Montréal, Wednesday July 29, 2015 – While strolling down the streets of Old Montreal, visitors can now explore the city’s past by following the techno-historical walking tour on the new Montréal en Histoires mobile application presented by BMO Financial Group, Quebec. With Bell as major partner, this one-of-a-kind, free application enables users to enjoy twelve augmented reality experiences and to visit fifty points of interest. With a tablet or a smart phone in hand, users discover the characters and important places that have forged Montreal through time.

“We are proud of our Montreal roots and to be associated with this innovative, creative, technology-driven project that will enable us to relive Montreal’s history on the eve of its 375th anniversary and BMO’s 200th anniversary in 2017,” said L. Jacques Ménard, President of BMO Financial Group, Quebec. “I invite residents of Greater Montreal and visitors alike to discover the Montréal en Histoires experience,” added Mr. Ménard.

Developed by the Montreal organisation Space & Dream, the application enables geolocalisation for optimal tracking supported by previously installed signage along the route. The audio content is available in four languages (French, English, Spanish and Mandarin). Montréal en Histoires invites those interested to download the application from Google Play or the AppStore before their visit, and ideally to bring a pair of headphones. Via the application, users will also be invited to experience Cité Mémoire, a work by Michel Lemieux, Victor Pilon in collaboration with Michel Marc Bouchard, beginning May 17, 2016.

“Montreal is a dynamic, creative and intelligent city as demonstrated by initiatives such as this mobile application. In remembrance of Montreal’s 375th anniversary in 2017, citizens and visitors can discover or rediscover the remarkable places and characters involved in the development of our city. By supporting Montréal en Histoires, the Government of Québec is investing in culture, Montreal’s development and the multimedia industry, a key sector in the Québec economy,” says Mr. Robert Poëti, Minister of Transportation and Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region.

“Bell has a unique history in Montréal, since our company was founded here in 1880,” said Martine Turcotte, Vice Chair, Québec, Bell. “We are proud to have been a partner of Montréal en Histoires since the very beginning of this innovative project and to mix technology with history so the many visitors to Old Montréal can learn more about our city in a fun, interactive way.”

“Supporting innovation is one of the pillars of the strategy adopted by our government to create a productive economy that creates wealth and quality jobs. This is why we did not hesitate to financially support the innovative Montréal en Histoires project,” declared the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

“On the road towards Canada’s 150th anniversary, our government is pleased to support initiatives highlighting our heritage and the pivotal moments of our rich Canadian history,” commented the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

“Montrealers, visitors and tourists will benefit from the deployment of the free wireless network MtlWiFi to, among other things, use the new Montréal en Histoires mobile application. Thanks to new technologies, Montreal intends to showcase its history and cultural legacy in an intelligent and creative way, in view of its upcoming 375th anniversary celebrations,” declared Mr. Harout Chitilian, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of Montreal, Responsible for Information Technologies and the Intelligent City

“Thanks to important partners such as the City of Montreal, Montréal en Histoires is proud to be able to offer free access to two wireless networks, Wi-Fi MTLH-FIBRENOIRESBK and MtlWiFi in Old Montreal to enable citizens and tourists to make the most of the techno-historical walking tour experience,” said Martin Laviolette, Founder and Executive Producer of Montréal en Histoires.

Montréal en Histoires is a wide-ranging endeavour with three areas of focus that is being rolled out over a number of years. The realization of the organization’s various projects is made possible by the support of several partners. It is important to keep in mind that the City of Montreal, thanks to financial support from the Government of Québec, granted $5 million to Montréal en Histoires, as part of the Entente Montréal 2025 administered by the Secretariat for the Metropolitan Region. Added to this is a contribution of $6 million from the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal between the Minister of Culture and Communications and the City. The Government of Canada’s contribution to the Montréal en Histoires – parcours Cité Mémoire project is $3.5 million. Of this amount, $1 million comes from the Canadian Cultural Spaces Fund from Canadian Heritage and $2.5 million from the Quebec Economic Development Program of the Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

The mission of Montréal en Histoires is to develop and produce various projects to enable Montréalers and visitors to discover, explore and celebrate Montréal’s history. Montréal en Histoires activities are focused on three projects: producing Cité Mémoire, a major work by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon with the collaboration of Michel Marc Bouchard, and developing both techno-historic walking tours as well as an educational platform about Montréal’s history.

Montrealenhistoires.com

#MTLenHistoires

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Source : Montréal en Histoires
Media : Sarah Dulude

Annexe Communications

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