Book-publishing professionals from Quebec, Canada and abroad, came together to discuss current issues in the book industry. Alongside Canadian professionals were Hélène Fichbach, managing director of the Festival Quai du Polar, in Lyon, France; Ricardo Cayuela, head of Random House in Mexico; and five cultural programming directors from Germany, given that Canada will be the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2020. All of them stayed on to participate in the Festival’s activities afterward. Before “Le pouvoir de la littérature/ The Power of Writing” event brought together winners of the 2018 Governor-General’s Award. From left to right: Paul Gagné, Howard noon, two round table discussions — “Are international mega Scott, Phyllis Aronoff, Michaël Trahan, Katia Grubisic, Sarah Henstra, Karoline bestsellers a threat to literary diversity?” and “Translating Georges, Darell J. McLeod. literary works: in the workshop with author-translators” — ©Camille Trudeau-Rivest raised a great deal of interest. Exchanges continued during a pleasant and animated networking lunch. In the afternoon, more than 110 people attended the North-American premiere In the Almemar series, the round table discussion on “Jeru- of Yonathan and Masha Zur’s documentary on the great salem of the Mind” — back for a third edition in 2019 thanks Israeli writer Amos Oz, who died in 2018. to the patronage of Gabriel Safdie — proved its relevance once again by bringing together writers from all sides, Israeli and Palestinian, to discuss, frankly and in a spirit of tolerance, the reality that plays IT APPEARS THE out in this mythical city as well as its elusive dream FESTIVAL HAS of peace. Israeli novelist Orly Castel-Bloom, MANY HAPPY Palestinian writers Yousef Bachir and Yara El- Ghadban, Montrealers Amal Alsana Alh-jooj and YEARS AHEAD Lisa Goldman, spent 90 minutes reflecting on a OF IT. different course the history of the city might take, without forgetting the suffering that is at once its heritage and present-day reality. Benefit-evenings with a flair!

In-house fundraising and support from private donors make up 48% of Blue Metropolis’s overall budget. Thanks to the artistic genius of Matt Zimbel and Lyne Tremblay, we got to celebrate the cultural REVIVAL 2019 watershed that was Woodstock, take a spin down memory lane on mythical Route 66, all the while raising funds for the Foundation’s activities.

Louise Ann Maziak Advisor Honorary President of the Woodstock Revival event

Lyne Tremblay Matt Zimbel Host and Associate Association Artistic Artistic Director Director

Jean-François Leduc Vice-President and Head of IT, GardaWorld Honorary President of the Easy Rider event

After-hours artists for a good cause: participants at our two benefits for the Blue Metropolis Foundation: Woodstock Revival 2019 (Wednesday May 15) and Easy Rider (Thursday May 2). The Foundation’s youth sector includes Over 93,0001 CHILDREN AND PARENTS the TD – Blue Metropolis Children’s Festival PARTICIPATED IN AN EVENT AT THE 12th TD-BLUE as well as a range of educational and social METROPOLIS CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL programs for children and teens. 128 ACTIVITIES (including 9 exhibitions)

AT 78 VENUES IN MONTREAL, MONTÉRÉGIE, ON THE NORTH SHORE AND IN LAVAL (libraries, bookstores, schools and preschools, specialized overview of the children’s hospitals and schools) youth sector 48 AUTHORS, STORYTELLERS, MUSICIANS AND ILLUSTRATORS

4 EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS

A DAY DEVOTED TO SELF-ESTEEM IN 126 CHILDCARE AND DAYCARE CENTRES THROUGHOUT QUEBEC (with a steady increase: 36 participants in 2018, over 120 in 2019)

FAIRY TALES, a closing show hosted by children, with honorary chair Viviane Croux, Vice-President, National Accounts, TD Commercial Banking

Viviane Croux, Honorary Chair of the ACTIVITIES IN SPECIALIZED CHILDREN’S “Fairy Tales” event HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS IN MONTREAL AND ON THE SOUTH SHORE

A SERIES DEVOTED TO THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER AND TO NATURE, IN VARENNES, VERCHÈRES AND CONTRECOEUR

A LITERARY BRUNCH FOR LGBTQ FAMILIES Olivia, 7 ans A SERIES DEVOTED TO INDIGENOUS AUTHORS AND STORYTELLERS

AUTHORS FROM THE QUEBEC CITY AREA AND FROM ACADIE

1Overall direct and indirect attendance, including visitors to Blue Metropolis Festival (children’s programming) and exhibitions. The TD-Blue Metropolis Children’s Festival: Overview of a remarkable 12th edition!

