AIC's 44th Annual Meeting

Le quartier chinois de Montréal is located in the area of De la Gauchetière Street in Montreal. The area was once home to Montreal's Jewish community, with thousands of Yiddish speaking immigrants settling in the area from 1890 to 1920, as part of a Jewish quarter centered on Saint Laurent Boulevard. In the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants started to move into the area, because it was convenient for many of them who worked for the railways. By 1902, the area officially became known as Chinatown. Unfortunately though, from the 1970s onwards, the neighborhood underwent many of the cities' redevelopment plans, such as the construction of the Complexe Guy-Favreau and the Palais des congrès. Still, the area remains home to a thriving Chinese community and is host to many culinary and entertainment offerings enjoyed by the whole city. Take our tour of Montreal's small but very culturally-rich Chinatown. Come learn about aspects of everyday Chinese immigrant life: religion, beliefs, family, education, social relations, architecture, arts and entertainment, and enjoy a progressive dinner with friends while you learn! We will visit three restaurants, which specialize in Peking duck, dumplings, and Mongolian hot pot. Sorry -- this tour is not a good choice for vegetarians.

Learn more about the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations history of Canada through textiles, garments, and art during a guided tour of collections at the McCord Museum and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. Your visit will start at the McCord Museum where you will be taken on a behind-the-scenes tour led by the curator of Ethnology at the McCord, Guislaine Lemay. You will have the rare opportunity to tour the First Nations Collection storage with Ms. Lemay. You will then receive an introduction to the Wearing our Identity – The First Peoples Collection exhibit. This exhibit showcases the importance of clothing in the development, preservation, and communication of the social, cultural, political, and spiritual identities of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.

You will then be taken to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal where you will be able to explore the museum’s Inuit art collection which includes works from the 1700’s to contemporary pieces. Jacques des Rochers, curator of Canadian art will lead this tour.

Join your colleagues on this special behind-the-scenes tour of the conservation labs at the iconic Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In addition to your tour of the conservation facilities, you can also choose the focus of your tour of the collections – attendees can select either the Decorative Arts Track or the Contemporary Art Track, both of which are described below:

Decorative Arts Track
Explore one of North America’s most important decorative arts and design collections on a guided tour led by Diane Charbonneau, curator of modern and contemporary decorative arts. Renowned for its scope, the collection comprises over 4,000 objects, including silverware, glass, ceramics, metal, textiles, enamels, and furniture. The richness of the materials and the range of styles testify to the quality of the collection and illustrate the evolution of the decorative arts between 1400 and 1900.

In addition, the collection includes many contemporary pieces. The collection retraces the major movements that have marked the history of decorative arts and design since 1900, especially Art Nouveau, Art Deco, modernism, and post-modernism. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the world’s top decorative arts and design collections with your peers.

Contemporary Art Track
Enjoy a special guided tour given by the Head of conservation services, Richard Gagnier. As you are viewing the artwork, you will hear about conservation treatments and challenges of these complex pieces. The museum’s galleries showcase works created since 1980 by local, Canadian, and international artists: abstract and figurative paintings, multimedia projects, and minimalist and monumental sculptures are a testament to contemporary preoccupations. You will also have time to view the Sculpture Garden which constitutes a major collection of the most prominent names in contemporary sculpture: David Altmejd, Jim Dine, Antony Gormley, Henry Moore, and Jean-Paul Riopelle.

Join your colleagues on this special behind-the-scenes tour of the conservation labs at the iconic Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In addition to your tour of the conservation facilities, you can also choose the focus of your tour of the collections – attendees can select either the Decorative Arts Track or the Contemporary Art Track, both of which are described below:

Decorative Arts Track
Explore one of North America’s most important decorative arts and design collections on a guided tour led by Diane Charbonneau, curator of modern and contemporary decorative arts. Renowned for its scope, the collection comprises over 4,000 objects, including silverware, glass, ceramics, metal, textiles, enamels, and furniture. The richness of the materials and the range of styles testify to the quality of the collection and illustrate the evolution of the decorative arts between 1400 and 1900. 

