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June 5, 2008
Alcoa Canada takes part in the 400th anniversary celebrations of Québec Cityby hosting Le potager des visionnaires at the City’s Musée de la civilisation
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Montréal, June 5, 2008 – Alcoa Canada, a major partner of the Musée de la civilisation for the past two years, is proud to pursue this fruitful marriage by supporting in a special way this unique installation at the Musée de la civilisation. Presented in the framework of the 400th anniversary celebrations of Québec City, Le potager des visionnaires stems from an idea that blossomed in the minds of the members of Franco Dragone’s team and is now taking shape in the colours of Alcoa.
“Upon visiting Le potager, the indisputable link that binds Alcoa to this project comes to the fore. You realize that our product, aluminum, is ubiquitous (the stabile, the well structure, the signage), and this is not a question of happenstance,” underlines Jean-Pierre Gilardeau, President of Alcoa Canada. “As essential as it is to a vegetable garden, water is essential to the production of aluminum. In fact, reduced to its simplest expression, the chain of production of aluminum can be summed up as follows: water – electricity – aluminum, which can then be infinitely recycled. Water is a heritage to be preserved and transmitted, and that’s precisely the issue the creators of the Musée’s project wish to sensitize us to.”
Le potager des visionnaires is a project in which Quebeckers are called upon to participate. As early as last April, seedlings were distributed throughout the city. Later, those who wished to do so were allowed to plant their seedlings on the Terrasse Alcoa or in the Musée’s courtyard. In exchange, Alcoa, in the framework of its 10 Million Trees project, offered each of them a tree shoot free of charge. Thus, roughly 400 trees were distributed.
Throughout the summer, the Terrasse Alcoa will be dedicated to the participative component of Le potager des visionnaires. Here, once again on the roof of the Musée de la civilisation, the population will be invited to admire two gigantic herons – a work of art created by Québec artist and sculptor Denis St-Pierre, and added by Alcoa to the collection of the Musée de la civilisation.
“For the past 20 years, the Musée de la civilisation in Québec City has been taking up the challenge of sparking the interest of a very broad audience in all aspects of the human adventure. It has conquered the hearts of visitors of all ages thanks to creativity, innovation and boldness. Le potager des visionnaires is another eloquent example of this, one with which Alcoa is particularly proud to be associated,” concluded Mr. Gilardeau this evening, at the opening of Le potager des visionnaires .
In Québec,Alcoa Canada Primary Metals (ACPM) is comprised of the Baie-Comeau, Bécancour and Deschambault smelters, as well as the Bécancour Rod Plant. These four plants have an annual production capacity of over one million metric tons of ingots, castings, billets and aluminum rods. ACPM employs over 3,300 people and its activities generate over $1.5 billion in economic spin-offs annually in the province.
Alcoa is a major, fully integrated economic and social partner in the communities where it is present. Given its social commitment and strong sense of belonging to these communities, Alcoa wishes to contribute, in a sustainability perspective, to their quality as communities. Further information is available at www.alcoa.com/canada/en/home.asp and www.aluminumispeople.com.
Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, through its growing position in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
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