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At the eve of the closing the doors of the Intercultural
Institute of Montreal, we, the team (the Administrative Board,
the Staff and myself), wish to extend our sincere gratitude
to each and every one of you for your generous financial contributions
and support over so many years. For almost half a century
we have woven the links of deep friendship between all of
us and served together our communities and persons locally,
nationally and internationally.
This collective experience of the Intercultural
Institute of Montreal (formerly Centre Monchanin) has been
marked by many adventures and commitments characterized by
intellectual quests, innovative social actions, popular education,
and services to all segments of our society. It has been a
most fulfilling and challenging trajectory to be a trail-blaizer
in the field of Pluralism and Interculturality in order to
achieve social cohesion and justice through dialogue and mutual
understanding between all religions and cultures. And we are
painfully aware of the necessity and pertinence of our work
for today and for tomorrow. Hopefully we have sown some seeds
scattered here and elsewhere that will grow and find different
expressions in different places.
This past year (2011-2012) we have put all our energy to
consolidate this heritage and make it accessible to public
by distributing everything we have produced as publications,
research-action materials, educational programs, public services.
Our specialized intercultural library will be lodged at the
municipal intercultural library in Côte-des-Neiges district,
our archives will be with the National Archives of Quebec.
Moreover, we are working very hard to produce a documentary
film on the intercultural philosophy and practices that we
have developed at the Institute.
Although it is with deep sadness we announce to you the news
of closing down the Institute, we celebrate and rejoice this
incredible journey with you, with all our collaborators and
thousands of participants from diverse origins, from many
different walks of life.
We thank you once again for being a part of the IIM community
and for contributing to the work of not only breaking the
barriers of all kninds in our societies, but also searching
for intercultural alternatives for contemporary problems across
the world.
We sincerely thank you for your understanding
and collaboration
Carlo Sterlin
President of Administrative Board
Kalpana Das
Executive Director
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