St. Patrick’s Day parade goes ahead despite snowfall

Montreal celebrates its 201st St. Patrick’s Day parade despite heavy snowfall.

The 201st edition of Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day parade took place Sunday despite the snowfall.

Environment Canada had issued a special weather statement for the Greater Montreal area, the Montérégie, Drummondville and the Estrie region, warning that about 10 centimetres of snow was expected to fall.

Organizers confirmed the celebration would go ahead regardless of the weather.

This year’s theme, “Little shamrocks, big dreams,” put children at the centre of the festivities.

Montreal hosts one of the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world.

Gary McKeown, chair of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada’s board of governors, served as Grand Marshal.

McKeown also helped bring an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade to the Town of Hudson in 2010, working with the United Irish Societies of Montreal.

Sarah Crotty, 20, a microbiology and immunology student at Université de Montréal, served as Parade Queen.

With files from CTV News’ Rachel Lau and Stephane Giroux.