When Franco-Ontario Opened Montreal’s Saint-Jean Parade
A Shared Francophonie
Some assignments stay with you long after the photographs have been delivered. This was one of them. In June 2019, Félix Saint-Denis invited me to join the Franco-Ontarian delegation that would open Montreal’s Grand Défilé de la Fête nationale du Québec. My role was simple: document the day. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I would be witnessing a genuinely historic moment.
For the first time, Franco-Ontarians had been invited to lead Montreal’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste parade. More than 150 artists, musicians, community leaders, volunteers, and performers travelled to Montreal to represent Ontario’s francophone community. It was a powerful gesture of solidarity between Quebec and French-speaking communities outside the province.
I spent the day with the delegation, travelling on the bus, listening to conversations, watching old friends reconnect, and feeling the excitement build as we approached the city. The energy was remarkable. Everyone understood that this was about more than a parade.
Among those participating were artists, community leaders, and members of L’Écho d’un peuple, led by Félix Saint-Denis. His father was also there—part of a generation that had dedicated years to defending and promoting Franco-Ontarian culture and language rights. As I listened to the conversations around me, I became increasingly aware that this moment represented decades of work by people who had fought to keep French language and culture alive in Ontario.
For me, the day carried a personal significance as well. I was raised by an English-speaking mother, yet I attended French schools and built much of my life within francophone communities. Over the years, French became more than a language. It became part of my identity, my friendships, my work, and my understanding of this country.
Perhaps that is why the emotion of the day still feels so vivid. When the Franco-Ontarian flags appeared on Saint-Denis Street and thousands of spectators welcomed the delegation, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride—not only for Franco-Ontarians, but for the larger francophone community that continues to connect people across provinces, histories, and generations.
As photographers, we occasionally find ourselves in places where history and humanity intersect. That evening, I wasn’t simply documenting an event. I was documenting a community being recognized, welcomed, and celebrated. Years later, it remains one of the assignments I am most proud to have photographed.
