The convoy set off at the corner of Rachel and Molson streets and headed towards Maisonneuve Park, where the Great Show will take place in the evening.
Director Richard Blackburn described the event as a parade with human energy
which was distinguished this year by the absence of allegorical floats. Instead, we walk, dance and sing in boundless creativity.
It is a true living fresco, an ode to tradition, to modernity, and above all, to the joy of living that pulses in the heart of every Quebecer
had described Mr. Blackburn ahead of the event.
When I look at what is happening on the planet currently, I found that we should celebrate our privilege of living in Quebec. To share this joy, this privilege, it is not the allegorical floats; it is human energy.
More than 700 volunteers participated in the procession, which included walkers, dancers, acrobats, people in costumes, but also politicians. The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the Quebec Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, the solidarity MP Ruba Ghazal and the federal Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, notably attended the parade which brought together thousands of people.
The parade’s artisans made a few stops along the way to invite spectators to dance and sing with them.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Violette Cantin
The Big Show at Parc Maisonneuve will take place starting at 8 p.m. and will feature Claude Dubois, Roxane Bruneau, Patsy Gallant, Queenie, Daniel Lavoie, Kanen, Éléonore Lagacé, Judi Richards, FouKi and Le Vent du Nord. Its theme will be A chance we have
in tribute to Jean-Pierre Ferland, and will be broadcast on Radio-Canada.
In the greater metropolitan area, shows will also take place this evening in Longueuil, Châteauguay and Beloeil to mark the national holiday.
For the occasion, the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge will be illuminated in blue and white, from sunset until 1 a.m.
The convoy set off at the corner of Rachel and Molson streets and headed towards Parc Maisonneuve.
Photo: Radio-Canada / François Sauvé
