Canadiens unveil Bell Centre outdoor mural

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens formally unveiled Friday a new permanent mural on the east and north sides of the Bell Centre above Canadiens Plaza. Entitled "Generations of Greatness," the urban graffiti was part of eight projects selected to receive funding from the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation as part of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal's "I Love Working Downtown" initiative announced in March. Joining team officials for the occasion were Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region, and Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the CCMM.

PHOTO GALLERY: Bell Centre mural
Produced in partnership with the creative studio LNDMRK and commissioned to Montreal-based street artist Marc Sirus, the mural measures 18 meters wide and 12 meters tall and includes a nod to the team's original logo and founding year of 1909, an image of the iconic frontage of the Montreal Forum, a celebratory pose of revered former captain Saku Koivu, and likenesses of three generations of legendary goaltenders in club history: Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price. Additional elements capture the energy of the sport synonymous with Montreal and the fans who support the Canadiens with a passion unparalleled in the game.

"We're constantly working to enhance the Bell Centre's reputation as a world-class entertainment venue, and the creation of this mural serves as a dynamic means to both welcome everyone who arrives at the arena as a guest, or passes by on their way to or from their workplace in downtown Montreal," said France Margaret Belanger, President of Sports and Entertainment, Groupe CH. "We're thankful for the financial support of the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation and for the vision of the CCMM to help bring this colorful addition to our city to life."
"Montreal is recognized for its urban art. This mural contributes to this reputation by showcasing our common passion in Quebec for hockey. This work illustrates our pride for our Canadiens as well as the importance of this sport for the culture and history of Montreal. I am very happy to support this creative project that showcases our artists and makes our downtown area attractive and dynamic, " said Chantal Rouleau, Minister responsible for Transport and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region.

"I congratulate the Montreal Canadiens and LNDMRK for the implementation of this unique mural art project, one of the eight projects selected as part of our call for projects. It marks the start of a series of large-scale creative projects, deployed in collaboration with property owners and developers, and with the support of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, which aim to enhance the downtown area as a place of work and entertainment, " said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the CCMM. "We are convinced that this urban fresco will be the starting point for a great creative dynamic in the downtown area, which will attract the curiosity of visitors and workers, and which will contribute to the effervescence of the sector".
A second phase of the team's creative project will feature an expansive lighting installation on the outside of the Bell Centre delivered by Lumenpulse in the coming months. In total, $415,000 in funding will be paid to LNDMRK and Lumenpulse for the mural and lighting work from the $3.1M in grants distributed among the eight winning finalists; full details are available on the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal's Web site at
ccmm.ca
.