Montréal Heritage Operation 2017
Unveiling of the winners of the Grands Prix and the Coup de Coeur
Montreal, January 11, 2018 – Ms. Christine Gosselin, Head of Culture, Heritage and Design on the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, has unveiled the six Grand Prizes and the two mentions of the Opération Patrimoine Montréal contest. The unveiling took place on Thursday evening at City Hall in the presence of the Montreal Heritage Partner, Michel Faubert, and many guests.
The City of Montreal launched Operation Montréal Heritage in 2017 to replace the Montreal Architectural Heritage Operation (OPAM). The latter aimed to raise the awareness of Montrealers about the importance of protecting built heritage and to recognize homeowners’ maintenance efforts. After 25 years of existence, the OPAM has given way to Operation Heritage Montreal, which rewards the citizens who contribute so much to the preservation and enhancement of the material heritage, which was already promoted in the OPAM, as intangible heritage as knowledge, traditions, landscapes and orality. This new way of presenting heritage is in keeping with the spirit of the 2017-2022 Heritage Action Plan and the Government of Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Act.
“I congratulate the winners of the first year of Opération patrimoine Montréal for the very high quality of their projects that value heritage in all its facets. Their proposals make us discover the great wealth of Montreal’s heritage and how it is alive and well, contributing to the sense of pride and belonging of Montrealers for their neighborhood and their city, “said Christine Gosselin.
And the winners are …
The Operation Montréal Heritage Contest has five categories (Caring, Bringing Life, Know-How, Publicizing and Acting Together) and a category in which the Montreal population was asked to vote for the “2017 Coup de Coeur” among the suggestions of public places provided by the boroughs and related cities. The jury, made up of representatives of the City of Montreal, the Heritage Council, the City of Pointe-Claire and Heritage Montreal, analyzed 27 applications received following a call for nominations launched in spring 2017.
The “Caring” award was presented to the owner of the residence located at 2379 Coursol Street in the Sud-Ouest borough for the attention to detail and the great attention paid to the harmonious conservation of the building. The Paradoxe Theater received the “Give Back” award because of the project’s high quality of design and its contribution to the socio-cultural and educational value of this corner of the Southwest Borough. For this category, the jury awarded a mention to the conservation project of Sainte-Germaine-Cousin Church. The Forges de Montréal and the artisan-plasterer Daniel-Jean Primeau tied the “Savoir-Faire” prize. The first was awarded for the quality of setting up a workshop highlighting an ancestral craft and the second for the unusual work of restoration of plaster elements in old interiors. The “Spread the word” award went to the Living Heritage! for the innovative and collaborative nature of its heritage awareness activities. Concordia University’s Montreal Signs Project received a mention for this category. The Urban Pathway organization won the “Agir ensemble” award for its Biodiversity and Pollinators Garden project, a revitalization model that opens a window on natural heritage by offering biodiversity awareness under the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
Finally, the place Simon-Valois won the popular vote among the thirteen places proposed by the boroughs and related cities for the category “Place Coup de Coeur 2017”. Located in the heart of the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, Place Simon-Valois will be hosting the second edition of the Fête de l’Operation Patrimoine event in spring 2018.
Remember that Operation Montréal Heritage is supported by the Montreal Cultural Development Agreement, jointly funded by the Ministry of Culture and Communications and the City of Montreal. Note that Heritage Montreal is a valued partner of Opération Patrimoine Montréal. Short videos presenting the work of the laureates can be viewed by visiting the Operation Heritage site. You will also find all the information about the contest.
