AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE MYTH OF PROGRESS...
21 to 24 August 2014
MONTREAL-QUEBEC-CANADA

In the context of ‘critical’ postmodernism, beauty has something to tell us, something that we had hoped to hear whilst gathered for the first time on the American continent; in Montreal, where 168 nations exist side by side in a country whose vastness leaves you speechless. We were not disappointed. With its mysterious way of forcing us to relinquish our hold on any earthly reason, beauty allowed us to enter into and share in the awe in which indigenous people hold the universe. We understood that by its very presence, beauty allows us to live in the present, whilst simultaneously re-evaluating both past and future. Beauty allows for the ‘creation of time; by fracturing the narrow, issueless bubbles of our own fears and introversions, it lets us hope that which we could never have dared hope. Beauty filled us with the desire to act, to innovate, to create. We realized that beauty is always born of an ‘in-between’ as F. Cheng once wrote; always born of a connection.

Day 1 : THE PERSON AND THE COSMOS - BEING CONNECTED

Opening in Mount Royal Park, by the people of the First Nations,

Round table : The person and the cosmos - Being connected
Guests: Viviane Michel, President Quebec Native Women inc., Rae Marie Taylor, poet, artist, author, professor of Native American Literature Colorado New Mexico - United States, Agusti Nicolau Coll, historian, geographer and free explorer of the Occidental Tradition Catalane Quebec, François Euvé, s.j. professor of physics, theologist, editor in chief of the magazine ÉTUDES France.
Animated by: Jean-Noël André, coordinator of the convention in North America, Espace Art Nature - Quebec.

Evening show - "I belong to the Earth"
Poetry, music and "theatre of objects" by the company: le Chemin qui Marche and their guests.

Day 2 : CREATION OF TIME PRESENCE

Discovery visits
Visits to outstanding and unusual places, "out of time" experiments, challenges to profitability, to effectiency at all costs, to dehumanization.
Or how people, place, story and choices can reveal the face of beauty.

1- HOCHELAGA DISTRICT WITH THE FOUNDATION OF DOCTOR JULIEN
In this district, Doctor Gilles Julien created a service of social pediatrics, a community practice aiming at supporting children and their families at risk or in a vulnerable situation, to ensure greater comfort and optimal development for the children in respect to their rights and their interests. A model exported to various provinces of Canada and soon to France.
2- CENTERSOUTH DISTRICT WITH AN ECOMUSEUM OF "LE FIER MONDE"
A swimming pool transformed into a heritage site of industrial and Montreal labor history as well as into acitizen’s museum focused on popular education. An original experiment which creates participatory projects, cooperates closely with the population, and is involved in the present and future development of this district.
3- GRIFFINTOWNDISTRICT WITH THE SQUARE CIRCLE
Starting from the Cercle Carré, a cooperative artist dwelling, we’ll be guided by a resident historian and discover an old but changing harbor working district, marked by gentrification and the presence of artistic sites like the Darling Foundry.
4-NOTRE DAME DE BON SECOURS CHAPEL - HISTORICAL DISTRICT
Starting from the oldest place of Christian worship in Montreal, we’ll trace the origins of the foundation of the city, on the trail of the First Nations, French and British peoples who have marked this site for over 2000 years, including visionaries and builders of Montreal and the New World.
5- PARK OF THE RAPIDS
Known for their tumultuous waters, the steep incline and strong current, the Lachine Rapids have been a place of historical and natural renown since the origins of New France. They contributed to the geostrategic development of the metropolis and house nearly 225 bird species, such as the Great Blue Heron, a protected species. Guided tour by two residents.
6- THE LANE OF HAPPINESS WITH THE FAMILY ASSOCIATION
A resident of Hochelaga Maisonneuve district transformed the sordid backyard allies into green and accessible lanes. Attention to the less fortunate, the children and their families resulted in developing a gift economy and a contagious community life.
7- MOUNT ROYAL AND THE ST-JOSEPH SHRINE
Mount Royal, a green mountain in the heart of the city, a symbolic place since its origins. And the Shrine, a place of culture, faith and history, made famous by Brother André, c.s.c. an ordinary man who upset men and women of all religions and all countries. The shrine, among other things, houses the splendid sculptures of Henri Charlier.

