Big Changes Are Coming for Saint-Lazare's Summer Programming

Following a public consultation process during the winter, Ville de Saint-Lazare has considered the wishes of nearly two thirds of the respondents: to give a breath of fresh air to the Fêtes de Saint-Lazare, traditionally held between June 23 and July 1, by enhancing their programming during a thematic weekend on August 19 and 20, 2023.

This desire for change can be explained, among other things, by a decrease in the participation of the Lazarois and Lazaroises for the traditional Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Canada Day celebrations. The offer of nearby cities, some of which are larger and have bigger budgets, and therefore a more attractive program, always draws more citizens. The local offer does not manage to gather as much as before.

"It seemed clear to us, in accordance with the results of the consultation, that the citizens of Saint-Lazare want a different event, one that reflects who they are and that would contribute to the development of their city," said Marc Tremblay, Director of Saint-Lazare's Service des Loisirs et de la Vie Communautaire. "This change represents an opportunity to make better use of public funds and to give the city a festival with a strong local identity.”

The thematic for this festive weekend has not yet been announced. The Service des Loisirs et de la Vie Communautaire team is working hard to organize a colourful event and will be providing clues — and keep the population on its toes —  over the next few months:

"The members of my team are very involved in the cultural, sports and community life of Saint-Lazare. They sit on several committees, meet with organizations, and collaborate on various citizen initiatives. You can trust them to prepare something everyone will enjoy", he adds.

This big change does not mean that Ville de Saint-Lazare will completely forget the symbolic value of June 24 and July 1. Other types of opportunities will be proposed to highlight these important celebrations, but on a smaller scale, in order to invest public resources where citizens wish to benefit from them.

The complete program will be revealed in the coming months.