In addition, the collection includes many contemporary pieces. The collection retraces the major movements that have marked the history of decorative arts and design since 1900, especially Art Nouveau, Art Deco, modernism, and post-modernism. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the world’s top decorative arts and design collections with your peers.

Contemporary Art Track
Enjoy a special guided tour given by the Head of conservation services, Richard Gagnier. As you are viewing the artwork, you will hear about conservation treatments and challenges of these complex pieces. The museum’s galleries showcase works created since 1980 by local, Canadian, and international artists: abstract and figurative paintings, multimedia projects, and minimalist and monumental sculptures are a testament to contemporary preoccupations. You will also have time to view the Sculpture Garden which constitutes a major collection of the most prominent names in contemporary sculpture: David Altmejd, Jim Dine, Antony Gormley, Henry Moore, and Jean-Paul Riopelle.

$29 Attendees will have an incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Following an introduction to the institution, attendees will tour the grounds, including the Alcan Wing, Shaughnessy House historic building area, library, and receive an introduction to sculpture garden. Next, the tour will enter the vaults, viewing the archives and seeing how the collection is stored while not on display, as they have conversations with curatorial and archival staff members. There will be a guided tour of the conservation lab, led by Karen Potje and/or David Stevenson, followed by a tour of the Archaeology of the Digital exhibit. Attendees will then have time to explore the galleries on their own and see the grounds.

Want to delve deeper into the photographic collections of the city? Join us as we explore "Montreal in Pictures – the Notman Photographic Archives Storage at the McCord Museum" on Saturday!

The McCord Museum houses a leading collection of Canadian costume and includes almost 20,000 objects of women’s, men’s and children’s wear and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present day. It also contains an important group of embroidered samplers, quilts and other textiles. This tour, led by Anne MacKay, Head of Conservation, will give visitors an overview of the collection and a look at the installations, exploring the two reserves at the museum dedicated to costume and textiles.

$55 Too often art is viewed within the confines of a museum. Come explore Montreal's vibrant public art scene and experience the city's history and culture on your feet. Stop every so often to rest and sample local cuisine! You'll walk through a number of neighborhoods along Saint Laurent Boulevard, including Little Portugal. To the East of Parc du Mont Royal, you'll see the western portion of the borough of Le Plateau Mont-Royal. Now a predominantly Portuguese neighborhood, Saint Laurent Boulevard was also part of a historically Jewish neighborhood. See how cultures blend in the city through food and art! Still hungry? Join us as we continue to explore the neighborhood in the Little Portugal Walking Tour and Dinner!

$59 Join us at l'Étoile de l'Océan for a delicious Portuguese meal! Little Portugal is a neighbourhood in Montreal, situated in the western portion of the borough of Le Plateau Mont-Royal. Portuguese businesses can be found along several blocks of Saint Laurent Boulevard between Pine and Marie-Anne Street. This area has largely absorbed what used to be the traditional Jewish neighbourhood and is now home to over 46,000 people of Portuguese descent.

This dinner pairs well with the Public Art and Food Tasting Walking Tour - plan to meet us at the restaurant!

$25. Founded in 1979, the St. Armand Paper Mill still makes paper the old-fashioned way. Come see how paper is made and how they are "re-inventing the Industrial age on the shores of the Lachine Canal, the cradle of Canadian Industry."

$25. Visit Old Montreal, the oldest part of the city and a heritage gem in North America. With a professional guide, come take an in-depth look on the different facets of its history and its architectural treasures, and discover the characters that have marked its development. Admission into the Notre-Dame Basilica is included with this tour! After this visit, Old Montreal will have no more secrets for you.

$25 Enjoy a beautiful, easy hike on the highest summit of Mount Royal, the mountain that gave Montreal its name! Fly in on Friday and explore Parc du Mont Royal, right in the heart of Montreal – attendees will learn about the history of the space itself, discussing First Nations, colonial, and contemporary uses of the land. Much like another famous urban greenspace, Mount Royal’s modern appearance is in part due to Frederick Law Olmsted – while his plan was never completed, attendees will learn about the impact of his vision, design, and legacy. Learn about the rich biodiversity of Montreal while walking forest trails to dynamic panoramic views of the city. The tour will begin and end at the Mount Royal Chalet, where attendees will have the opportunity to see the sun set from the mountain. While the highest altitude is under 800 feet, the hike will take place on unpaved paths in the late afternoon. We recommend that attendees be prepared for a two-hour walk in potentially chilly or rainy weather.