Rythm Workshop
Discover, in a creative way, how your own inner rhythm can be harmonized to beat in tune with others in a common pulsation.

Round Table The creation of time - Presence
Guests: Jacques Le Goff, president of the association of the friends of Emmanuel Mounier - France; Benoît Lacroix, philosopher, doctor of medieval history, author and Dominican monk - Quebec; Gaston Pineau, researcher and teacher educational and social sciences, professor emeritus at the University of Tours in France and Quebec; Noldi Christen, Cultural project coordinator ADT Quart Monde Europe, with photographs of Philippe Brame France.
Animated by: Élisabeth Toulet, founder of the International Academy Theatre for Children, author of « La beauté à la rencontre de l'éducation » ( Beauty at the heart of education) France.

Evening show « Ce que Dieu entend »
Creation of the Arc en Ciel Theatre - France, inspired by the writings of Christian de Chergé, monk, prior of Thibirine (cf: film "Des hommes et des dieux", "Of gods and men") Direction: Olivier Fenoy, with Iris Aguettant of the Arc en ciel theatre. Nâzim Boudjenah of La Comédie Française, Bertrand Boss, musician.

Day 3 : ART AND BEAUTY SOURCE OF NEW HOPE

Crossroads - a Gathering

A- ART AND THE DISTRICT
At The illusion, Puppet theatre
Claire Voisard, general and artistic director of the Illusion, Puppet theatre, welcomes us in her new surroundings. She tells us how this old abandoned doughnut shop became a lively and stimulating artistic place for the district.
Others invited guests:
Aurélien Zouki - actor, dancer Collectif Kahraba,, Festival of Nehna wel Amar wel Jiran - Lebanon
Orlando Adao Antonio Domingos actor, Globo Dikulu Association at Cazenga in the suburb of Luanda Angola.
Cécile Maudet actress Le grand Théâtre de Paris - Fra Angelico France

B- ART, POVERTY, HUMAN FRAILTY
At The Maison Quart Monde
Guy Demers friend of the ATD movement Quart Monde in Montreal welcomes us into his home. He introduces us to his writings, paintings and collages made in collaboration with people from underprivileged or immigrant backgrounds.
Others invited guests:
Christine Saillet, Académie Internationale de Théâtre pour Enfants, theatrical work for children and families welcomed into the ATD Quart Monde Family Center in Noisy le Grand - France
Noldi Christen, coordinator of cultural projects ADT Quart Monde Europe
Geneviève Dell'Acqua, president of Pédagogia Globale, lawyer, consultant in social and sanitation policies - Italy
Association Domino France

C- ART AND SOCIAL ECONOMY
At Café Santropol
Garth Gilker, the man with whom everything started, welcomes us. His first idea was to prevent the demolition of buildings in a group of houses. Thirty years later, the district is still there, the restaurant café is famous for its originality, it simple meals, the garden and the young people of various backgrounds who work there.
Others invited guests:
Philippe Leconte, physicist, former president of the board of trustees of Nef - France Denis Missud, Eco community Company for the development of the society Quebec
Philippe Derudder, former head of a company, lecturer on economic alternative AISES (International Association for the Support of Sociability) France Quebec

D - ART OF RECONCILIATION
At the Centre Baha'i
Laurent Gagnon, Initiatives et Changement Canada presents a short film created within the framework of the "Circle of Confidence, forum for a citizen project."
This project falls under the work of the Commission of Truth and Reconciliation of Canada, which, following the scandal of the boarding schools for autochthones, is contributing to breaking the circles of loneliness that history created between the First Nations, Francophones, Anglophones and newly arrived immigrants.
Others invited guests:
Geneviève Hervieux Collard, Innu Nation,
Ghaleb Bencheikh el Hocine, physicist, PHD doctor in sciences, president of the world Conference of the Religions for Peace France.
Maëlle Turbide journalist of the community Baha'i

