The Morrin Centre will launch an immersive tour on capital punishment in Quebec City’s former jail, in May 2019
Quebec City, November 15, 2018 – On November 15, Quebec City’s English-language cultural hub, the Morrin Centre, hosted its tenth annual Literary Feast that benefits its programming and mission. The event which started with a cocktail in the Centre’s magnificent Victorian library, was followed by a dinner catered by Espace Arte Vino in the ballroom. The evening featured keynote speaker, Ken Dryden, and was presided by the President and CEO of Desjardins Group, Guy Cormier. Over $48,000 were raised during this fundraising dinner thanks to ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, as well as the sale of books and auction items.
Keeping the memory of local English-speaking communities alive
As part of Mr. Cormier’s opening remarks, he announced Desjardins Group’s contribution of $150,000 to the Morrin Centre. “With this contribution, the Morrin Centre will be able to move forward with its plans to build an immersive exhibit on the history of capital punishment, opening in May 2019,” said Mr. Cormier. “Desjardins is proud to be associated with this new venture – an educational tourist attraction. It’s important for all of us to acknowledge the contribution of those who arrived here from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as well as the Loyalists from the U.S. Many of these people were entrepreneurs, and they played a pivotal role in shaping the communities in and around Quebec City.”
It must be noted that the Morrin Centre’s building still houses, to this day, cells from Quebec City’s common jail which was closed in 1867 and replaced by the prison on the Plaines of Abraham. Desjardins Group’s donation is made through the $100-million development fund which was launched in 2016 to support and promote key projects for its members and communities in Quebec and Ontario.
During his keynote speech, celebrated Montreal Canadiens goalie, lawyer, politician, and author, Ken Dryden, discussed his fifth book, Game Change, outlining the state of modern hockey, but also the history and chronology of this sport that ultimately led to Steve Montador’s death. He argued that the game is also having a serious impact on several other players in the NHL who suffer repeated concussions which lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Dryden also presented what he sees as the solution to save other players from Montador’s demise and identifies Gary Bettman as the only person who can resolve this issue.
The Morrin Centre would like to thank all the Major Partners for this event which include Desjardins Group, Québecor, La Maison Simons, McCarthy Tétrault, and the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. It is thanks to their support and the people present during the Literary Feast that the Morrin Centre is able to continue offering rich, engaging programming in the areas of heritage interpretation, education, and the arts.
About the Morrin Centre
As an English-language cultural centre located in Quebec City’s historical quarter, the Morrin Centre is a leading cultural institution of national standing, providing the Anglophone and Francophone public with rich, engaging programming in the areas of heritage interpretation, education, and the arts. Building upon our Centre’s history and key institutions, our programming aims to provide historical perspective on the region’s unique French-English heritage, develop enhanced educational opportunities for youth, and act as a springboard for artistic creativity.
About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fifth largest in the world, with assets of $295.3 billion. It has been rated one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the World’s Strongest Banks according to The Banker magazine, Desjardins has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.
About the $100-million development fund
In November 2016, Desjardins Group, Canada’s leading financial cooperative group, announced the creation of a development fund totalling $100 million. The investments will spread over 3 years to support and promote Quebec and Ontario projects and initiatives that are in line with Desjardins Group’s socio-economic mission to bolster entrepreneurship, education, social responsibility, sustainable development and community involvement.
For information
Elizabeth Perreault
Development and Communications Director
418-694-9147, ext. 223
