November 2, 2011

Ottawa, Ontario - The ARTicipate Endowment Fund has grown thanks to a total donation of $75,000 made by LaLande + Doyle Architects Inc. of Ottawa. The firm had initially made a gift of $10,000 as a Benefactor donor to ARTicipate during the Community Campaign. Their additional pledge will provide a sustainable source of funding for the local arts community through the ARTicipate grants that are awarded to local artists and arts organizations, of all disciplines, which present or exhibit at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Philippe Doyle and Louise LaLande will present the cheque during ARTinis & Appetizers being held at the Shenkman Arts Centre on Thursday November 3.

In recognition of their generous gift, the lower lobby exhibition space in the Shenkman Arts Centre will be named the “Espace d’exposition LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space.”

“We quickly realized the special sense of ownership that the Orléans community feels towards the Shenkman Arts Centre,” says Philippe Doyle and Louise LaLande of L+D. “We were compelled to contribute to the Centre’s ongoing evolution through more than its bricks and mortar and are proud to have made a donation that will benefit both audiences and artists.”

LaLande and Doyle (L+D) are the architects who designed the 87,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Shenkman Arts Centre, a stunning example of the economic and cultural rejuvenation transforming Ottawa’s east end.

“The donation is a continuation of the vision the firm had for this magnificent arts Centre,” says Chantal Rodier, Director of the ARTicipate Endowment Fund. “LaLande + Doyle recognize the importance of supporting the arts community and activities in this purpose built facility.”

In 2011, the ARTicipate Endowment Fund awarded $64,255 to the arts community that will translate to a range of events and projects that will be coming to the Shenkman Arts Centre in the coming months. To date, ARTicipate has awarded over $117,000 in grants to the local arts community.

“The Shenkman Arts Centre is a remarkable achievement, as is the ARTicipate Endowment Fund, an initiative of AOE Arts Council, that gives an opportunity for the community to support the artistic activities within the Centre on an annual basis,” adds Christine Tremblay, Executive Director of AOE Arts Council.

The ARTicipate Endowment Fund, which has received $4.7 million in donations to date, enhances artistic performances, instruction and presentations at the Shenkman Arts Centre.  

About the Donors - LaLande and Doyle Architects (L+D)

As President, Philippe Doyle,  is responsible for the vision and direction of the firm. He leads the overall management of L+D and is actively involved in maintaining client relationships. Louise Lalande serves as a senior project architect, regularly lends her expertise to heritage development projects, and undertakes office and resource-management responsibilities.

Both infuse their expertise to projects of every scale - from small interior design initiatives to multifaceted architectural commissions notably the Greely Library, Carlsbad Springs Community Centre, Chelsea Sustainable Community, Skyline Project for Public Works and Government Services Canada and the accessibility retrofit of the Garden of the Provinces. For more information about the firm go to www.lplusd.com