Pride parade cancellation: Disappointment and anger among participants

Disappointment, disappointment, anger: The last-minute cancellation of the Pride parade in Montreal is a real “loss” for tourists and participants, but also for businesses that have waited more than two years for the event.

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“Cancelling thousands, millions of dollars of economic spinoffs for the village because of a management problem and 80 people missing is unacceptable! Those responsible need to be held accountable,” said Resto du Village owner Pierluc Dupont.

Mr. DuPont was furious.

” until [dimanche]The Montreal Pride organization ordered me lunches for employees and volunteers, which I went ahead to carry out. [dimanche] Morning! I don’t understand why they didn’t know about this before,” he laments.

For neighborhood businesses, Pride weekend is the busiest of the year.

“Our members are very interested and ready. Everyone is desperate and wants to know in advance how to help Montreal Pride,” said Gabrielle Rondy, general manager of the Village Business Development Corporation.

Fewer customers

For his part, Danny Jobin, co-owner of District Video Lounge and Date Karaoke Bar, believes the cancellation will have a direct impact on customer numbers.

“We’re going to have a lot of people, but a lot of people decide not to come because of that,” he lamented.

Same story for Pierluc Dupont, plus, the city of Montreal moved this year’s festivities to Olympic Park.

“It’s already taking away a big source of income for us because it’s not next door and people don’t necessarily come back to the village after the shows,” he explained.

For Michael Dorian, a famous Montreal drag queen and co-owner of Le Cocktail Bar on Sainte-Catherine Street, the frustration is overwhelming. This is the “why” of the festival! “, he admitted.

Like him, Danny Jobin is worried about the future reputation of the event, which is known as the biggest event in North America.

“What image are we going to send to people coming from afar? he asked himself.

“really angry”

Even for many of the participants, the rendezvous was a disappointment.

“I’m really angry! I left at 6 am. [dimanche] In the morning from Saint-Jerome and I got on the bus to take part in my first parade,” gushes 21-year-old Andrew Purchase, who met in Dorchester Square.

Victor Rodriguez, 52, agrees.

“Everybody, with COVID and everything, everybody wants to have fun, celebrate and we get there and we find out it’s canceled. This lack of organization is really depressing,” said a man who decided to walk down René-Lévesque Boulevard anyway.