Media advisory - Tuesday, September 22 - Montreal's seventh annual In town
without my car!

MONTREAL , Sept. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - The seventh Montreal edition of In town without my car will take place on Tuesday, September 22 . At the beginning of the day ( 9:30 a.m. ), the media are invited to the corner of Sainte-Catherine and McGill College for the closing of the perimeter and the official inauguration of the new car-free city. Dignitaries will then walk over to Saint James Church (the "City Hall" of the new car-free city) where there will be a short media briefing.

For this event, traffic will be barred from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the area bounded by McGill College and Saint-Urbain (open) and René-Lévesque and de Maisonneuve (open). The "Esplanade du Parc" (Sainte-Catherine, between Jeanne-Mance and Saint-Urbain) will be closed from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. so that equipment can be set up for the presentation of some of the events on the program, taking place from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (see attached visual of perimeter)

    
    SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

    9:30 A.M.  INAUGURATION (in two steps)
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    1- Closing of the perimeter and opening of the new car-free city

    WHERE:  On the sidewalk at the corner of McGill College and Sainte-
            Catherine

    WHAT:   Closing of Sainte-Catherine Street with barricades installed by
            police, ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the gateway to the new
            car-free city and arrival of dignitaries.

    2 - Media briefing

    WHERE:  In front of Saint James Church (the "City Hall" of the new
            car-free city)

    WHAT:   Short speeches, reading of the charter of the environmentally
            responsible citizen, signing of the golden book and one-on-one
            interviews

    WHO:    Michel Labrecque, chairman of the board of directors of the
            Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and municipal councillor
            in the Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough at the Ville de Montréal
            Joël Gauthier, president and CEO, AMT
            André Magnon-Pujo, president, TRANSDEV Canada
            Laurent Paquin, Spokesperson

    11 A.M. VÉLO-QUÉBEC NEWS CONFERENCE
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    WHERE:  In front of Saint James church (the "City Hall" for the new
            car-free city)

    WHAT:   Announcement of winners of 2009 Entreprise vélosympathique, a
            contest for companies that encourage their employees to bike to
            work (three categories)

    WHO:    Suzanne Lareau, president and CEO, Vélo Québec

    NOON    SHOW
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    WHERE:  Phillips Square, corner of Sainte-Catherine and Union

    WHAT:   Free show hosted by Laurent Paquin and featuring the Porn Flakes
            and their guests. Visitors can hear David Tremblay perform, for
            the first time on stage, the new In town without my car! theme
            song, Un point c'est tout.

    WHO:    Porn Flakes        Élizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite
            Lulu Hughes        Fred Lebel
            Martin Fontaine    Gabrielle Destroismaisons
            Sébastien Plante   Patrick Bourgeois
            Bruno Landry       Laurent Paquin (Host)
                               David Tremblay (Part 1)

    1:15 P.M. MEDIA BRIEFING - AQLPA: DRAW OF 2 BICYCLES
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    WHERE:  On Sainte-Catherine Street between McGill College and University
            at the AQLPA kiosk

    WHAT:   Draw of two bicycles for the contest related to the "Faites de
            l'air" Program

    WHO:    André Belisle, President of the AQLPA
            Joëlle Morin, Spokesperson

    10 A.M. TO 8 P.M.  ESPLANADE DU PARC - EXTREME SPORTS COMPETITIONS
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    WHERE:  On Sainte-Catherine in front of Place-des-Arts

    WHAT:   Spectacular BMX, skateboard and inline skating demonstrations by
            internationally recognized professional athletes, to the exciting
            sounds of DJ Analog. A high-level competition will take place at
            the end of the day, beginning at 6 p.m.

    WHO:    Among the many competitors:
             - Patrick Denis
             - Simon Dravigné
             - Charles Deschamps
             - Éric Galipeault
             - Stephen Bohn
             - Maxime Compartino
             - Vincent Daniel

    9:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.  OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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    SCHOOL

    WHERE:  North side of Sainte-Catherine between McGill College and
            University

    WHAT:   Visitors to the car-free city can learn more about future
            solutions for active and public transportation. Well-known
            cartoonists (Éric Thériault, Bruno Rouyère, Jack Ruttan and
            Pierre Sirois) will be on hand to create a live comic strip on
            proposed topics.

            Well-known street artist Roadsworth will create a huge canvas as
            part of Équiterre's "Cocktail transport - Créatifs et engagés
            pour le climat" contest.

    MARKET SQUARE

    WHERE:  Union Street, north of Sainte-Catherine

    WHO:    Visitors will be able to eat together in a festive atmosphere at
            a giant picnic table more than 20 metres in length

            As part of the worldwide Tck Tck Tck campaign, Le Commensal
            (leader of this initiative in Quebec), will be on site so that
            the public can take part in this large movement aimed at creating
            the world's longest petition to raise awareness of climate change
            among world leaders. There will also be product tastings for
            lovers of fine food.

            Josée Lavigueur, ambassador for the Tck Tck Tck campaign and
            spokesperson for Le Commensal, will be on-site from 11:45 A.M.
            to 1:45 P.M.

    BOMBARDIER BUSINESS DISTRICT

    WHERE:  Around Phillips Square on Union Street

    WHAT:   Nearly 400 elementary and secondary school children will take
            part in SNC-Lavalin's Carbon Exchange game, in which they can
            win prizes while learning about greenhouse gases.

    COMMUNITY CENTRE

    WHERE:  Sainte-Catherine between City Councillors and Saint-Alexandre
            and in front of Saint James church

    WHAT:   More than 200 people will demonstrate tai chi, which will add an
            air of Zen to Sainte-Catherine Street! Free introductory courses
            will also be available all day long.

            Intergenerational improvisational activities on the In town
            without my car day theme will allow people of all ages to give
            free rein to their creative spirit while having lots of fun and
            entertaining the public.

    CAMPGROUND

    WHERE:  North side of Sainte-Catherine Street, between Saint-Alexandre
            and De Bleury

    WHAT:   Ecotourism experts will share their passion and expertise with
            visitors. Right in the middle of the city, with the sounds of
            birds and nature, tents will be set up on an actual grassy area.
            If you're used to concrete and traffic noise, this will
            definitely be a change of scene!

    OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER

    WHERE:  At the edge of the perimeter, corner of Sainte-Catherine -
            McGill College and Sainte-Catherine - Saint-Urbain

    WHAT:   Representatives from the Fédération interdisciplinaire de
            l'horticulture ornementale du Québec will be distributing plants
            to motorists who must drive on In town without my car! Day so
            they can offset their CO2 emissions.

    (xxx) Six parking spots will be reserved for media on Sainte-Catherine,
corner of McGill College, and six on Saint-Urbain, north of Sainte-Catherine.
Vehicles must be clearly identified with the media outlet's colours to avoid
towing.

    (xxx) Unless otherwise indicated, all activities will take place
regardless of the weather.

    For more information:

    www.amt.qc.ca
    [email protected]
    Customer service: 514-287-TRAM
    

For further information: Marie-Claude Leroux, Morin Relations publiques, [phone], ext. 224, C: [phone]; Charles Durivage, Morin Relations publiques, [phone], ext. 227, C: [phone]