Josée Duplessis, DeLorimier City Councillor, backed by party leader Richard Bergeron, will submit a motion to maintain the museum at the Biosphere of Montreal during the City Council meeting on the 20th of August. “The Biosphere is an architectural masterpiece and symbol of the ’67 Expo, located in heart of the Jean-Drapeau Park. It’s a place that is both unique and spectacular, and must remain accessible to Montrealers. The Biosphere also happens to be the only museum in North America that is dedicated to the environment. Its activities must be preserved,” declared Josée Duplessis.
With her motion, Josée Duplessis will request that the City Council ask the Canadian government to respect the protocol agreed to in 1991, which involves both parties investing through 2016 and to maintain the Biosphere museum’s activities until that time, as agreed. She will also request that the City and the Canadian government work on maintaining and improving the Biosphere’s activities that relate to the environment and climate change. Lastly, she will demand that public access to this architectural masterpiece be preserved. “The Biosphere’s geodesical dome, designed by American architect Buckminster Fuller, is the largest building of its kind on the planet, and public access must be maintained. Furthermore, the activities offered by the museum are unique in all of North America,” added Richard Bergeron.
The federal government has invested $17.5 million in the design and general use of the Biosphere’s interpretation centre, as well as making contributions to the City of Montreal’s 350th anniversary, celebrated in 1992.
Immediately following budget cutbacks this past spring, the Conservative government recently made it known that the nature of the Biosphere will change between now and the end of 2013. From a museum dedicated to the environment where, for years, educational activities have been held for young students in the Montreal region, the facilities will soon be host to a meteorological centre closed to the public. “Montreal’s elected officials must come together to hold back the Conservative government. There’s no place for government offices in the Jean-Drapeau Park,” concluded Josée Duplessis.
Information: Catherine Maurice, press attachée of the 2nd Opposition, 514 872-3153, catherine.maurice@ville.montreal.qc.ca
