The STM’s summer partners An invitation to join the movement

Press release


 

The STM’s summer partners
An invitation to join the movement


Montréal, June 29, 200
9 As part of its new positioning aimed at encouraging as many people as possible to use public transit on a regular or occasional basis, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), through its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Michel Labrecque, took advantage of the arrival of summer to announce its summer partnerships.

“I believe that there is no longer any doubt in people’s minds that the STM is a strategic partner in major Montréal events. It goes without saying that we are proud of these important associations, and their growing number clearly demonstrates that public transit is a key element in the attendance at and, therefore, the success of these events,” declared Mr. Labrecque, who announced the various partnerships planned for this summer.

Cirque du soleil
In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil and in view of the shared commitment that the two organizations have to sustainable development, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) developed a partnership with the Cirque that will manifest itself in various ways. On the one hand, the first event was the contest launched by the Société, ”La STM vous emmène au Cirque,” which ran from May 18 to June 18 and enabled 25 lucky people to win a pair of tickets each for the OVO show plus a pair of monthly passes from the STM. On the other hand, a promotional campaign encouraging people to choose active and public transportation for travelling to the Old Port also forms part of this partnership

Just for Laughs Festival
For a third consecutive year, the STM is joining forces with the Just for Laughs Festival, which will run from July 3 to 26. For the occasion, the STM will create visuals for the promotional campaign in line with its new positioning. As well, as of May 8, and continuing until July 26, for each show ticket purchased for the Festival, the STM is offering return fare on the bus and métro for the unbelievable price of $1.00.

In addition, through the “It’s far from pedestrian” contest, the STM is offering a chance to win three passes for three years for its bus and métro service. Elsewhere, as part of this year’s line-up for the Street Arts segment of the Just for Laughs Festival, the Société will present the show, Orchestre de l’Homme orchestre. Finally, throughout the event, festival-goers will be able to visit an old métro car located on de Maisonneuve Boulevard at the corner of Sanguinet. Here, they will be able to discover and sample “transportation” cocktails.

Tennis Canada – Rogers Cup
As a partner with Tennis Canada for a third consecutive year, the STM will offer all holders of a ticket to the Rogers Cup two transit tickets providing access to the STM’s entire métro and bus network. In total, some 360 000 transit fares will be distributed. This is a unique partnership in the tennis world as no other tournament offers free access to public transit to its ticket holders.

Montréal Alouettes
Already partners for 12 years, the STM and the Montréal Alouettes are providing a free shuttle service before and after the games to ticket holders travelling between the Square Victoria and McGill métro stations and Percival Molson stadium. This year, the Société is offering a promotion, Mouvement collectif avec la STM, featuring a draw at each of the ten home games for an OPUS card charged with an annual subscription.

Piknik électronique at Parc Jean-Drapeau
From May 28 and throughout the summer, electronic music performances are being presented on the STM stage located in a breathtaking spot. On STM Day, young people dressed in the colours of the Mouvement collectif will represent the Société. They will invade the grounds and dance to the rhythms of the musical performances.

Fantasia Festival
The STM is very pleased to be the official transporter for the first time this year for this festival of extraordinary films aimed at 18 to 25 year-olds, which will take place from July 10 to 27 at Concordia University. Upon presentation of a valid transit fare, public transit users will have free access to all 1 p.m. showings of films and events, Monday to Friday, at the Alexandre-de Sèves cinema. The STM’s promotional bus, the Funambus, will also be on site during an outdoor film showing that will take place on St-Laurent Boulevard, facing the SAT.

Osheaga Music Festival
As part of the outdoor show program presented this summer at Parc Jean-Drapeau by the Gillette Entertainment Group on August 1 and 2, the STM, in collaboration with the Gillette Entertainment Group, will support the Osheaga Music Festival by providing free public transit to festival goers. Holders of tickets to shows at the festival bearing the STM logo will simply have to present these tickets to bus drivers or ticket controllers. As well, festival-goers will be able to take advantage of the meeting place set up by the STM to connect with young people. With performances by popular musicians such as Coldplay, Beastie Boys, Rufus Wainwright and others, Osheaga 2009 again promises to be one of the year’s happening events!

Fête des enfants de Montréal
On August 14, 15 and 16, the Fête des enfants de Montréal will celebrate its eleventh anniversary. Official transporter since the very beginning, the STM is pleased to contribute to the success of this family activity, which over the years has become a popular event bringing together Montréal’s various communities. For the occasion, the STM is providing free transportation to the Fête on its network upon presentation of a pass available free at Montréal-area Jean-Coutu pharmacies. The Société will also offer a presentation on the site, as it has done for several years.

Various partners – Family Outings program
As part of its program launched last fall, the STM has signed agreements with some twenty key partners such as La Ronde, Montréal’s Nature Museums, the IMAX theatre and the Science Centre, enabling those who take advantage of the Family Outings program to benefit from exciting discounts. This program allows an adult holding a valid transit fare to travel with a maximum of five children under the age of 12 at no extra cost on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

It is also interesting to note that as part of Pour un Québec Famille sponsored by the Quebec Ministry for the Family, the Société’s program was selected by the population as one of the five Coup de cœur.

Centre 1, 2, 3 Go! – Strollers aboard STM buses
Since Monday, June 1, the reserved area has been shared on all the low-floor buses. In effect, clients travelling with a stroller aboard the low-floor buses have priority for the reserved area as long as it is not occupied by a person in a wheelchair.

This initiative, implemented with the collaboration of Centre 1,2,3,GO!, is part of the Société’s commitment to sustainable development and its intent to apply universal accessibility measures to respond to the varied needs of its clientele.

“All these partnerships are in line with our positioning aimed at encouraging more people to use public transit, either on a regular or occasional basis. Thanks to these agreements, we will be more visible and more involved with current clients and also, and even more importantly, with potential clients,” emphasized the Chairman of the STM’s Board of Directors, Mr. Michel Labrecque.

“Major events lend themselves to travel by the public, and at the STM, we are convinced that the best way to travel to these events is by public transit. Never mind that it is also a positive and effective move for the environment,” concluded Mr. Labrecque.

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