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CBC
6 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Organizers pull the plug on Montreal's Canada Day parade for 2nd straight year
With less than two weeks' notice, organizers of the Montreal Canada Day Parade are pulling the plug on the celebrations. In a news release, organizers said the event, which attracts over 100,000 spectators annually, was cancelled due to "ongoing planning disruptions, strained relations with city departments and unresolved challenges stemming from municipal worker strikes." The parade's main organizer, Nicholas Cowen, said while he understands why municipal workers are striking, disruptions raise safety concerns for parade-goers, as well as create possible logistical challenges. "If something was planned, are they going to do their jobs to the best of their abilities? This is a concern," he said. This is the second consecutive year the event is cancelled. Last year, Cohen said red tape and roadwork on Ste-Catherine Street were to blame and that he hadn't applied for a permit. At the time, he told CBC the parade route would have been changed and he would have been forced to apply for new permits without a guarantee of getting them. By cancelling the parade, he was hoping to highlight some of the challenges faced by organizers. The first Montreal Canada Day Parade was organized by now retired Dr. Roopnarine Singh nearly 50 years ago. Cowen has been involved since the 90s and has been the organizer for more than two decades. He's hopeful the event will make a comeback. "This event is for the people, not for profit. I truly hope we can one day return to the streets of Montreal with a parade that unites us, not divides us," Cowen said. In an email to CBC, City of Montreal spokesperson Nicky Cayer said that as was the case last year, Cohen failed to submit a project application "despite the city inviting him to do so on several occasions." Cayer confirmed, however, that Canada Day celebrations will be held in Montreal. "A land-use permit was issued this year to Production EGP for the Le Canada en Marche event to be held on July 1," he wrote in French, in addition to the city's official annual event at Quai de l'Horloge in the Old Port. WATCH | Meaning behind Australian flag at Quebec parade: Why an Australian flag was at this Journée Nationale des Patriotes parade 1 month ago Duration 2:04 The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste invited a group of Americans, Australians and New Zealanders to the festivities. They are the direct descendants of one of the men celebrated on La Journée nationale des patriotes, Joseph Marceau.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Canada Day parade cancelled for second consecutive year
Members of the Iranian community entertain the crowd during the annual Canada Day parade in Montreal, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS) The Canada Day parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row, with an organizer citing 'ongoing planning disruptions' and the city workers' strikes as reasons behind the decision. In a media release, the parade's main organizer, Nicholas Cowen, also pointed to strained relations with City of Montreal departments as another factor. Last year, Cowen also cancelled the event, saying there was too much red tape when dealing with the city. However, at the time, the City of Montreal said that they never received a request for a permit. The Canada Day parade began in 1977 and has welcomed thousands of spectators annually, according to Cowen. Calling the decision 'difficult,' Cowen said it has become increasingly challenging to organize the event without disruptions in recent years. 'Safety is our number one priority when it comes to large events such as the Montreal Canada Day Parade,' Cowen said. 'When different city departments of workers do disruptions, you no longer just have to focus on the safety of the public but the functional aspect of the event. If something was planned, are they going to do their jobs to the best of their abilities? This is a concern.' He noted that disruptions have increased over time, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, and have become more unpredictable and difficult to manage. 'I do understand where the City of Montreal workers are coming from. Everything in recent years has gone up in price. The city workers do multiple minor disruptions to bring those to the negotiating table,' the organizer explained. 'While the mayor's office had previously assured the organizer that these issues would be resolved, no meaningful or lasting solution has been implemented.' He added that he hopes the relationship with the city will improve in the years to come. 'This event is for the people, not for profit. I truly hope we can one day return to the streets of Montreal with a parade that unites us, not divides us,' Cowen said. CTV News reached out to the City of Montreal for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
