This year's Fête nationale more meaningful than ever for some Quebecers

Montreal Gazette

6 hours ago

A sea of blue and white took centre stage under a blazing sun for the annual St-Jean-Baptiste parade in Montreal on Tuesday as national pride was on full display to mark the provincial holiday.
The Fleur-de-lis was out in full force as thousands gathered to watch marchers make their way to Maisonneuve Park. The main concert was set to take place later in the evening.
Mathieu Fortier arrived early to secure a good spot. For him, this year's Fête nationale has a special meaning, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to poke at Canada's sovereignty.
'St-Jean this year has a taste of pride, a taste of celebration, and a taste of purpose,' Fortier said 'For me, personally, (Trump's attacks) have boosted my pride in being a Quebecer and my Quebec identity.'
Others were taking in the Montreal festivities for the first time. Claude Turgeon travelled with his wife from Boisbriand to celebrate.
'I've always been proud to be a Quebecer, but this year I wanted to participate,' Turgeon said.
There was an obvious political presence at the parade as local, provincial and federal politicians took in the festivities.
Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe told reporters the importance of the day is tied in with the importance of ensuring the sustainability of Quebec culture.
'We must always stand up to defend our culture, our language, our identity,' Lacombe said. 'We've been fighting for who we are in Quebec for 250 years, so I think this fight is far from over, especially with the upheavals we're currently experiencing on the international scene with our neighbour to the south, but also in Canada as a whole.'
Steven Guilbeault, Canadian identity, culture and official languages minister and MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, highlighted the national pride that the U.S. threats have brought to light.
'We see it in Quebec and across the country: there's a movement of national pride,' Guilbeault said. 'People want to stand together in the face of what is perceived as an economic attack and also an attack on our identity and our sovereignty, so it's heartwarming to see people come together like this.'
Weather was a key player in this year's festivities, no matter where you lived in the province.
Some 650 events were planned to mark the day, also known as St-Jean-Baptiste Day, but some fell victim to the weather on Monday.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain dampened Fête nationale festivities in Quebec's provincial capital region on Monday, forcing the abrupt cancellation of the marquee concert and leaving thousands without power.
About 15 minutes before a concert was set to begin on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, organizers cancelled the event and evacuated the area because of extreme weather that brought thunder, lightning and heavy downpours.
Quebec City organizers said it was the right call as there were warnings for 100 km/h winds and torrential rainfall.
Mother Nature offered concertgoers in Montreal more favourable — if not considerably hotter — terms. Southern Quebec was enveloped in a 35 C heat that felt more like 45 with the humidity, meaning a hot, muggy evening for the Montreal event on Tuesday.
The Maisonneuve Park event was to include artists such as Robert Charlebois and Sara Dufour.
This year's celebrations commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first performance of Gilles Vigneault's song 'Gens du pays,' which is often considered the province's unofficial anthem.