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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Organizer cancels Montreal's Canada Day Parade
While organizer Nicholas Cowen blames difficulties with the City of Montreal, a municipal spokesperson said he hadn't applied for a permit. Published Jun 20, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 1 minute read People enjoy the festivities surrounding the Canada Day parade in downtown Montreal on July 1, 2018. Pierre Obendrauf/Montreal Gazette The organizer of the Montreal Canada Day parade has cancelled the event for the second year in a row. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account While Nicholas Cowen, the organizer, blamed the cancellation on difficulties working with the city, a municipal spokesperson said he had not applied for a permit. The parade 'has become increasingly difficult to organize without disruptions in recent years,' the organization behind the event said in a statement Thursday. 'The working environment with the City of Montreal has deteriorated significantly,' it added. But Cohen didn't apply to the city to hold the event, 'even though the city invited him to do so several times,' spokesperson Nicky Cayer wrote in an email to The Gazette. The July 1 event has only taken place once since 2019. The parade was suspended during the pandemic and returned in 2023 before being cancelled in 2024, when Cowen issued similar critiques of the city. Other festivities marking Canada Day are going ahead as planned, including a federally funded celebration in the Old Port. World Columnists World Toronto & GTA MMA
Montreal Gazette
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Organizer cancels Montreal's Canada Day Parade
The organizer of the Montreal Canada Day parade has cancelled the event for the second year in a row. While Nicholas Cowen, the organizer, blamed the cancellation on difficulties working with the city, a municipal spokesperson said he had not applied for a permit. The parade 'has become increasingly difficult to organize without disruptions in recent years,' the organization behind the event said in a statement Thursday. 'The working environment with the City of Montreal has deteriorated significantly,' it added. But Cohen didn't apply to the city to hold the event, 'even though the city invited him to do so several times,' spokesperson Nicky Cayer wrote in an email to The Gazette. The July 1 event has only taken place once since 2019. The parade was suspended during the pandemic and returned in 2023 before being cancelled in 2024, when Cowen issued similar critiques of the city. Other festivities marking Canada Day are going ahead as planned, including a federally funded celebration in the Old Port.
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Organizers pull the plug on Montreal's Canada Day parade for 2nd straight year
With less than two weeks' notice, organizers of the Montreal Canada Day Parade are pulling the plug on the celebrations. In a news release, organizers said the event, which attracts over 100,000 spectators annually, was cancelled due to "ongoing planning disruptions, strained relations with city departments and unresolved challenges stemming from municipal worker strikes." The parade's main organizer, Nicholas Cowen, said while he understands why municipal workers are striking, disruptions raise safety concerns for parade-goers, as well as create possible logistical challenges. "If something was planned, are they going to do their jobs to the best of their abilities? This is a concern," he said. This is the second consecutive year the event is cancelled. Last year, Cohen said red tape and roadwork on Ste-Catherine Street were to blame and that he hadn't applied for a permit. At the time, he told CBC the parade route would have been changed and he would have been forced to apply for new permits without a guarantee of getting them. By cancelling the parade, he was hoping to highlight some of the challenges faced by organizers. The first Montreal Canada Day Parade was organized by now retired Dr. Roopnarine Singh nearly 50 years ago. Cowen has been involved since the 90s and has been the organizer for more than two decades. He's hopeful the event will make a comeback. "This event is for the people, not for profit. I truly hope we can one day return to the streets of Montreal with a parade that unites us, not divides us," Cowen said. In an email to CBC, City of Montreal spokesperson Nicky Cayer said that as was the case last year, Cohen failed to submit a project application "despite the city inviting him to do so on several occasions." Cayer confirmed, however, that Canada Day celebrations will be held in Montreal. "A land-use permit was issued this year to Production EGP for the Le Canada en Marche event to be held on July 1," he wrote in French, in addition to the city's official annual event at Quai de l'Horloge in the Old Port. WATCH | Meaning behind Australian flag at Quebec parade: Why an Australian flag was at this Journée Nationale des Patriotes parade 1 month ago Duration 2:04 The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste invited a group of Americans, Australians and New Zealanders to the festivities. They are the direct descendants of one of the men celebrated on La Journée nationale des patriotes, Joseph Marceau.
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Canada Day parade cancelled for second consecutive year
Members of the Iranian community entertain the crowd during the annual Canada Day parade in Montreal, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS) The Canada Day parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row, with an organizer citing 'ongoing planning disruptions' and the city workers' strikes as reasons behind the decision. In a media release, the parade's main organizer, Nicholas Cowen, also pointed to strained relations with City of Montreal departments as another factor. Last year, Cowen also cancelled the event, saying there was too much red tape when dealing with the city. However, at the time, the City of Montreal said that they never received a request for a permit. The Canada Day parade began in 1977 and has welcomed thousands of spectators annually, according to Cowen. Calling the decision 'difficult,' Cowen said it has become increasingly challenging to organize the event without disruptions in recent years. 'Safety is our number one priority when it comes to large events such as the Montreal Canada Day Parade,' Cowen said. 'When different city departments of workers do disruptions, you no longer just have to focus on the safety of the public but the functional aspect of the event. If something was planned, are they going to do their jobs to the best of their abilities? This is a concern.' He noted that disruptions have increased over time, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, and have become more unpredictable and difficult to manage. 'I do understand where the City of Montreal workers are coming from. Everything in recent years has gone up in price. The city workers do multiple minor disruptions to bring those to the negotiating table,' the organizer explained. 'While the mayor's office had previously assured the organizer that these issues would be resolved, no meaningful or lasting solution has been implemented.' He added that he hopes the relationship with the city will improve in the years to come. 'This event is for the people, not for profit. I truly hope we can one day return to the streets of Montreal with a parade that unites us, not divides us,' Cowen said. CTV News reached out to the City of Montreal for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