Want to see the city by day instead? No problem! You can also enjoy the same hike on Saturday! Enjoy daytime vistas of Downtown Montreal and the St. Lawrence River valley instead, while still having the opportunity to learn about this fantastic greenspace.

$35. Come aboard with us on an electricity-powered, eco-friendly boat ride and enjoy a charming excursion along the Old Port. Along the water, you’ll discover the Old Port’s marine life and historical heritage, as well as the simple pleasure of navigating the river on a beautiful spring evening. Learn about Montreal’s history from the water as you view the Old Port and Clock Tower, as well as viewing architectural and industrial landmarks such as Habitat 67, designed by Moshe Safdie for Expo 67, and the Lachine Canal, which provides safe passageway past the Lachine Rapids, which promoted Montreal’s industrial growth. You’ll have a front-row view of the sunset on the river as you ride by the islands of the Hochelaga Archipelago and the St. Lawrence River valley. Please plan to dress accordingly, as temperatures are often lower on the water and after dark.

$69. Little Portugal is a neighbourhood in Montreal, situated in the western portion of the borough of Le Plateau Mont-Royal. Portuguese businesses can be found along several blocks of Saint Laurent Boulevard between Pine and Marie-Anne Street. This area has largely absorbed what used to be the traditional Jewish neighbourhood and is now home to over 46,000 people of Portuguese descent. This walking tour will end with dinner at l'Étoile de l'Océan for dinner.

$45 Begin this culinary tour of Montreal’s Little Italy with an exploration of the Jean-Talon Market, Canada’s largest outdoor market. Highly appreciated by foodies, it’s the ideal place to shop for authentic international products as well as fresh produce from local farms and artisans. In addition to interesting historical anecdotes about the market’s evolution, you’ll be charmed by the colorful vegetable stalls, the atmosphere and the culinary and cultural diversity. We will pursue our stroll into the heart of Little Italy to learn more about Montreal’s Italian community and the district’s development from trendy shops to authentic institutions. Of course, along the way, we’ll enjoy a few tastings in order to get a real taste of Montreal’s Little Italy!

$75. Discover more of Montreal’s waterfront and islands on this full day tour! Get off the beaten path and enjoy a boat ride to St. Helen’s Island, where you’ll learn about Montreal’s thriving public art before delving into over 5 centuries of island history. Attendees will be given a guided walking tour of the public art artworks on St. Helen’s Island, including works by Alexander Calder, Jean leFébure, Robert Roussil, Yves Trudeau, and Sebastián. The walking tour will focus on the preservation challenges being addressed by Montreal’s Bureau of Public Art as they work to maintain these works. Next, lunch is served at the Stewart Museum, followed by tours of the exhibition spaces, guided by curator and Head of Collections, Sylvie Dauphin. Ms. Dauphin will guide attendees through the Stewart Museum’s new exhibit, Cabinet de curiosités, as well as provide an opportunity to observe and interact with collection items not on view. Afterward, attendees will have time to explore the permanent exhibit, History and Memory, at their leisure. The tour will finish back on the water, where you’ll view the Old Port and Clock Tower, as well as architectural and industrial landmarks such as Habitat 67, designed by Moshe Safdie for Expo 67, and the Lachine Canal, which provides safe passageway past the Lachine Rapids, which promoted Montreal’s industrial growth. You’ll have a front-row view of the city as you ride by the islands of the Hochelaga Archipelago and tour the St. Lawrence River valley. Please plan to dress accordingly, as temperatures are often lower on the water.

$29 The Notman Photographic Archives at the McCord Museum in Montreal contains over 1,300,000 images, documenting the social history of Montreal, Quebec and Canada. About 400,000 images were taken by the Notman Photographic Studios, founded 1856. The archive also includes about 900,000 images by other Canadian photographers, dating from the 1840’s to the 21st century. This tour, led by Anne MacKay, Head of Conservation, will give visitors an overview of the collection and a glimpse of the museum’s photography reserve. Want to delve deeper into the photographic collections of the city? Get in a little earlier and join us on the "Canadian Centre for Architecture Labs and Collections Tour" on Friday!

