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| Day
1 — Monday October 6, 2003
Opening Ceremonies
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Participants were first invited to share welcome cocktails. Michel
Gariépy, Chair of the Société de développement
de Montréal, spoke about the role that this development corporation
has played, and continues to play, in the revitalization of Old
Montréal and in real-estate development of abandoned urban
areas. “Like any real-estate firm, the Société
is in the business of buying and selling property. What sets it
apart is an ability to see, in old neighbourhoods, what jewels may
grow from conversion of an abandoned or rundown building, or one
designed for a purpose that no longer exists; the capacity to visualize
what new neighbourhoods might emerge on a site previously occupied
by vacant, contaminated lot. It is about waiting for the opportune
moment and the right project to guarantee sustainable development.”
Mr. Gariépy added that “When the City of Montréal
agreed to host this Conference, it quite naturally entrusted us
with its organization,” before wishing one and all an
excellent conference.
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Yorikane Masumoto,
the Mayor of Kyoto and Chairperson of the League of Historical Cities,
stood under the vaulted ceiling of the Bonsecours Market building
ballroom and officially inaugurated the 8th Conference, declaring
that “Promotion of multilateral exchanges among historical
cities, outside State frameworks, is an extremely effective system
that ensures open dialogue and encourages the formation of constructive
ideas and useful recommendations.” |
| Considering them as being “closer
to the people,” Mr. Masumoto called upon local governments
to help make the city a more attractive and friendly place to be by
working in concert with citizens and community groups. He reminded
participants that the Conference, besides welcoming municipal elected
officials and administrators, would also benefit from the active presence
of experts who could nurture shared reflections and discussions. Lastly,
he invited delegates to capitalize on the presence of Axumite Gebre-Egziabher,
Director of the New York City office of UN-HABITAT (United Nations
Human Settlements Programme), to think about implementing true collaboration
among historical cities, UN organizations, and international networks
committed to exchange and solidarity. |
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The host of the Conference, Montréal
Mayor Gérald Tremblay, spoke of the thousands
of years of collective human experience represented at this gathering,
and underscored the paramount role that cities have played throughout
history and will continue to play in the future. As engines for the
development of civilization and global awareness (think of Kyoto,
whose traditionally concern for ecological awareness is now embodied
in the protocol that bears its name), “Cities can and should
rely on memory to make enlightened choices. They must see to the development
of their communities by looking to the future in a way that always
acknowledges that memory of the past.” |
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Recalling recent devastation in cities
such as Baghdad and Dubrovnik, partly destroyed by armed conflict,
Dinu Bumbaru, Secretary General of ICOMOS, criticized
the devastation — more subtle but just as radical —
wreaked in cities that cannot resist the urge to rebuild again and
again. Inviting conference delegates to choose the route of accumulation
of heritage initiatives and “sustainable” enrichment
of urban culture, Mr. Bumbaru noted that “Cities are doubtless
the greatest of humanity’s works, but at the same time the
most complex. And it is precisely because they are so complicated
that preserving them is so rewarding!”
http://www.icomos.org/ |
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Axumite Gebre-Egziabher,
Director of the New York City office of UN-HABITAT (United Nations
Human Settlements Programme), noted that today, October 6, 2003,
date of the Conference opening, was also World Habitat Day, and
took the opportunity to deliver a message from UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan about water resources and public health in urban areas.
Noting that 90% of worldwide population growth over the next 15
years will be absorbed into urban areas, Ms. Gebre-Egziabher urged
delegates to be just as mindful of the health and welfare of their
citizens as they are of heritage site preservation.
http://www.unhabitat.org/ |
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Monique Gagnon-Tremblay,
Deputy Premier of Québec and Minister of International Relations,
spoke about Montréal’s cultural and historical role,
the exponential development it has undergone since the days of Mayor
Jean Drapeau, and its opening up to the world through such events
as Expo 67, the 1976 Summer Olympics and the Floralies exhibition,
and urged the assembled delegates to “conserve heritage
for the good of all humankind.” |
| Lastly, Helen
Fotopulos, Member of the Executive Committee Responsible
for Culture and Heritage for the City of Montréal, spoke of
how delighted she was to be meeting with colleagues and experts from
all over the world, and invited conference-goers to join the soldiers
of the Compagnie franche de la Marine and, to the strains
of the bagpiping Olde 78th Fraser Highlanders, to proceed to the lobby
of City Hall for cocktails and a banquet. The evening concluded with
a tour of the Lights of Old Montréal. |
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