Montreal, June 20, 2017 — Last June 13th, Nathalie Bondil, Director and Chief Curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, received the Paul-Gérin-Lajoie Diversity Award bestowed by ENSEMBLE for the respect of diversity. She follows in the footsteps of author and columnist, Rima ElKouri, and rapper and photographer, Samian, who were the recipients of this award in 2016.
ENSEMBLE for the respect of diversity wanted to underscore Nathalie Bondil’s vision and her efforts to open up the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to her community. The selection committee especially appreciated the many initiatives introduced to promote accessibility, inclusion and integration. Ms. Bondil not only gives the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts a human face but an inclusive social and educational mission. The winner had a great deal to say about diversity. [Translation] “As Albert Einstein stated, ‘It is harder to crack prejudice than an atom’. In this XXIst century, where mass migrations are looming more than ever before for climatic, economic and political reasons and while prejudices, rumours and manipulations abound at the click of a mouse through incessant media chat rooms, our mission is to prepare a peaceful society for tomorrow. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ priority is to cultivate the values of diversity, gender, orientation and of cultures: in 2018, we are going to inaugurate a new world culture wing with an intercultural outlook … not to mention the partnerships with associations and schools to promote living together and inter-culturalism as part of our new Pavilion for Peace. Overcoming our prejudices and learning about others are priorities we advance on a full scale basis. Given the fact that Quebecers coined the word réseautage (networking), it is because we do not want to live in a fragmented society, like a patchwork, but to form part of a crossroads for exchanges: Montreal, port city, safe haven. Thank you for this award that encourages us because acceptance of differences is an ongoing effort. "Since 2009, ENSEMBLE for the respect of diversity has been handing out the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Diversity Award to a prominent figure who contributes to the promotion of humanistic values and tolerance and who takes part in the fight against discrimination. Past winners include Rima Elkouri, Samian, Oliver Jones, Kim Thùy, Dany Turcotte, Maxime Collard and his mother, Dr. Gilles Julien as well as Father Emmett “Pops” Johns.
The award was remitted at the organization’s annual fundraising cocktail held last June 13th at Château Saint-Ambroise in Montreal.
A leader in diversity education, ENSEMBLE’s primary mission is to interact with young people to promote respect for differences and engage in dialogue in order to build an environment free of discrimination and bulling. Based on the philosophy of human rights, the organization defends the universal and inalienable values of freedom, equality and justice.
Source and Media Relations:Eve-Marie PaiementENSEMBLE pour le respect de la diversitéem.paiement@ensemble-rd.com — 514 842-4848
