Montreal honours its founders, stresses diversity at 375th anniversary celebration

The French founders of Montreal and the Indigenouspeople who inhabited the island before theirarrival were honouredas part of a full day of events marking thecity's 375th anniversarycelebrations.

"I think it's a great moment that we are living today, because we always put forward the idea ofliving together," Mayor Denis Coderresaid Wednesday.

"We started with the French, with the Indigenous people. We have our flag that represents the English, the Irish and the Scottish, then all that wonderful diversity that sends a strong message thatliving together is part of our DNA."

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• Afull list of the day's events

Coderre was joined by Prime Minister JustinTrudeau and Quebec Premier PhilippeCouillardat a ceremony paying tribute to the city's founders,Jeanne Mance and PaulChomedeydeMaisonneuve.

The city was founded on this day in 1642, when the missionaries led settlers onto the island.

Mohawk dancers and singers tookpart in festivities on a sunny day in Old Montreal, as did dancers fromcolesuprieurede ballet duQubec.

Earlier,church bells rang out across the cityahead of a mass at the Notre-Dame Basilica.

The Fort of Ville-Marie, the birthplace of Montreal,was also inaugurated at thePointe--CallireMuseum as part of the celebrations. Artifacts uncovered by archeologistsover the last 25 years were also unveiled to the public for the first time.

Protests, high costs and questions

Coderre has made the birthday celebrationsa priority during his time in office, pouring millions into projects in anticipation of this year'sanniversary which also happens to be an election year.

Some of the projectshave been subject to controversy, including the lighting of the JacquesCartierBridge ata cost of nearly $40 million, most of which is public money.

The bridge will be lit up for the first time tonight.

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According to calculations by Radio-Canada, the full list of festivities and projects will cost more than $1 billion.

As part of the celebrations, Montrealers can use the public transit system for free all day on Wednesday.

Thousands march in protest

There were protests Wednesday as well. More than 2,000 off-duty police officers marched to city hall in Old Montreal, blaring music and holding signs referring to Montreal Mayor Denis Coderreas "a clown."

• More than 2,000 police officers protest as Montreal celebrates its375thanniversary

Police have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2014.

Meanwhile, affordable housing activists took tothe streets Wednesday morning, and another protest targeted the city bylaws dealing with horse-drawncalches,pit bull-type dogs and other animal control issues.

The celebrations haveprompted debate among First Nations, who point out thatMontreal was founded on unceded Mohawk territory.

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Coderrehas repeatedly acknowledged in his remarks that Montreal was founded on Mohawk land.

On Wednesday, he stressedthat"it's important to remember who we are and where we are coming from," adding that he's hopeful the festivitieswill help contribute to reconciliation.

"We have a duty to remember and recognize the Native people, who've also suffered over the centuries of this grand European migration and who have contributed to the edification of society that we live in and who continue to contribute today," he said.

Trudeaupraises 'world-class city'

Trudeau told reporters his birthday wish forMontreal, which was known as Ville-Marie when it was founded on May 17, 1642, is another 375 years of diversity, pride and openness.

He said he is a proud Montrealer even though he was born in Ottawa, callingMontreal an "extraordinary, world-class city."

"This is an opportunity to be here both as a prime minister and an incredibly proud Montrealer," he said.

Couillardechoed those words of praise, calling Montreal a "city of diversity,with beautiful projects, attracting people from all over the world to put down roots and chase their dreams.''

"We feel a new energy, lots of creativity, lots of economic activity and enthusiasm in Montreal now for the future. I think the founders would be very proud of what Montreal and Quebec have become," he said.

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