Fête National Parade celebrates Quebec’s values in the face of adversity

Quebecers in Montreal celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste day at the Fete National parade.

To the sound of Quebec music, drums, and shouts of joy, thousands of Montrealers gathered Wednesday afternoon in the Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie neighbourhood for the traditional Fête Nationale parade.

Politicians at the event emphasized the importance of coming together and celebrating Quebec values, despite the tragedy that occurred two days earlier.

On Monday, a shooting broke out in the Côte-des-Neiges borough, killing three people, including a police officer, a civilian, and the alleged shooter. The organizers of the neighbourhood festival decided to cancel local festivities while the community remains in shock.

“I think Côte-des-Neiges is experiencing this differently. We need to give them time to come to terms with the tragedy we’ve been through, and out of respect for the two people who died. There are also funerals beginning today,” said Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada. “What happened two days ago is extraordinary and tragic, but at the same time, it’s not who we are as Quebecers.

“And to remember today that we live together in a Quebec that is open to the world, where we respect one another and uphold equality between men and women. That is what we are celebrating. That is our Francophone national identity.”

Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal admitted that she had found the week “extremely trying.”

She said she received numerous calls from women who told her they were afraid in the wake of the shooting, given that the alleged shooter had left a violent manifesto targeting women.

“For me, one of the best ways to resist this fear—and those who want to drag us back to prehistoric times—is to do what we’re capable of doing in Quebec: celebrating together, celebrating our culture, our language, and who we are. Celebrating our values of equality between men and women—that’s what we do during our national holiday," said Ghazal. “That’s the best way to stand up to this, in my view; it’s even our duty to come out and do it.”

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also emphasized the importance of standing united during this difficult time.

“When Quebec faces tragedies and challenges, we are a nation that comes together,” he said. “June 24 is a day for everyone to come together and remember that, united, we are stronger and better able to face these challenges. I think the turnout will be strong today.”

Festivities are taking place across Quebec on Wednesday to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. In the evening in Montreal, the big show at Maisonneuve Park will feature several stars, including Diane Dufresne, Harmonium, Pierre Lapointe, and Bruno Pelletier, with Guylaine Tremblay hosting.

The day before, the capital’s National Holiday show took place on the Plains of Abraham. Pier-Luc Funk served as host, and several artists thrilled festivalgoers, including the band Alaclair Ensemble, Gab Bouchard, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Claude Dubois, and Marie Denise Pelletier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 24, 2026.