November 14, 2011
By Janice ArnoldThe Canadian Jewish News
The arts can be a tool to promote intercultural dialogue and diversity, Kathleen Weil, Quebec's immigration and cultural communities minister, told more than 100 young adults at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. And a strong arts community is good for both society and the economy, she added. Quebec, like the rest of Canada, can benefit from the diversity that results from attracting Young immigrants from around the world with the talents that the province needs, Weil told the Oct. 24 gathering.
The same message was delivered as well by a business leader, Javier San Juan, president and chief executive officer of L'Oreal Canada, and singer Lynda Thalie, who both noted that they're immigrants. The three were panelists at the launch of the Segal Centre's Young Leaders, a group for business people of all backgrounds from the ages 25 to 45.
"The group is essentially a next generation board for the theatre," said Segal CEO Manon Gauthier. "It will engage young business people in networking from an arts perspective, while exposing them to the great programming and history of the Segal Centre." Indeed, many ofthose attending the bilingual evening were new to the multidisciplinary institution, which is an agency of Federation CJA. The Segal is emphasizing that the centre is "a meeting place for all of the performing arts" open to all Montrealers, and that it has a mission of "building bridges through the arts." The Segal is especially interested in attracting young businesspeople who are well connected in professional and community organizations. They want these "leaders of tomorrow" to be aware of the corporate world's responsibility toward the arts, both socially and philanthropically.
At the Young Leaders events, they have the opportunity to meet with established players in the intersection between business, culture and philanthropy in Quebec. The Young Leaders co-chairs are Saul Polo and Michael Tevel.
The October 24th event where Weil spoke was the first of four in this year’s series. These evenings take the form of a cocktail reception and a panel discussion on a different topic related to the arts, philanthropy, particularly the relationship with the private sector. The next dates are December 6th, February 16th and March 29th. The series fee is $200 which includes a $50 transferable voucher for almost any Segal show or activity, and a $100 tax-deductible receipt.
If a Young Leader can get his or her employer to match the contribution, the Segal Centre will issue an additional $150 voucher. The employer’s contribution counts towards its obligations under the Act to Promote Workforce Skills Development and Recognition, usually referred to as the “one percent law.”
Participants last week got a preview of the stand-up comedy nights launched this season at the Segal. Local aspiring comics Chris Betts and Bianca Yates, as well as Just for Laughs Festival veteran CBC Radio-One regular DeAnne Smith, offered a taste of their edgy humour. The stand-up series, called The Laugh Pack, takes place in the downstairs ArtLounge with tickets going for a nominal $5.
Alvin Segal, chair of the Segal’s Board and chair and CEO of Peerless Clothing, Inc. said in an interview that the Centre is trying to find the balance between preserving the Segal’s historic Jewish character and opening it up to a wider community. “Certainly, we would not survive on the support of the Jewish community alone,” he said.