Press Release
“Let’s be welcoming”
a captivating sculpture
by Tim Schmalz
Launch of the Cathedral Gardens of
the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Quebec City, May 28, 2024 – Today’s noontime launch of the Cathedral Gardens phase 1 saw the inauguration of a captivating work of art by the great Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz in the heart of Old Québec, in front of Cathedral of Holy Trinity, the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles.
In addition to Tim Schmalz and the Very Reverend Christian Schreiner, Dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Bishop Bruce Myers from the Anglican Diocese of Quebec several other dignitaries were present. Two members of the Quebec City executive committee, Ms. Mélissa Coulombe-Leduc, Cap-aux-Diamants city councillor, and Mr. David Weiser, Plateau city councillor, Mgr. Marc Pelchat (auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec) and Mr. Boufeldja Benabdallah (co-founder and spokesman for the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec) took part in the launch, along with a fine representation of Quebec City’s Anglican community.
The Cathedral Gardens will emphasize the site’s rich past, which can be discovered at www.jardinsdelacathedrale.ca/en. The work, which begins now, will take place over the next four years. A great opportunity to bring gardens back to the Rue des Jardins! In the 18th century, the street was bordered by the large gardens of three of Quebec City’s founding religious communities: the Ursulines, the Jesuits and the Récollets. The new gardens will be a meeting place where people of all origins and beliefs are welcome.
A project masterfully conceived by Groupe A / Annexe U, represented today by architects Érick Rivard and Maxime Rochette.
A sculpture that expresses the welcoming theme of the Gardens. The sculpture is part of the Be Welcoming series, present on the Camino de Compostela in Spain, in San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy, in Toronto, Chicago and now Quebec City.
As we learn from the artist’s website, “The sculpture is a visual interpretation of what is considered one of the most beautiful, poetic passages in the Bible (Hebrews 13:2). The sculpture shows a weary traveler/pilgrim who visually transforms into an angel when one walks over to the seat”.
This sculpture already has an account on the X network, which you can discover at@28maiSchmalzQC .
A few quotes from the speakers:
The spirit of place here is clearly one of encounter: for thousands of years, the Abenaki, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Wəlastəkwewiyik gathered here for trade, cultural exchange, song. We don’t see ourselves as owners of this place. We are its stewards. Timothy Schmalz, one of Canada’s great artists, has given us a great gift, thanks to the Eagles’ Wings Charitable Trust: a sculpture that tells the story of how we can be transformed by the stranger we meet.
The Very Reverend Christian Schreiner
Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Rector of the Quebec parish
The redevelopment of this historic site – the cathedral, the former bishop’s residence and Church Hall – is a true jewel of our heritage and central to Old Quebec. In the layout, it’s impossible to miss the nod to the garden of the Récollets convent, which occupied the site from 1692. The fact that it will be open to all testifies to the desire for inclusion and the promotion of living together embodied by the work also unveiled today.
Ms. Mélissa Coulombe-Leduc
City Councillor, Cap-aux-Diamants District, member of the executive council, Ville de Québec
The sculpture reminds us all that life becomes more beautiful and filled with wonderful surprises when one welcomes The Stranger in your community and life. This is a visual translation of a message found virtually in all faith traditions and beyond; that all of humanity is sacred. In fact, the idea of being welcoming and charitable to The Outsider is one of the pillars that holds up our society.
Mr Timothy Schmalz
Creator of Be welcoming, « Soyons accueillants »
We’d like to thank all the generous donors who helped make this day possible, as we inaugurate the first phase of the Cathedral Gardens. We hope that the support of Ville de Quebec, the Marc Bieler Family Foundation, the Jeffery Hale Foundation, the Citadel Foundation and the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec will inspire the public and other groups to support these gardens, which will benefit all Quebec City residents and visitors from around the world.
Mr. David Mendel
President, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Foundation
To support the vision of the Cathedral Gardens, visit www.jardinsdelacathedrale.ca/en.
This launch is part of the festivities surrounding the 220th anniversary of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (1804-2024).
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