Humidity and construction didn’t stop Formula 1 fans from flooding the streets of downtown on Thursday to celebrate the start of the Canadian Grand Prix.
There were thousands of car racing enthusiasts roaming the streets of the city center in the afternoon. Crescent Street, pedestrianized from end to end until June 10, inaugurated a new edition of the famous Grand Prix Festival. Kiosks along the sidewalks offered passers-by themed activities, product demonstrations and much-needed refreshments on this humid afternoon.
For Lydia Sissaoui, a Concordia University student who came to enjoy the event, attending a Grand Prix race would be a dream. While waiting for it to happen, the young Ontarian plans to take advantage of all the free activities surrounding the event. “It’s my first time in Montreal for F1, I have to get as much out of it as possible! she said, over the pop music blaring from the speakers.
Further south, rue Sainte-Catherine was also transformed in honor of the Grand Prix. The windows of pop-up shops displaying gleaming souvenir items followed one another, and billboards advertising pilots and racing cars punctuated the horizon. However, it was impossible not to notice the work which hampered the festivities between Stanley and Mansfield streets.
The gutted section of Sainte-Catherine, under construction since March, is hurting shopkeepers and restaurateurs hemmed in by the orange cones, according to Alain Creton, owner of the French brasserie Alexandre et fils, located on rue Peel. “Our mayor knows very well that here in the city centre, we are suffering from the work,” said the restaurateur in front of his establishment, whose luxurious terrace welcomed about twenty guests in the middle of the afternoon.
The restaurateur deplored the fact that Valérie Plante never came to make an appearance on the isolated artery. “Why doesn’t she come and cheer us on for just five minutes? It would be good for everyone,” added the man who is also president of the Peel Street merchants’ association.
According to Alain Creton, the Grand Prix brings nearly $150,000 in additional profit to his restaurant each year. A sum that would perhaps be threatened if the Williams team had not installed its space reserved for supporters on the other side of Peel Street, in the Cours Mont-Royal. “Thanks to them, Peel makes the Grand Prix shine,” adds the merchant.
The road obstructions did not scare Victoria Parker, a “die-hard” car racing fan who was walking along Sainte-Catherine Street. The young woman, who made the hour-long drive to the city center with her boyfriend, intended to “join in the fun” that the Grand Prix has to offer. “I haven’t managed to buy tickets to see the race, but I’m really looking forward to watching it on a big screen on the island [Saint Helena],” she added.
Those taking part in the Grand Prix frenzy downtown could hope to see some familiar faces. In the afternoon, the Cours Mont-Royal was teeming with enthusiasts who came to meet James Vowles, the director of the Williams team.
Attracting the public to the fan zone was initially “a little difficult, with the construction around it,” commented the event manager, but the room was packed on Wednesday for a presentation of drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant .
On Crescent Street, a small crowd gathered around a stage, where the classic pit stop competition took place. Boxer Jean Pascal and swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey competed, pneumatic gun in hand, to change the tires of a real racing car as quickly as possible. Under the encouragement of the public, the swimmer ended up winning over her opponent.
“I didn’t think I could add this to my CV, but it looks great! », joked Mary-Sophie Harvey, after her appearance on stage. On the sidelines of the crowd, the Olympic athlete was delighted to be able to participate in the celebrations around the Grand Prix this year. “As an athlete, I always find it inspiring to see other athletes compete,” she added.