Organizer apologizes after ad for Montreal's 375th features only white people

The man in charge of Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations is apologizing that a commercial for the festivities depicts only white people.

Gilbert Rozon said criticism of the 45-second spot is "100 per cent fair," and it will beredone over the weekend.

The commercial is for a show that will air next month on four French-language networks and unveils elements of the programming for next year's celebrations.

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It features a number of mainstays from Quebec's star system, including musicians Beau Dommage playing as they overlook the city, actress and director Denise Filiatrault riding in a taxiand Cline Dion singing on a counter at Schwartz's deli.

Promo video for Montreal's 375th lacks diversity, critics say

8 years ago

Duration 0:46

The original ad for a French television show to promote Montreal's 375th anniversary has been called out for a lack of diversity. Organizers say there will be a revised version.

Rozonsaid thenew version of the ad will accurately reflectthe show,which he says features a more diverse list of guests.

Asked to explain the original ad, Rozon said it's a matter of people having to change their mentalities and keep diversity in mind.

"I think things are evolving in the right direction," he said.

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Not my Montreal

Nakuset, co-chair of the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network, said the video doesn't reflect the reality of Montreal.

"I think people don't know there are 26,000 urban Aboriginal Montrealers. We are here, and we are multitalented, doing all different kinds of work and yet, people don't recognize us," she said.

Nakuset is worried the celebrations will skip over Montreal's long history with the Indigenous community.

"We were not consulted. Our projects were put forward, and they were denied," she said.

"I brought up the concerns and there has been some change, which is good, but we're still waiting to see what the end result will be."

Rozon said the committee is working with members of the city's black and Indigenous communities to make sure they are included in the celebrations.

'Our greatest asset'

La Pressecolumnist Marc Cassivi,who called attention tothe lack of diversity in a column, said he didn't intend to point fingers at anyone specifically.

"It's media in general that doesn't portray Montreal as it is, and we have to think about that. We have to stop thinking about how we see ourselves, but how reality is, what Montreal is," he said.

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Rozon said some people see the city's multiculturalism as a disadvantage, but he doesn't share that opinion.

"I've always said it publicly, the fact that Montreal is Molire meeting Shakespeare is probably our greatest asset, but also the fact that we have this diversity makes a big difference," he said.

"This is the way we're going to survive and make a difference in the world. That's my personal opinion, and I have to obviously deliver the goods."

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