Once again this year, the TD-Blue Metropolis Children’s Festival allowed children and their families to take advantage of a host of activities, events and exhibitions held in over 70 venues (schools, libraries, cultural centres, preschools, and specialized children’s hospitals and schools) in Montreal and Laval, on the North Shore and in Montérégie. In all, 129 free activities and exhibitions were on offer during this 12th edition. More than 140 daycare and childcare centres throughout Sunday, May 5, on the Terrasse des nations, at HOTEL 10, “À auteur Quebec took part in the Journée CPE garderie, now d’enfant”, an activity that got children and professional illustrators talking in its third year. This activity has seen a steady increase about how to make a better world. © Camille Trudeau-Rivest in participation since its inaugural edition, in 2017. Last year, in 2018, just 36 daycares and childcare centres were involved. A festival that keeps on growing th The 12 edition’s Over the last two years, the TD-Blue Metropolis Festival has expanded its reach in countless ways. First, we continue to exhibitions! increase the scope of our activities on the North Shore, with L’Assomption added this year, and in Montérégie, with the Nine exhibitions took place as part of the TD-Blue Metropolis addition of Varennes and Chambly. Two special days led to Children’s Festival. Over 84,000 people were reached by our participation throughout Quebec: the Journée CPE garderie, presentations, which were displayed in a number of libraries which promotes literacy among the very young, and the throughout Greater Montreal and at Hotel 10. Journée Azul, with a Spanish-language writing competition for / Dessine-moi un bestiaire students enrolled in language programs at the high school level. Saint-Pierre Library in Lachine The winning childcare centres that took part in the competition / Projet M by students from École Louis-Colin in Montreal associated with the Journée CPE garderie are located in / Des mots pour changer by students from École Garneau Sainte-Pamphile, in the Chaudières-Appalaches region, Parc Coupal in Montreal and in Rageneau, on the North Shore. The winners of the / L’eau et moi, haïkus en hommage au fl euve Journée Azul were from École secondaire Saint-Jean, in by students from École Ludger-Duvernay Longueuil. Visits by authors and storytellers to specialized Bibliothèque scolaire et municipale de Verchères children’s hospitals and schools also increased this year, thanks / L’eau et moi, haïkus en hommage au fl euve to the addition of a school in Saint-Lambert. The Festival was by students from École Mère Marie-Rose also able to count on the increased presence of Indigenous Bibliothèque de Contrecoeur authors and storytellers, as well as others, from the Quebec / L’environnement et moi, haïkus en hommage City area and from Acadie. Finally, our series of workshops on à la nature by students from École Les marguerites the St. Lawrence River and on nature was held in Contrecoeur, Bibliothèque de Varennes Verchères and Varennes. / Quebec Roots Hotel 10 and Westmount Public Library / Power up ton potentiel Hotel 10 and Pointe-Claire Public Library / Le monde dont je rêve Bibliothèque Frontenac Quebec Roots: Strengthening Power up ton potentiel Communities, The Place I Want to Be What happens when students from an English- Innovative For 14 years, the Quebec Roots project has language high school are paired with a group of allowed young anglophones from Quebec and francophone seniors? A wonderful project where educational Nunavut to express their dreams, memories both groups learn to break down barriers, improve and concerns through photography and short their second-language skills and gain confi dence and social texts. Work by young people from the seven in dealing with computer technology. In addition, participating schools, including a school in a contest was held involving written work in French programs Nunavik, has been published in an anthology by students from Lindsay Place High School, while that was launched the morning of Friday, a “making of”-type documentary was posted on the Since its inception, Blue Metropolis May 3, 2019, with the students, their Foundation’s website. has developed 53 educational and teachers and the artist/facilitators in Projet M social programs, both online and in attendance. In addition, selected writing and For its fourth edition, Projet M took place at École the classroom, reaching 18,778 young photography will be exhibited at Westmount Public Library throughout the month of Louis-Colin, an elementary school in Ahuntsic- people and teachers throughout the September. Cartierville. Under the guidance of facilitator Tania country, in both of Canada’s offi cial Baladi, students in Grades 5 and 6 explored the topic languages. Aside from the activities Words to Change of body image. The fruits of their refl ection, which of the Children’s Festival, Blue How do you make the world a better place? took the form of a painted mural, were displayed Metropolis offers a range of programs Perhaps by starting with yourself, your during a launch at the school on April 25, 2019, that seek to develop a love of reading neighbourhood, your city. That’s the essence with parents and friends in attendance. and writing, promote social inclusion of Words to Change, a cultural mediation Journée/Dia Azul and diversity, combat poverty and project that took place in the classroom and For its second edition, this project took the form encourage young people to stay in the urban environment, facilitated by Samuel Bricault with the collaboration of Charlem, of a Spanish-language writing competition on topics school. In 2018-2019, these programs a visual artist. When the workshops ended, favoured by Blue Metropolis: the environment, social reached 323 students in Montreal, an exhibition of visual art and writing inequality and social inclusion. Taking part in the Joliette, Pointe-Claire, and Saint- produced by the students was presented project were twenty or so students from high schools Télesphore, as well as in Akulivik, in Parc Coupal, during the summer. throughout Quebec that offer language programs. in Nunavik. THANK YOU ALL OUR PARTNERS!

