About the Salon
Every Wednesday since 1982 David and Diana Nicholson have hosted an evening of discussion at their home.
“Wednesday Nights” have become an institution. The number of guests has grown from a small handful of Montreal residents to a list of attendees that has reached over 9,000. A guest may arrive on a visit from Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Europe, across Canada or the Americas…
As the topics have evolved, so have the professions and interests represented around the Nicholsons’ table. Originally, discussion centered on the economy and financial markets; today, discussions range from international aviation to environmental issues, from high technology and sciences to social policy and international development, and many subjects in-between. Economists are always in evidence, as are bankers, international investors, diplomats, corporate executives, politicians, professors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, human rights activists, environmentalists and members of the media (Discussions, with rare exceptions, are off the record.)
When David and Diana started these unique soirées — a long, long, long time ago [ in 1982] — their first special guest was Dr. Carl Beigie who gave the WEDNESDAY NIGHT SALON its beginning and rarely missed a night in over 18 years.
While there are a few “regulars”- members of the Wednesday Night group who come as often as possible- many other guests attend only when topics of specific relevance to their professions or fields of expertise are to be discussed. Attendance is by invitation (generally communicated by e-mail). “Wednesday Nighters” are encouraged to alert the Nicholsons to the possibility of inviting special guests, visitors to Montreal or new members of the community who may contribute expertise or a special viewpoint.
Wednesday Night “regulars” and special guests have included the Managing Director of the IMF, a former Premier of Québec, a former officer of the Bank of Canada, the Chairman of Aéroports de Montréal, Mayors of Montreal and Westmount, the Director of the Centre for Medecine, Ethics and Law of McGill University, the Dean of Commerce and Administration of Concordia University, permanent representatives to the Council of ICAO, senior officials of IATA and of the NAFTA Environmental Cooperation Commission, a number of federal and provincial cabinet members and the Consuls-General of Italy, Israel, Poland, The Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.
There are generally several topics of discussion during an evening. Each is introduced with a short video clip prepared and edited in advance by the host. Experts around the table are asked to comment and/or expand on the topic while other guests add their questions or particular insights. There is no attempt (or desire) to “sell” a given product or concept, rather, the objective is to inform and offer to everyone an opportunity to hear differing viewpoints. At times, a guest may wish to test an idea. On those occasions, The Room (usually about 18-25 people) will offer constructive criticism, alternative ideas and creative, thoughtful support.
The lingua franca of Wednesday Night is English. However, there are usually at least 10 other languages represented among the guests. On occasion, a special guest has been surprised to find that he/she has a fluently trilingual interpreter available throughout the evening.
While there is no membership fee, it is customary for all guests to bring a contribution to the bar.
You ask how one acquires an invitation to Wednesday Night. Generally, one is introduced by a “sponsor”, an individual who has already established him/herself as a contributor around the table and who asks if he or she may bring a guest.
Alternatively, the hosts may extend an invitation based on a match between the “new” individual and a topic under discussion. Therefore, they ask introducers for information about what the guest does, professional background, education, nationality, languages spoken, writings, particular interests and any incidental information that might serve to identify their interest in and ability to contribute to the discussion.
Arrival around 8:30 is good; dress is “business casual” for most, although some wide variations on that theme may be found, especially in summer. Guests - old & new - are expected to bring a “contribution to the bar”,- generally wine of any hue, however vodka and other spirits are also welcome-, and become part of the evening’s “pot”.
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