It was a high caliber dance performance. That evening, half a dozen seats at the Maisonneuve theater at Place des Arts were occupied by new arrivals to Quebec. They were entitled to tickets offered by an extraordinary program, which aims to introduce newly arrived residents to the culture here.
A way of saying: you are at home here. We’ll roll out the red carpet for you. And here are works that will perhaps open a window on the mentality, on the morals, of your new home.
“I take it as a very beautiful gift from the country that welcomes us,” says Marina Melteva, one of the spectators who attended the show. Assembly Hallfrom the company Kidd Pivot, this week.
This mother from Bulgaria arrived in Montreal with her daughter five years ago. She was entitled to excellent tickets at the Maisonneuve theater thanks to the Canoo application, intended for newcomers. This program offers any new Canadian citizen or permanent resident the opportunity to reserve free or low-cost tickets to 1,500 cultural institutions across the country — museums, concerts, professional sports, national parks, in addition to discounts for travel within Canada through Via Rail and Air Canada.
This initiative was established in 2010 by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), an independent organization founded by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and her husband John Ralston Saul. The federal government funds most of the program. Private donations pay the rest of the bill.
Curbing disillusionment
“We want newcomers to feel welcome in the country,” says Roberto Alvarez, director of partnerships at Canoo.
Recent research conducted by the ICC uncovers a persistent myth about immigration to Canada: yes, the country is perceived as a haven of peace and “quality of life”, but a significant portion of newcomers become disillusioned once installed.
” The desillusion [des immigrants] towards Canada is on the rise. Citizenship access rates have fallen by 40% since 2001, and 30% [d’entre eux et elles] under 30 plan to leave Canada after less than two years,” indicates the ICC.
The explosion in housing costs, employment discrimination, culture shock, the language barrier and the difficulty of weaving a new network of knowledge are among the obstacles to the retention of immigrants, specifies Roberto Alvarez.
Moved by the Cowboys
Marina Melteva, the mother of Bulgarian origin met at the Maisonneuve theater, confirms the ups and downs of immigration. She had to have her skills in early childhood education recognized. Develop friendships. And perfect her French, which she learned in Bulgaria. She now expresses herself impeccably in the official language of Quebec, but her integration has given rise to moments of discomfort.
“Fortunately, Quebecers are open-minded. All nationalities are present in Montreal,” she says. A sign of an undeniable adaptation, Marina Melteva was moved by the death of Karl Tremblay. When she saw excerpts from the Cowboys Fringants concert on the Plains of Abraham last summer on social media, she said to herself that she had missed a golden opportunity to meet this legendary group from her country. adoption.
Small consolation, she liked the show Assembly Hall, at the Maisonneuve theater. This piece by choreographer Crystal Pite and playwright Jonathon Young combines dance and theater. In a gloomy and surreal atmosphere, the eight characters embody fans of medieval-style role-playing games. We see knights killing each other. A princess who lost her beloved. The scenes oscillate between dream and reality. It’s beautiful. And funny, at times.
Marina Melteva was captivated by the show. She loves contemporary dance. Thanks to free or low-cost tickets from the Canoo application, the mother and her daughter are also regulars at the Museum of Fine Arts and Space for Life, which includes the Biodôme, the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden, the Biosphere and the Planetarium.
Promote discoveries
Sara Ennasri, who arrived from Morocco at the start of the pandemic, three and a half years ago, also had the pleasure of attending Assembly Hall. “It’s really good to have free or low-cost tickets, especially for a student,” says this 30-year-old speech therapist, who is studying to have her skills recognized. She also works in management in the field of social services.
It’s really good to have free or low price tickets, especially for a student
“Cultural outings help me discover Montreal and meet people,” says the young woman. She and her aunt Sofia, also from Morocco, love the atmosphere of festivals. “Culture is everywhere. Montreal is an open-air museum. »
The only downside is that Sara Ennasri noticed a much more abundant offer of outings in Toronto, on the Canoo application. The organization is working on this to offer more activities in Montreal, assures Roberto Alvarez.
The presenter Danse Danse, associated with Place des Arts, has been welcoming newcomers to its shows since 2018. The organization is offering very good category A and B tickets. No less than 66 spectators from elsewhere must attend the performance ofAssembly Hall, this Friday. More than 350 places were allocated this season to new citizens or permanent residents, specifies Claire Olivier, head of inclusion at Danse Danse.
“I myself benefited from the program when I arrived in the country. It allowed me to take ownership of the city and its cultural institutions. And I felt welcomed,” says this manager of French origin.