Organizer cancels Canada Day parade in Montreal (2024)

Obtaining the needed permits and funding for the parade has become increasingly difficult, Nicholas Cowen says.

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Montreal Gazette

Published Jun 21, 2024 • Last updated 1day ago • 1 minute read

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The organizer behind the Canada Day parade in Montreal says he has decided to cancel this year’s event.

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In a statement, Nicholas Cowen said the decision was made after he found it increasingly difficult to obtain the needed permits and funding from government authorities over the past year.

“They made it very difficult for me to organize the parade,” Cowen said in the statement, adding he’s been involved with the event for 24 years.

Cowen said the first edition of the Montreal parade took place in 1977 and noted it attracts 120,000 people each year. He added he hopes the parade will make a return one day.

The organization behind the event, Défilé de la fête du Canada à Montréal, did not return requests for comment on Friday.

“Cowen was faced with rules that changed at the last minute and requests that made organizing the parade virtually impossible,” it said in the statement.

There will still be other Canada Day events in Montreal on July 1.

The festivities in Old Montreal, funded by the federal government, will begin with a 21-gun salute at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Old Port clock tower.

Activities will be held throughout the day and will culminate with fireworks at 10 p.m.

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Organizer cancels Canada Day parade in Montreal (2024)

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