Caroline Bourgeois

Executive committee vice-chair; Mayor of Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles; Responsible for sports and leisure, Espace pour la vie, French language and East of Montréal

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How do you define the concept of “festival” built around a sport event?
For me, a ‘festival’ around a sporting event is much more than a competition. It’s a big, inclusive party where we celebrate the social, cultural and community dimensions of this sporting event together. At the City of Montréal, our objective is to create an enriching experience for everyone by offering a varied programme of activities to complement the sporting competitions.

What are the ingredients needed to make a sporting event a festival for the benefit of the population?
The essential ingredients? A rich programme of events and activities around the main event, accessibility that invites everyone to take part, a warm and festive atmosphere, showcasing our local heritage and identity, and above all, community involvement.

How can the festivalisation of sporting events engage a city’s territory and agenda differently from a ‘normal’ sporting event?
By festivalising a sporting event, we can bring more of the city’s public spaces to life, well beyond the main competition site. This creates a buzz of activity and excitement in several districts, and over a longer period than the competition itself. This approach fits in perfectly with our cultural and community agenda, enriching what is offered for citizens.

In the case of JACKALOPE, the sites hosting the event do not belong to the city (the Olympic Park in the past and now the Vieux-Port for the next few years)? What support is given by the City to Jackalope and what are the mutual benefits for both the city and the event organiser?
Even though JACKALOPE’s host sites do not belong to the city, we support the event by offering subsidies and granting the necessary permits. In return, the town benefits from all the visibility and excitement that JACKALOPE brings, not to mention the tourism and economic benefits that the event generates. The festivities at JACKALOPE also encourage residents to get more active, and to take up urban and outdoor sports, which is perfectly in line with our priorities for improving quality of life.

Generally speaking, I believe that celebrating sporting events is a winning strategy. It maximises the positive spin-offs for everyone, while highlighting our identity and heritage. Supporting events like JACKALOPE is part of my vision of a vibrant and radiant city, where sport and celebration come together for the enjoyment of all.