Montreal’s Canada Day parade cancelled for a second year in a row, organizer says

MONTREAL — For the second year in a row, organizers of Montreal’s Canada Day parade say it won’t go ahead.

In a news release issued this week, chief organizer Nicolas Cowen says the reason for this year’s cancellation includes potential municipal worker job action, difficult relations with city departments and planning problems.

It’s the second consecutive year Montreal won’t have a parade — an event that began in 1977.

In 2024, Cowen blamed red tape and politics for the cancellation.

A City of Montreal spokeswoman disputes the assertions, saying the organizer failed to submit a project proposal for the parade.

Other activities will go ahead in the city, including an annual event at Montreal’s Old Port.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.