$35 Come aboard with us on an electricity-powered, eco-friendly boat ride and enjoy a charming excursion along the Old Port. Along the water, you’ll discover the Old Port’s marine life and historical heritage, as well as the simple pleasure of navigating the river on a beautiful spring day. Learn about Montreal’s history from the water as you view the Old Port and Clock Tower, as well as viewing architectural and industrial landmarks such as Habitat 67, designed by Moshe Safdie for Expo 67, and the Lachine Canal, which provides safe passageway past the Lachine Rapids, which promoted Montreal’s industrial growth. You’ll have a front-row view of the city as you ride by the islands of the Hochelaga Archipelago and tour the St. Lawrence River valley. Please plan to dress accordingly, as temperatures are often lower on the water.

$75 Join us on our first ever bike tour and experience some of Montreal’s best panoramic views! In a unique experience, attendees will gain a better understanding of the significance of the St. Lawrence river to the development of Montreal as a city while enjoying its architecture and cuisine. From Old Montreal, attendees will visit the Old Port, Lachine Canal, Atwater Market, St. Gabriel House, Jacques Cartier Bridge, and Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67. Crossing the St. Lawrence River, attendees will then view a number of Expo 67 related sites on Saint Helen’s Island, such as Alexander Calder’s sculpture “L’Homme” and Buckminster Fuller’s American Pavilion, now known as the Biosphere, a museum dedicated to ecology and the environment. Additionally, attendees will have an opportunity to actually ride their bikes on the Formula 1 racetrack after biking to neighboring Notre Dame Island. The bike ride will be roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) long and last for four hours, including a stop for a tasting at Moisson Bakery in the Atwater Market. Your bike rental, along with helmet, tasting, and complimentary water are all included in the price of attendance.

$25 Want to see the city by day? Treat yourself to daytime vistas of Downtown Montreal and the St. Lawrence River. Enjoy a beautiful, easy hike on the highest summit of Mount Royal, the mountain that gave Montreal its name! Explore Parc du Mont Royal, right in the heart of Montreal – attendees will learn about the history of the space itself, discussing First Nations, colonial, and contemporary uses of the land. Much like another famous urban greenspace, Mount Royal’s modern appearance is in part due to Frederick Law Olmsted – while his plan was never completed, attendees will learn about the impact of his vision, design, and legacy. Learn about the rich biodiversity of Montreal while walking forest trails to dynamic panoramic views of the city. The tour will begin and end at the Mount Royal Chalet, and while the highest altitude is under 800 feet, the hike will take place on unpaved paths in the late afternoon. We recommend that attendees be prepared for a two-hour walk in potentially chilly or rainy weather

$29 Attendees will have an incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Following an introduction to the institution, attendees will tour the grounds, including the Alcan Wing, Shaughnessy House historic building area, library, and receive an introduction to sculpture garden. Next, the tour will enter the vaults, viewing the archives and seeing how the collection is stored while not on display, as they have conversations with curatorial and archival staff members. There will be a guided tour of the conservation lab, led by Karen Potje and/or David Stevenson, followed by a tour of the Archaeology of the Digital exhibit. Attendees will then have time to explore the galleries on their own and see the grounds.

$45 There are Art Deco districts in Berlin, Paris and New York, but there is also one in Montreal, which evokes the 1920s and 30s. Accompanied by an enthusiastic guide, discover buildings and Art Deco elements in a tour of Old Montreal. The tour begins with a presentation of about 45 minutes on the origins and characteristics of Art Deco, followed by a tour of Old Montreal, where the guide will point out some buildings of this style and bring them to life. After a break for lunch, you can continue your tour by following the guide to the city center. You will then have the opportunity to admire the Eaton building, the Holt Renfrew store and the former home of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

$59 This walking tour will allow you to discover the delicious cultural and historic culinary charms of the oldest district of Montreal. Speciality shops and boutiques in the area are housed in old factories and showrooms from the 19th century. As you follow the narrow and winding streets of Old Montreal, your professional tour guide will feed your hunger for knowledge on the history of Montreal and its many culinary pleasures. You will learn how the native people have influenced Canadian food habits and how the world fair Expo 67 brought exotic food on our tables. That and much more… Come discover the flavours and aromas of Old Montreal!

