2015 - Gilles Desjardins makes a historic donation to La Nouvelle Scène

A Historic Milestone for Francophone Culture in Canada: Entrepreneur Gilles Desjardins Makes Landmark Donation to La Nouvelle Scène

Ottawa, October 14, 2015 – Wednesday, October 14, 2015, will go down in history for La Nouvelle Scène and the entire Canadian Francophone community. Businessman and philanthropist Gilles Desjardins officially announced a $1 million donation to the cultural organization. With this major contribution, he becomes the largest Francophone patron of a cultural organization outside of Quebec. The local community in Canada’s National Capital Region has welcomed this exceptional act of generosity with immense enthusiasm.

Celebrating his 50th birthday and the 30th anniversary of his company, Brigil, which operates on both sides of the Ottawa River, the Franco-Ontarian businessman is proud to give back to his community. The donation will support the construction project of La Nouvelle Scène:

“Brigil is a love story of over thirty years between the residents of the National Capital Region, my team, my family, and myself. Brigil is a story that revolves around the richness and resources of our wonderful region—the many waterways, vast green spaces, rolling hills, and our cultural identity make the National Capital Region a jewel that deserves to shine.”

Why La Nouvelle Scène?
Gilles Desjardins explains:

“For me, artists and entrepreneurs are alike. We thrive on creating things. I create communities, projects, a quality of life. Artists create and stage their dreams. Bringing a vision to life builds identity and gives hope. It also creates quality of life. I love knowing my work has a positive impact on people’s lives. Like artists, an entrepreneur has the courage to realize dreams and visions. At heart, we are more alike than one might think.”

A New Home for Francophone Arts in Ottawa
La Nouvelle Scène, Ottawa-Carleton’s Francophone theatre center, will open its doors in January 2016 in a revitalized space that doubles its previous size. The center continues to host its four resident companies—Le Théâtre du Trillium, Le Théâtre de la Vieille 17, Vox Théâtre, and Théâtre La Catapulte—some of which have been active in Franco-Ontarian arts for over 40 years.

The newly designed, internationally inspired architectural space will provide a modern, welcoming, and avant-garde stage for theatre, performing arts, music, and visual arts. It aims to establish a prominent place for Francophone arts in the heart of Canada’s capital, offering the community a stage that reflects its identity and aspirations.

Watch the press conference video: https://youtu.be/NvXnZXouFZo

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