Montreal City Weblog

Kate 17:50 on 2024-03-17 Permalink Reply  

• Ian 18:10 on 2024-03-17 Permalink

  Interesting to note that they now call it the oldest in Canada. I guess we can’t say consecutively running anymore because of covid.

• Kate 13:36 on 2024-03-18 Permalink

  I don’t have a cite, but I recall reading that the parade has been cancelled occasionally in the past – a smallpox epidemic, World War I, various reasons. I recall reading of some instance when the parade was shut down officially for a reason, but some men walked anyway – so the parade could be considered to have continuity, even if it was a smaller affair, like the one held in 2022.

  When my grandfather walked in it, it wasn’t the flashy affair it is now, but mostly consisted of men from Irish Catholic parishes putting on their good winter coats and walking along Ste‑Catherine together. At most, some may have carried banners identifying their parish, and groups like the Knights of Columbus or the Ancient Order of Hibernians might walk together. So they probably considered it a parade if a few dozen men walked along a major street with shamrocks in their buttonholes.

  The organizers are bound to consider this parade is still consecutive on the technicality that it’s not as if it was ever cancelled from lack of interest, but that people still had intentions to continue, but could not.

  I don’t think anything’s going to stop them claiming next year’s is the 200th anniversary.