Several hundred residents and merchants walked, cycled and sang their way through Vanier’s residential streets at Saturday’s parade, an event kicking off C’est Chill (SEE ALSO: Vanier Remixed). However, it was also those caught by surprise – the ones inside houses peeking out from behind curtains, or drawn to front steps and balconies by the parade’s energy, to see what was happening – that helped to define this parade. And in the process, the parade grew – this organic, community-procession that made its way from Montreal Road to St Charles Square, with residents being picked up along the way, all claiming the streets as their own. Led by Junkyard Symphony, tailed by a horse-drawn carriage carrying Santa, and joining the cyclists, the carolers and the clowns was – well, you and I. For this short time, we were drawn together, snapping photos, chatting with one another, enjoying these moments – imagining these streets in ways unimagined (by many) for years.
The parade ended at St Charles Square, the lawn adjacent to Beechwood’s St Charles Church – and just as in decades past, the square was filled (again). With a wind chill of 15 below for most of the day, staying warm added a certain pragmatic element to the French-Canadian square dancing, and made the bannock over an open fire a definite treat (though Hearty Bakery’s warm apple dumplings with butter rum sauce were also a perfect antidote…). Returning from the Beechwood mural to St Charles later in the afternoon (and after some respite from the (wind) chill), the warmth of vendors’ lights, lanterns and holiday lights, alongside the giant dreamcatcher, served to help warm the space – even a little.
While much of the crowd had dissipated before the evening performances, Bboyizm, Les Mosquitos and others still gave the small crowd that had gathered an opportunity to enjoy dynamic, energetic shows, all on a stage in front of the towering structure of St Charles.
(Photos: VanierNow 2012; click here for non-flash views)
