Festival TransAmériques is proud to have organized an 18th edition that was respectful of the land and mindful of resource conservation. For the fifth time, we met the criteria for level 3 classification in BNQ Standard 9700-253 – Responsible Event Management, once again affirming our ongoing commitment to managing our activities more sustainably. Our approach was recognized by Tourisme Montréal, which nominated us for a Prix distinction in the Sustainable Tourism category. This award is given to organizations that implement concrete practices supporting sustainable development.

FTA 2024’s sustainability highlights:

Local SUPPLIERS, EQUIPMENT, AND procurement

  • 7 sustainability partners: RECYC-QUÉBEC, Écoscéno, Communauto, Go Zéro, CQEER, Planetair, BIXI.
  • 61% of our suppliers were located within 100 km, 47% offered a training program and pay equity, 20% had made a commitment to sustainable development, and 22% were non-profit organizations or co-operatives.

waste managemeNT

  • 81 kg of surplus food was redistributed.
  • 8 kg of returnable containers were given to people experiencing homelessness.
  • Various set elements were sourced from reused materials or given a second life after FTA:
    • Carte noire nommée désir: The set was stored in order to reuse it during a future North American tour, and almost all props were rented or reused.
    • Nigamon/Tunai: The set design was developed in collaboration with Écoscéno.
    • Being Future Being: The soil used for the set design was given to a community garden.
    • Weathering: Plywood from the set was resold to NPOs so that it could be put to new use.
    • Rinse: The set was given to Écoscéno so that it could be given a second life.
    • Au cœur de la rose: All of the set materials were purchased second-hand.
    • Prophétique: The chairs featured on stage were bought used.
    • The Cloud: The set consisted entirely of reused items.

Transport

  • 81% of surveyed festivalgoers and 92% of employees and volunteers used active or public transportation.
  • A partnership with Communauto provided the production team with access to an electric vehicle throughout the year and rental of an electric van for the show I Am from Reykjavik.
  • Shared transport was used to deliver the sets of Being Future Beingand Weathering by truck from New York.

awareness and communications

  • 3 shows directly addressed issues related to the climate emergency: Nigamon/TunaiThe Cloud, and Weathering.
  • 1 theme day was devoted to decolonial ecology, focusing on land, justice, and solidarity of struggles, with activists, artists, and thinkers in attendance.
  • A clause in presentation contracts invited companies to learn about our sustainability approach and adopt sustainable behaviours.
  • The Festival team attended multiple awareness workshops: Fresque du climat, The Week, and eco-design training provided by Écoscéno.

AccessibilitY, DEI, and wellness

  • The organization Scène et sauve was present on site during large parties at FTA Headquarters to prevent gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV).
  • 218 tickets were sold at the generosity rate, helping fund our accessibility measures.
  • 85 tickets were offered to participants in the Eka shakuelem program and 52 tickets were offered to Summit School, Jeunesse Lambda, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal, and Home to Eastern Immigrants in Montreal.

uniting our carbon offsetting efforts

The Festival calculated all emissions related to the mobility of its team, artists, and guest professionals and offset them in full. It also offset all transportation for attendees of Multitud and partially offset transportation by festivalgoers attending other shows and activities.

At the 18th edition, all festivalgoers systematically contributed to FTA’s Environmental Sustainability Fund via an environmental fee of $0.75 per ticket, thereby generating $5,666. With a contribution from FTA, the total amount reached $7,500, making it possible to offset 285 tons of GHG.

Through Planetair, we have invested in initiatives such as biodiversity protection in Quebec, renewable energy development, climate change research, and housing projects for the highest-risk families in the Sahel region.

At the same time, a portion of our emissions were offset via the Cheakamus Community Forest project. This is a forest regeneration program in British Columbia managed by the Lil’wat and Squamish communities.

 

ICI on recycle +

Festival TransAmériques is proud to have received the Performance + certification from the ICI on recycle + program for its exemplary year-round management of residual materials on its premises. This program recognizes proactive and committed organizations that strive to make progress in the responsible management of their residual materials.


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