Donors and partners* Programming 20 000 $ – 80 000 $ 500 $ – 999 $ Arsenal Pulp Press Magabala Books Groupe Financier Banque TD A.V. Nahabedian Association of Italian Canadian Mawenzi House Publishers Anonyme CSN Writers Media@McGill R. Howard Webster Foundation Gabriel Chan BAnQ Memorial University The Cole Foundation Joan Ivory Bloomsday Montreal Montreal City Mission The J.W. McConnell Family Lyne Tremblay Brick Books Musée McCord Foundation Marie-Josée Bédard Centaur Theatre Museum of Jewish Montreal Patrick Coleman Centre québécois du P.E.N. Never Apart 10 000 $ – 19 999 $ International/PEN CANADA nistamîkwan Concordia University CÉRIUM – Université de Montréal Notabilia Davies Ward & Phillips Vineberg Governments CMEA – Université de Montréal Observatoire Québécois S.E.N.C.R.L, s.r.l. Conseil des arts de Montréal Coalition des familles LGBTQ des Inégalités Eric T. Webster Foundation Conseil des arts du Canada Concordia University Ottawa Inernational Writers’ Festival Ginny Stikeman Canada Council for the Arts Dalhousie University Penguin Random House Mexico Power Corporation Conseil des arts et des lettres DC Books Quebec Writers’ Federation Telus du Québec Douglas&McIntyre ROAAr (Rare & Special Collections, Tourisme Montréal Consulat général d’Israël à Montréal Éditions Alto Osler, Art and Archives) Consulat général de France à Québec Festival du Premier Roman Segal Centre for Performing Arts 5 000 $ – 9 999 $ Cosmovisiones indígenas en América de Chambéry Simon & Schuster Canada Air Canada Embassy of Spain in Ottawa Festival Frye Festival Simon Fraser University Chadha Family Foundation Istituto Italiano di Cultura Montreal Flammarion Québec SpokenWeb Project Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon Consulat général du Mexique Friends of the McGill Library Stock Bar Fondation Jeunesse-Vie à Montréal Gallimard ltée This Really Happened Fondation Phyllis Lambert Embassy of the Federal Republic Goethe-Institut Toronto Public Library Power Corporation of Germany, Ottawa Greystone Books UNEQ Zeller Family Foundation Ministère de la Culture Guernica Editions Université de Montréal et des Communications ICE Américas – Département de littératures 1 000 $ – 4 999 $ Ministère de l’Éducation Hachette Canada et de langues du monde Air Inuit et de l’Enseignement supérieur Image+Nation Université de Montréal Alliance Prével Inc. du Québec Instituto Cultural de México – Département des littératures APL-Multimédia Ministère des Relations – Montréal françaises Cameron Charlebois internationales et de Jewish Public Library Université de Montréal DJS Holding Limited la Francophonie du Québec La Maison de la littérature – Département de philosophie Dobrin Family Foundation Patrimoine canadien La poésie partout Université de Montréal Ellayne Kaplan Canadian Heritage Lectures plurielles – Institut d’études religieuses Filaction Québec - Secrétariat aux relations Les archives gaies du Québec Université du Québec Fondation J.A. DeSève canadiennes Leslibraires.ca en Abitibi-Témiscamingue Fondation Pierre Desmarais Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine Les Rendez-vous du premier roman University of British Columbia Belvédère Ville de Montréal Librairie du Square University of New Brunswick Gabriel Sadfie Librairie Gallimard Vallum Magazine GardaWorld Librairie Las Américas Vancouver Island University Hubert T. Lacroix Medias Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore Véhicule Press Jay Goldman CBC | Radio Canada Librairies Indépendantes du Québec Wapikoni mobile Letko Brosseau & Associés CISM 89,3 Linda Leith Éditions Word Travels Mark Gallop La Presse + Linda Leith Publishing World Editions McGill University La Vitrine MolsonCoors Les Libraires.ca Peter Daniel Montreal Review of Books Pierre-André Themens Radio VM & Johanne Pérusse Port-de-Montréal Produits Forestiers Résolu Quebec Writers’ Federation RNC Media Rogers William St-Hilaire

*In kind or cash contribution received before February 2019