The original production of the BellesS&339;urs musical was produced by the Theâtre dAujourdhui and the Centre culturel de Joliette in collaboration with Loto Quebec. Mr. Cousineau described the fundamental reasons that led LotoQuebec to support the project &8220;More than a year ago as both LotoQuebec and Les BellesS&339;urs were celebrating their 40th anniversaries the idea of an association with this musical came up. Out of a spontaneous look at our respective histories came a lasting partnership. We felt that we had a responsibility to support this phenomenally successful show and give it the opportunity to rise to new heights. BellesS&339;urs is an exceptional work and a splendid production that deserves our exceptional support. LotoQuebec&8217;s goal is to extend the work&8217;s horizons by giving it the helping hand it needs to undertake a major international tour.&8221;
LotoQuebec&8217;s CEO also delivered a message from Raymond Bachand Minister of Finance and Revenue who was unavailable to attend due to the drafting of the new Quebec budget. &8220;It is so important for us to export our culture and to open new horizons abroad. A production like this one imagined by Rene Richard Cyr and Daniel Belanger based on what is probably Michel Tremblay&8217;s finest work possesses those rare qualities that make it worthy of being performed internationally. And so&8221; Minister Bachand added &8220;when Mr. Cousineau proposed the Theâtre du RondPoint in Paris project to me I was naturally pleased to say &8216;yes.&8217; This partnership provides yet another opportunity for us to celebrate and support a truly exceptional work.&8221;
Minister Christine StPierre spoke of how this grand adventure would celebrate and pay homage to the great Quebec playwright who wrote Les BellesS&339;urs. &8220;Quebec creative genius again displays its remarkable qualities by giving new life to a masterful work that is recognized the world over. Thanks to the partnership organized by LotoQuebec Paris theatregoers will have an opportunity to appreciate the talents of a fabulous team of Quebec performers. As my own ministry prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary I am so pleased to be able to take stock of just how far we have come. I sincerely believe that the establishment of the ministere des Affaires culturelles in 1961 created the preconditions that led to a breakthrough for all forms of Quebec talent&8221; she added.
LotoQuebec will contribute $700000 to make it possible for BellesS&339;urs to cross the Atlantic and take up residence for several weeks next year on the Champs Elysees. In addition the corporation has sought and obtained the support of three prestigious financial partners&8211;the Caisse de depôt et placement du Quebec CGI and Power Corporation of Canada. Each will contribute $233000 in funding for this project.
Caisse de depôt et placement du Quebec president Michael Sabia avowed his admiration for Michel Tremblay&8217;s major work and declared that the &8220;Caisse is thrilled to support the staging of this gem of a work and to help build bridges between Quebec&8217;s dynamic cultural industry and the international marketplace.&8221;
CGI Executive Chairman of the Board Serge Godin spoke about how proud his company was to be associated with &8220;a leading light of the Quebec theatre repertory one whose success has already gone beyond our borders.&8221;
John Rae Executive VicePresident of Power Corporation of Canada stated &8220;We proudly lend our name to this production and support the promotion of this masterpiece of Quebec contemporary theatre abroad.&8221;
&8220;Supported carried and sustained by LotoQuebec which has been a major daring and loyal partner since this adventure began&8211;and now with the added support of the Caisse de depôt et placement du Quebec CGI and Power Corporation of Canada&8211;our BellesS&339;urs will soon be off to visit their French cousins on the banks of the Seine. Thank you so very much for being there for us and for your vote of confidence&8221; declared BellesS&339;urs director Rene Richard Cyr who also spoke for B14 Productions a company that emerged out of a recent partnership between himself Michel Tremblay and Daniel Belanger.
Now a worldwide classic of contemporary theatre Les Belles S&339;urs holds the record for Quebec plays that have been staged around the globe with some 425 productions on record in more than 20 languages and in 25 countries.
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About LotoQuebec
LotoQuebec&8217;s mission is to responsibly manage games of chance in an orderly and measured fashion in the interests of all of Quebec society.
About B14 Productions
B14 Productions develops promotes and produces Quebec creations among which the BellesS&339;urs musical.
About the Caisse de depôt et placement du Quebec
The Caisse de depôt et placement du Quebec is a financial institution that manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at December 31 2010 it held $151.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada&8217;s leading institutional fund managers the Caisse invests in major financial markets private equity and real estate. For more information www.lacaisse.com.
About CGI
Founded in 1976 CGI is among the most important independent information technology and business process service companies in the world. CGI and its affiliates employ approximately 31000 professionals. CGI offers a full range of IT and business process services to clients worldwide from its centres of excellence in the U.S.A. Canada and Europe as well as in AsiaPacific. As of December 31 2010 CGI annual revenues were approximately 4.5 billion Canadian dollars and the company&8217;s order backlog was around $13.1 billion CAD. CGI shares are listed on the NYSE (GIB) and the TSX (GIB.A). They are also part of the FTSE4Good Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Website www.cgi.com.
About Power Corporation of Canada
Incorporated in 1925 Power Corporation of Canada is a diversified international management and holding company with interests in companies that are active in the financial services communications and other business sectors.