Honourable guests Yolande James, Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities, Simon Nabukwesi, High Commission of Kenya, Marie Emile Martineau, Vice-Consul of Haitian Consulate in Montreal and Mary Deros from the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal celebrated PAINTING A NEW WORLD’S first multicultural event at the Montreal Olympic Stadium on a stormy February 25^th evening. 

Within the walls of the Tourist Hall there was a distinctive African ambience and dynamic energy that heated up the house.  

The guests purchased limited original artwork and jewellery from African artists, admired the tremendous talent of students who participated in the Gift of Art mural project in Quebec, were entertained by the delightful music performed by Mylene Tremblay and Jean-Francois Poulin, followed by the powerful energetic Masai dancers with Jane Nyoike leading all the guests to breakout in dance.  This was the festive mood created by Painting a New World to benefit those in need in Haiti.  Agnes Jorgensen and Andre Chatelain, founders of Painting a New World, believe that change is possible through art and artists helping artists can make a difference.

Proceeds of the evening will be used to build an Art Centre in Haiti.

PNMW was happy to complete a mural about Child's Rights with an enthusiastic group of young students from the Leadership Academy of FTC in Montreal on August 8, 2009.  Our invited guest was Ginette Sauvé-Frankel, MBA commissioner of the English Montreal School Board who is passionate about educating students about Child's Rights and equally passionate about art.

July 23, 2009 - Thank you Jane Nyoike (www.allafricanfashion.com) for inviting André and I as your guests to the residence of the Ambassador of Kenya in Ottawa, honouring your dear friend Jane Miano, 2nd Counsellor of Kenya High Commission. It was a great opportunity to present PNMW and receive encouragement and support from East African Countries.

(L - R) Agnes Jorgensen, Jane Nyoike, Jane Miano

                                       
The Academy was built at the request of artists and art lovers for special public recognition of visual artists.  By its internationalist philosophy, artists from around the world are included in the mission of the Academy. The Gala is an annual event highlighting the accomplishments of visual artists.

On May 2, 2009 Caroline and Louis Bruens, Founders of the International  Academy of Fine Arts in Quebec surprised André and myself with a Humanitarian ART award, recognizing the involvement of the artist in a humanitarian cause. The AIBAQ has supported PNMW since its inception. We are truly grateful for their expertise and collaboration.

The Millennium Summit has the power and the plan to cut world poverty by half in our generation. The Millennium Development Goals are the most broadly supported comprehensive and specific reduction targets the world has ever established.  In 2000 the largest gathering of world leaders in history adapted the UN Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce poverty, improve health, and promote peace, human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

A whole-hearted THANK YOU to Daniel Germain, Martine Jalbert and all the staff of the Millenium Summit for inviting PNMW to this International gathering for those envisioning to build a better world.  This event gave  PNMW  the opportunity  to showcase artworks from participating artists of Kibera,  Evelyn College of Design and The Bobea Art Centre, located in Kenya and the Abyssinia Fine Art Centre in Ethiopia.

The summit was organized by student leaders and involved 500 leaders from the Montreal area and Newfoundland. The aim of the conference was to create awareness about important local and global humanitarian issues.

"EXPRESS YOURSELF !!" was what André and I invited the students to do on a large canvas mural at the Summit. We were very impressed with their creativity, enthusiasm and sensitivity to the needs in developing countries. A huge THANK YOU to Marc Boucher and Ann Novak for inviting PNMW to a well organized and meaningful event.