October 21, 2004 -

OTTAWA -- CIBC today announced its sponsorship of the Alberta Scene, the largest-ever gathering of Alberta artists outside the province, taking place in the nation’s capital from April 28 to May 10, 2005. CIBC will be donating $100,000 towards the Alberta Scene, as well as the NAC Orchestra’s Alberta Performance and Education Tour in November 2005.

“The Alberta Scene will be a major cultural festival showcasing the best of Alberta talent and CIBC is proud to be a part of it.  It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the performing and visual arts, on stage and in the classroom,” said Robert Waite, Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, CIBC.  “We are particularly pleased our support will help emerging artists from Alberta enhance their national and international profile.  Through the Alberta Performance and Education Tour, CIBC will play a key role in supporting the NAC Orchestra’s delivery of educational activities to children across the province to nurture a deeper appreciation for the arts in young people.  That is a sound investment.”

The announcement was made this morning as the National Arts Centre (NAC) hosted its annual Corporate and Community Leaders Breakfast, this year providing guests with an overview of what the Alberta Scene will bring to the nation’s capital next spring. Some of the many Albertans who joined Bob Waite and Peter A. Herrndorf, President and CEO of National Arts Centre, at this “Stampede-style” breakfast included co-hosts The Honourable Dan Hays, Speaker of the Senate, The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and The Honourable Stephen Harper, Leader of the Opposition.

In the spring of 2005, the Alberta Scene will showcase more than 600 Alberta artists in 95 events, over 13 days, in 19 venues across the nation’s capital. Alberta artists will perform on a national stage, be introduced to new audiences and meet with more than 80 presenters and impresarios from across Canada, the United States and Europe. Pop, jazz, rock, country, folk, blues, hip hop, classical music, Aboriginal and world arts, theatre, dance, literary and visual arts, Franco-Albertan arts, culinary arts…all of these and more will highlight the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Alberta.  Later that year, the National Arts Centre Orchestra will undertake a performance and education tour to Alberta.

In 2003, the CIBC group of companies contributed more than $48 million worldwide, including over $25 million in Canada, to support hundreds of national, regional and local organizations in communities across the country.

www.albertascene.ca

For more information please contact:
Nadine Lunt, NAC,
613-947-7000, ext. 560

Susan McDougall, CIBC,
416-980-4047