$59 Beer is known for its many virtues, but it’s the celebratory side that makes it today’s drink of choice. Join us for this brewery tour, and find out everything on the history of this loveable liquid, while we also take the opportunity to demystify certain preconceptions about beer. This three hour tour will be held in 3 different microbreweries that will each present 3 different types of beer to savour as well as a few munchies.

$25 Visit Old Montreal, the oldest part of the city and a heritage gem in North America. With a professional guide, come take an in-depth look on the different facets of its history and its architectural treasures, and discover the characters that have marked its development. Admission into the Notre-Dame Basilica is included with this tour! After this visit, Old Montreal will have no more secrets for you.

Join Richard Gagnier, Head of Conservation Services for a private viewing and discussion of the lengthy conservation process of the ensemble of Tiffany windows in the museum’s Bourgie hall. This ensemble is one of only two commissions by Tiffany in Canada and one of their few surviving religious series in North America. The talks will be 30 minutes and afterward you can walk over to the museum’s main building for the Opening Reception. Note: Bourgie hall will not be open to Opening Reception guests after 7:00 pm. 

Join Richard Gagnier, Head of Conservation Services for a private viewing and discussion of the lengthy conservation process of the ensemble of Tiffany windows in the museum’s Bourgie hall. This ensemble is one of only two commissions by Tiffany in Canada and one of their few surviving religious series in North America. The talks will be 30 minutes and afterward you can walk over to the museum’s main building for the Opening Reception. Note: Bourgie hall will not be open to Opening Reception guests after 7:00 pm. 

Focusing on the cultural practice of katajjaniq (throat singing), as practiced by the Nunavik Inuit of Northern Quebec, this tour displays the methods that combine to strengthen the preservation and living knowledge of a popular activity. Throat singing is an example of current cultural preservation issues – the practice was recognized by the Quebec Government in 2014, when it was assigned the first intangible cultural heritage status under the Cultural Heritage Law adopted in 2011. This tour will view the Nunavik Inuit Art Collection, housed at the Montreal Museum Society’s climate-controlled building. This facility is shared as a storage warehouse with other institutions of the 41-member society. Here, stone carvings, prints, and ethnographic objects will be viewed, illustrating their ability to provide perspective on throat singing. The Nunavik Arts Secretariat will provide information about the support it provides to keep the practice alive, such as grants, artistic residencies, and support for artist workspace. Attendees will be able to experience and enjoy a demonstration of throat singing, sharing the contemporary practice that continues today. In the archives and documentation centre, historical documents, Inuit oral history recordings, anthropological archives, historical photographs, publications about Inuit culture and the Nunavik region, and audio and visual material will give attendees perspective on the timeline of throat singing from past to present. An archaeological perspective will also be represented, discussing how sites and archaeological materials help inform educational and training activities. This exciting tour invites attendees to learn more about the varying aspects of conservation that can affect the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Delight in 17th century architecture and marvel at cutting edge conservation treatments during AIC’s post-conference tour of Quebec City, May 18-20, 2016.  Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, is the birthplace of Francophone North America and the only walled city in North America. This distinctively European and North American city, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an open-air museum.

You will not only see Quebec City, but you’ll also have access to museums, storage facilities, and the world-renowned Centre de conservation du Québec through exclusive behind the scenes tours. Our “base camp” for the three days will be the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.  For more than a century, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, located in the center of Old Quebec City, has been the focal point of life in Quebec City. 

