Mr. Jonathan Wener of Canderel will preside over the Segal Centre's 2012-2013 fundraising campaign - The Jonathan Wener Arts Education Fund ensures that performing arts programming remains accessible for Montreal's future generations

« Arts and culture are food for the soul. In my mind, it is crucial to encourage our youth to engage in cultural activities."
-Jonathan Wener

MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is proud to announce the nomination of Jonathan Wener, President and CEO of Canderel, as Honorary Chair of the Building for the Future campaign. The objective of the campaign is to raise one million dollars from now to May 2013 towards the creation of the Jonathan Wener Arts Education Fund.  The Fund will support programs uniquely dedicated to promoting heritage, intercultural understanding, and instilling a love of the performing arts. The campaign will close with an evening of celebrations at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts on May, 30^th, 2013.

As part of Mr. Wener's exemplary commitment to the Segal Centre, the Jonathan Wener Arts Education Fund will help finance the diverse educational activities and programming offered by the Segal Centre and give greater accessibility to arts and culture for young Montrealers from all walks of life.

The Fund is centered on the following top three priorities which illustrate Mr. Wener's passion for the artistic awakening of Montreal's youth: make the arts accessible to as many as possible, develop innovative educational programs, and encourage the participation of youth in artistic and cultural activities.

Mr. Wener, a seasoned entrepreneur, does not hesitate to contribute his time and energy to many different causes; the cause of the arts is one that he particularly takes to heart. He is of the opinion that "the arts and culture are an integral part of each individual's life and that the awakening of such artistic forms must be done at a young age."

Accompanied by the campaign committee and its chairs, Mr. Marc-André Blanchard, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of McCarthy Tétrault, Mr. Daniel Fournier, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Ivanhoé Cambridge, Mrs. Isabelle Hudon, President, Sun Life Financial, Quebec and Mr. Tony Loffreda, Head of RBC Commercial Banking Quebec, Mr. Wener will engage the business community to encourage to support the Segal Centre. To this date, more than eighty representatives of the business community have gathered to participate in the fundraising activities of the Building for the Future Campaign, an unprecedented show of support for the cultural sector.

During the recent creation of the Forum Arts-Affaires de Montréal by the Canada Council for the arts, Manon Gauthier, CEO of the Segal Centre, expressed the importance of rallying the Montreal business community to support the arts and highlighted the involvement of Mr. Wener and the co-presidents of the fundraising campaign.

"Financing of the arts and culture sector remains an important issue in Canada", says Gauthier. "More than ever, the existence and even the survival of cultural institutions are intricately related to the interdependence between the arts, business and philanthropy sectors. We are indebted to Jonathan Wener for his participation and dedication and that of all representatives of the Montreal business community who have joined the Segal Centre's Building for the Future Campaign".

About the Segal Centre for Performing Arts
The Segal Centre is a meeting place for all of the performing arts, showcasing the best professional artists from here and abroad and playing a leading role in the artistic development of Montreal's youth and the creation of its cultural legacy. Through theatre, music, dance, cinema and the Academy, the Segal Centre is setting a broad vision by recognizing the importance of building bridges through the arts and supporting multicultural projects in Montreal. The Centre's commitment is to ensure that creativity resonates within our community and that it remains accessible and inspiring each and every day, leading the performing arts world of tomorrow. www.segalcentre.org

About Canderel
The Canderel Group of Companies is comprised of several fully integrated, commercial real estate companies with its headquarters in Montreal. Since 1975, Canderel has grown to become one of the most successful real estate development and management organizations in eastern Canada. Founded by Jonathan Wener, Canderel has established an enviable reputation for its integrity as a major real estate development company and for its sound judgment and knowledge of the commercial, multi-residential and industrial real estate business.

Over the years, Canderel has been intimately involved in all aspects of commercial property development, including land assembly, acquisition and disposal, planning, design, construction, project management, leasing, finance, and property and asset management. The group's principal development activities are in the office, commercial, industrial and residential markets of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver, in Canada. Canderel's success to date is largely a reflection of its unique ability to direct all facets of real estate projects, either on its own behalf, for its clients, or in joint venture with partners.

 

SOURCE: Segal Centre for Performing Arts

Melissa Maloul
514-739-2301
[email protected]