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After months and months of preparation, anticipation and excitement, on November 2nd, HOTEL10 officially unveiled its most recent artwork, a mural in honor of artists Gino Vannelli and Dédé Fortin from the mythic band Les Colocs. The work of art is signed by Guy Hamelin and Francis Turenne, two Montreal artists who collaborated to create this recent tribute to Montreal and its cultural scene, a mission dear to HOTEL10.

Gino Vannelli was accompanied by the “Orchestre Philharmonique du Québec” under the direction of maestro Alexandre Da Costa during his Montreal concert. In this picture: the two acolytes at HOTEL10 during the event on November 2nd.

From right to left, on this photo: Gino Vannelli, Jo-Anne Sauvé-Taylor (General Manager of HOTEL10), Ross Vannelli, Steve Taylor et Maggie Bergeron.

After the inauguration of SUITE2116-Chez Dédé, which was intended to be an incursion into the world of Dédé Fortin and the Colocs, the idea of paying tributes to our magnificent Metropolis through art and music continued to inhabit us.

The chemistry between HOTEL10 and the Colocs is complex, while we now know that the group was formed in 2116 of our building, which today houses HOTEL10. Since our opening almost 20 years ago, we have strived to convey the values and the particularities of Montreal: its art, its culture, its music and its history through our hotel experience. Seven years after the inauguration of SUITE2116-Chez Dédé, we were inspired for another project bearing the unique signature of our establishment. 

Gino Vannelli in front of the mural on Sherbrooke Street West

The birth of MUsique¹⁰

Gino Vannelli is originally from Montreal, where he wrote and produced his first single. He is a source of great pride for Montrealers as he contributes to promoting our metropolis internationally. The artist, whose career was crowned with success all over the world, returned home regularly, notably to visit his mother, Delia Vannelli, who still resided here, until she was sadly taken away by Alzheimer’s disease during the pandemic.

Our General Manager Jo-Anne Sauvé-Taylor also lost her mother, Huguette Blondin under the same conditions, so the common desire to give back to the cause gave rise to discussions about a possible project that would raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Montreal and the McGill Dementia Educational Program, while paying tribute to the artist. This is how MUsique10 was born.

« HOTEL10 has always been committed to tell the story of Montreal through art, and today, at the dawn of our 20th anniversary, Dédé Fortin, a Quebec artist who created his group, Les Colocs, in Montreal and Gino Vannelli, who was born and raised in Montreal and still shines internationally » says Ms. Sauvé-Taylor.

 

 

The tribute project, named MUsique¹⁰ for (Music & Mural) times “10” is composed of:

-A mural revealing a montage between the lyrics of several songs ode to our metropolis, including "I Just Wanna Stop" (When I think about those nights in Montreal) written by his brother Ross and performed by Gino Vannelli and “Juste une p`tite nuite” by Dédé Fortin and the Colocs;

-Stained glass windows bearing images of the Vannelli brothers;

-A guitar and gold records autographed by Gino Vannelli;

-Souvenir photos which adorn the walls of the 1st floor of the hotel;

-A reproduction of the mural on the 1st floor elevator doors;

This new project for HOTEL10 was inaugurated with great fanfare during an official event on Thursday November 2nd, 2023. For the occasion, Gino and Ross Vannelli, members of the Fortin family, the team of ”Tourisme Montréal”(this project was made possible thanks to the financial support of Tourisme Montreal) members of the media, and many distinguished guests, all gathered at the hotel to celebrate. On our program was: an immersive journey to discover the mural and the corridor tribute to Gino Vannelli, a welcome cocktail and two auctions. The artist Gino Vannelli had graciously offered personal and autographed items. All profits from the evening, approximately $12,000, were donated to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal and the McGill University Dementia Educational Program. A beautiful gesture for a cause that is close to the heart of the Vannelli family, as that of HOTEL10.