Montreal Pride Parade draws record crowd after last year's event was cancelled

There was a festive mood across downtown Montreal on Sunday as the city's Pride parade drew a record number of participants one year after the 2022 event was abruptly cancelled.

Simon Gamache, head of parade organizer Pride Montréal, said around 15,500 people participated in the parade, a record for the event.

"Why are we here today? First of all, it's because we're proud of who we are and we want to show that we're proud of who we are," Gamache said in a speech ahead of the parade. "As well, it's because we want to commemorate the struggles and the victories of the past, but above all, it's because there are still too many injustices towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, here and elsewhere."

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante participated in the parade, riding on a float with popular drag queen Barbada.

Also in attendance were several provincial cabinet ministers, including Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault, as well as federal ministers Pascale St-Onge and Steven Guilbeault.

Last year's parade was cancelled hours before it was scheduled to begin, and a report later blamed miscommunication among Pride Montréal employees for the unexpected move.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2023.