The Défilé de la Saint-Patrick returns March 23
Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
editor@qctonline.com
The streets of Quebec City will once again resound with the rhythms of pipe-and-drum bands from around North America when the Défilé de la Saint-Patrick returns on March 23, parade spokesperson Stephen Burke has announced.
Pipe bands from Ottawa (RCMP Pipes, Drums and Dancers), New York (the Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department), Boston (Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums), Chicago (Chicago Police Pipe Band) and Toronto (Toronto Police Pipe Band), along with Quebec City’s own 78th Fraser Highlanders and the ceremonial unit of the Service de police de la Ville de Québec, along with several civilian pipe and drum groups and community delegations from around the region, will march from St. Patrick’s High School on Rue de Maisonneuve, up Avenue Cartier and down Grande Allée to City Hall.
“The pipers are back!” Burke enthused. “That’s why we always have the parade a week after St. Patrick’s Day – if we had it on the day, our friends from New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal couldn’t be there.” He revealed that the Toronto Police Pipe Band “learned [Gilles Vigneault’s classic song] ‘Gens du Pays’ for us.”
A longtime parade booster, he extolled the collaboration between the Irish and francophone communities that led to the revival of the parade in 2010, after an absence of more than 80 years. “I find it extraordinary that the [modern] parade was put together by an Irish pub owner [Dublin native and former Le Nelligan owner Peter Farrell] and a group of 10 or 12 young francophones and people with Irish blood, all volunteers.” Nearly 200 volunteers are needed to keep the parade running each year.
The parade will be led by grand marshal Dennis Dawson, the Limoilou native and former MP for Louis-Hébert turned senator, who retired early last year. “I felt this was his year, and no one really argued with me – he’s always had Quebec City tattooed on his heart and we’re very proud of him,” said Burke.
“Green season” in Quebec City will officially begin with the Shannon Irish Show on March 16, followed by the traditional raising of the Irish flag at Quebec City Hall on March 17. Other events including a public conference on the Irish language hosted by Irish Heritage Quebec on March 18 and a mobile app-driven “leprechaun scavenger hunt” are also planned in the week leading up to the parade. Visit saintpatrickquebec.com/en for details.