DESPITE DOWNPOUR, PARADE MARCHES ON
While some Canada Day festivities were cancelled due to weather concerns, an estimated 40,000 people braved the elements to enjoy the 38th edition of the downtown parade. Kate Sheridan has details.
Drummers staying dry in bus shelters. Umbrellas integrated into float designs. Plastic covers protecting elaborate costumes. Most of the participants at Montreal’s Canada Day parade on Wednesday prepared for the gloomy forecast, but didn’t appear to let the rain, at times heavy, dampen their spirits.
The rain fell sporadically around 11 a.m. as the parade floats began to make their way along Ste-Catherine St. W. from Fort St. to Phillips Square, and then poured down by midday. Some Canada Day festivities around the city were cancelled due to weather concerns, including the events planned in Montreal West, but the downtown parade marched on.
It was led by a group of Montreal police officers on motorcycles, sporting surprisingly uniform pants — dark blue rain gear over the camouflage-style pants they’re been wearing to protest changes to their pensions. Among the floats were representatives from Montreal’s Filipino, Chinese, Panamanian, Iranian, Irish and Sikh communities, the Kiwanis Club, and — for the first time — superheroes from Montreal’s Comiccon, a popculture fan convention, including Poison Ivy, many of the X-Men and (ironically) Captain America. “You know, Superman’s part Canadian,” said Cliff Caporale, Montreal Comiccon’s programming director. “One of the creators (Joe Shuster) is originally from Toronto.” And with Comiccon beginning July 3, Caporale added “it’s perfect timing.”
Filipino groups organized about 25 cars, said Mercy Umipig Sia, the president of the Filipino-Canadian Volleyball Association of Montreal. One of the cars, the float for the Filipino Association of Montreal and Suburbs, was covered with a large turquoise umbrella. Nida Quirapas, the president of the group, said it was added to the float to help shield some of the children riding in the back of the car from the storm.
Many performance groups tried to continue as usual despite the poor conditions. Les Éclaires de Québec, a marching band based near Quebec City, said they would continue their performance as much as they could, and one group of bag piper sand drummers stopped during the parade to grab rain jackets out of the trunk of their car. This year’s parade was the longest in the event’s 38-year history, according to organizers, but perennial parade spectator Anita Gulens said the crowds seemed thinner. Organizers estimated that 40,000 to 60,000 people came out, a lower turnout than last year, which they attributed to Wednesday’s rainy weather.
“There’s usually a lot more people. You have to show up half an hour early,” Gulens said. “I think because of the rain, people have stayed away. Too bad for the parade, but good for us — we have front row seats.”