You won't just visit historic places; you will have the opportunity to stay in one.
Tour Itinerary (subject to minor changes)
Wednesday, May 18, 2016

8:30 am – Depart from the Hyatt Regency in Montreal.
11:30 am – Arrive in Quebec City, check in at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. 
1:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Walking tour of Upper Town with David Mendel of David Mendel Tours, which includes a tour of the Ursuline Museum.
Dinner on your own, but we will arrange a dine-around for your convenience and enjoyment.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Breakfast on your own.
8:30 am – Depart for the Centre de conservation du Québec.
9:00 am – 12:30 pm – Conservation labs tour and visit. With over 40 conservators, the Centre de conservation du Québec is one of the largest conservation centers in North America. Charged with handling the conservation work for many museums and institutions within the providence of Quebec as well as private collections, many complex treatments are handled by the Centre. You will have the rare opportunity to tour the labs and discuss current treatment projects with their team of conservators. After the tour we will gather with the Centre conservators for a light buffet lunch and you will have the chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges inherent in the treatments discussed on the tour.
1:00 pm  – Your walking tour of old Quebec with David Mendel continues – today we will focus on Plains of Abraham, Grande Allée, stop at the Parliament building, and continue our walking tour into the Lower Town.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Behind the scenes tours at the Musée de la Civilisation. Known for both its excellent stewardship of Quebec heritage and cutting edge international exhibits, this four museum complex is one of the world’s best.
6:15 pm – 8:00 pm – Reception at the Musée de la Place Royale. Overlooking the place where Québec was founded in 1608, the Musée de la place Royale is set in the heart of historic Old Québec, a perfect location to marvel at this wondrous city over a glass of wine and enjoy good conversation with colleagues.

Friday, May 20, 2016

You will have your choice of activities:

• A behind the scenes tour of the Musée de la Civilisation’s storage facility


• An in-depth look at the Musée de la Civilisation’s archive project


• A stone identification walking tour


• Free Time

(Note: depending on the number of participants not all options may be available)

Individual departures for those not electing to stay an additional night.

Transportation out of Quebec City 

Included in this tour price is a credit towards train travel between Quebec City and Montreal. The train takes about 3 hours, which is roughly the same as driving. If you let AIC know when you would need to depart (we will provide you with a time table of options) by March 15, we will book the ticket for you. Because we envision participants needing to leave at different times and many may opt to stay additional night(s) in Quebec City, we think giving everyone the flexibility of leaving when they prefer is best. Some travel facts to bear in mind:

• It is about 30 minutes by taxi from the Montreal train station to the airport.


• You should plan to arrive at the Montreal airport no later than 2 hours before your flight. If you are leaving Canada you will need to clear customs in Montreal.


• You can opt to fly into Montreal for the Annual Meeting and out of Quebec City. If you chose this option please be sure to have at least 1.5 hours to change planes in either Montreal or Toronto. If you are leaving Canada you will need to clear customs in either of those cities.

There is more to Quebec City than we can cover on this tour. Please consider staying additional night(s). We can try to arrange extended accommodations for you at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. You can also move to another hotel, however, AIC will not be able to book accommodations for you at any other hotel. 

Tour Pricing
If purchased by November 15, 2015, we can offer an early bird price of $549 USD. After November 15, the price for the tour will be $649 USD. This pricing is based on double occupancy of a room. If you would prefer single occupancy of the room, an additional cost of $189 USD would be required. AIC will make every effort to pair you with a roommate of the same gender. If we can’t, the single-occupancy supplement fee will apply. You can pay in 2 installments or pay in full upon reservation of your space on the tour. An initial deposit of $200 USD is required at the time of sign-up and the remaining balance must be paid by February 15, 2016. Spouses and guests (over 21) are welcome.

Online registration is open! If you are ready to pay in full, you can reserve a space today online! If you would like to pay a deposit to reserve your space or if you have any questions about the tour, please call 202-661-8063 or email Katelin Lee at klee@conservation-us.org. 

You may cancel before December 15 for a full refund. Between December 16 and March 1, 2016 all but the $200 deposit may be refunded. After March 1 we will not be able to offer refunds. Cancellations due to emergencies and for medical reasons will be considered on a case by case basis after the tour takes place. There is both a minimum and a maximum number of attendees for this tour.  AIC will need to make a final decision about the feasibility of this tour by November 15, based on interest expressed and reservations. If you are interested please sign up as soon as possible or contact us to let us know about your interest in attending.