Around twenty bars, event halls, cafés and clubs can stay open until 6 a.m. from Saturday to Sunday to spend the night in the Village.
According to its general director Gabrielle Rondy, this event is organized by the Village SDC at the request of visitors to the district.
“Nightlife is part of the Village’s DNA,” she explains in an interview with LCN. We know we have an incredible number of bars, event halls and clubs.”
“There really is something for everyone,” she continues. It’s really the people who asked us to keep the places open until 6am, so we’re testing that for the end of the pedestrian zone, which officially ends this Monday.”
Although technically a pilot project, Ms. Rondy believes this type of event has already proven successful in the neighborhood.
“It’s considered a pilot project for the city of Montreal, but we’ve done several in the Village. We know we’re no longer in the pilot stage, it’s working, people like it,” she said. People will be there despite the potentially less than ideal temperature.”
Measures have been taken to ensure the safety of participants during the event.
“With the GRIP there will be drug tests on the street, we have a security service that makes sure everything goes well,” she mentions. We have a team on site and our own management to ensure that coexistence with the villagers goes well.”
Although the pedestrianization of the main artery ends on Monday, the SDC director general does not rule out that Sainte-Catherine Street will one day be open to pedestrians all year round.
“It’s a possibility,” she says. The district recently surveyed residents and visitors to the village again and there is interest. This will continue with the renovation project in the coming weeks.”
Watch the full interview in the video above