Montreal Event a Success!

Indeed it was! In spite of the early hour and the cold, we did have a decent turn out somewhere between 700 -1000 folks (a few hundred joined in later at end venue), according to what I was told.  There were merchants and passersby offering support. The police didn’t even get out of their cars. We made noise along the Dowtown streets.  We were very well organized.

Marc Garneau, Liberal MP & Quebec Lieutenant, Prof  Daniel Weinstock from Universite de Montreal–the author of  that letter written by the intellectuals (I know, Stevie likes ‘em illiterate), Thomas Mulcair, NDP MP, a Bloc MP (didn’t catch his name) & Gilles Duceppe spoke at our rally. Each expressing themselves eloquently.

Justin Trudeau and his young son were out marching, but he didn’t speak. He was just  a part of the crowd. I’m sure there were other politicians, but I didn’t see or recognize them.

Philippe Viel of Alter Citoyens and our videographer may have caught some, the video should be posted on line soon. Merci Philippe et sa copine (I’m sorry, I don’t know her name).

Of course, we had the musical stylings of the Montreal Chapter of the Raging Grannies, who rocked Philip’s Square in spite of the icy conditions around their stage area. A feisty bunch indeed.   I have to say that these ladies who are 60+ for the most part have more energy than a lot of today’s youth.

Matthew Angelus, a Universite de Montreal student, who led our organizing committee and was instrumental in putting this whole thing together was the last of our eloquent speakers, representing the Canadian citizens. We owe him a big thank you, because, without him, this would never have gotten off the ground.

It was all impressive. Everybody together from different affiliations.

Of course, the man who negotiated with the Police, got a lot of our equipment and led the chants, Mathieu Perron; without whom, the damned event would surely have been too subdued. Thanks to him, it was a loud event to get the merchants and passerby’s interested in checking us out.

Thanks to all the MPs and Professor Weinstock and of course, the Montreal chapter of the Raging Grannies.

Un gros remerciement a tous qui s’est presente! Thanks all for coming! Together we showed the coporatist media wrong. Canaidians do care.

I understand there are other events going on now across the country and the folks out west would probably be starting anytime soon, due to the time difference between Central Canada and them. I would like to wish them well and a success for their events.

Most of all, I hope we keep the momentum going; that we don’t go away so fast. We should not lose our voices to those of the commentators discussing luge record times and world hockey.

There is a CAPP second wave group happening on Facebook. For those on Facebook, please join it.

Once again, thank you all for making this a success!  Merci a tous pour le succes de cette manifestation!