E- ART AND CHILDHOOD
At a UQAM residence
Chantal Lapointe, doctor in philosophy of education, cofounder of a Waldorf School in Quebec and the Institute for Masters in Waldorf Pedagogy. The pedagogy means to listen and take the child seriously, to dare to discover with him or her another way of seeing the world, to renew culture, to build and envision education differently.
Others invited guests :
Isabelle Soto Guillon Verne, teaching coordinator of the Kindergarten Cantarena, Reggio Emilia - Chili
Académie Internationale de Théâtre pour Enfants- France, Belgique, Portugal

F- ART OF THE WORD
At the Gesù showroom
Jean-Noël Pontbriand, professor emeritus at Laval University’s literature department, poet and essayist will speak to us about language as a place of revelation, of beauty.
Others invited guests:
Iris Aguettant, actor and artistic director, from "Theatre de l’Arc en Ciel" Paris-France

G- ART OF TELLING TALES
At the Centre Afrika
Nicole O'Bomsawin, anthropologist and Abenaki storyteller practices an art as old as the world, that of the transmission of oral tradition, where founding myths, legends and traditions continue to teach us.
Others invited guests :
Patience Bonheur Fayulu, storyteller, actor and puppeteer Republic of Democratic Congo
Charles Beaudry, archaeologist, scientific popularizer, storyteller Quebec

H-ART AND THE BODY
At Le Cercle Carré (The Square Circle)
Marie Lorraine Bérubé, trainer and certified professor of the Feldenkreis method. For her, what could be more fascinating than to welcome the body and see the human being evolve in what is most beautiful and natural movement. In conscious movement one reveals oneself, discovers and incarnates oneself and then shares who he or she is. This procedure of self awareness through movement does not aim at changing us; it allows us to walk on towards what is most authentic in us.
Others invited guests :
Georgia Leconte, ethnologist, l'ISA researcher (Institute Superior d'Aplomb) France
Mélisa Gagné, poet, Biodanza trainer Quebec
Colin Pip Dixon, violinist, Feldenkreis method trainer - United States

Rhythm Workshop
Discover, in a creative way, how your own inner rhythm can be harmonized to beat in tune with others in a common pulsation.

Interview Art and Beauty - source of New Hope
With: Philippe Sers, art philosopher, specialist of Kandinsky, man of letters, author and editor France
Animated by: Olivier Fenoy, actor and director of the Théâtre de l'ArcenCiel, initiator of the convention France

Evening show Music and dance
Colin Pip Dixon violinist, composer, Arnaud Ghillebaert violinist alto, The Elsewhere ensemble United States Aurélien Zouki - actor dancer, - Lebanon.

Day 4 : PROMISE IN OUR ARTS AND OUR TRADES

All together, singing workshop

Round Table Promise in our arts and our trades
Guests:
Jane Doering, PhD from Northwestern University, professor emeritus from Notre Dame University, member of the board of directors of the Association for the Study of the Thought of Simone Weil in France and the American Weil Society, Indiana - United States ; Philippe Leconte, physician, former president of the Surveillance Board of the NEF, Cooperative Company of Interdependent FinancingFrance ; Daniel Leblond, s.j. painter, founder of the Creativity Centre at the Gesù, cofounder of MAI, Montreal, intercultural arts Québec ; Gérald Larose, UQUAM professor, researcher, trade unionist, president of the Caisse d'Économie Solidaire Desjardins Québec ; Ghaleb Bencheikh el Hocine, physician, PHD doctorate in sciences, president of the World Conference of the Religions for Peace France
Facilitated by: Claire Fabre, engineer, doctor, les Forges de Perreuil France

Pearls, hopes, questions, projects, wishes,
Jean François Vézina animates this 4 day harvest of meetings in the form of a play.

Symbolic Act - Flash mob
The Square at St James church, a short walk from the Gesù to Ste Catherine Street.