Ste-Catherine Street pedestrian mall set to reopen under a canopy of rainbow balls

As the warm weather begins to set in, two separate sections of Ste-Catherine Street will become a pedestrian mall for nearly five months starting Saturday.

To add to the summer ambiance,the annual sea of pink coloured balls that hang above a one-kilometre stretch of the street in the Gay Village will be swapped this May for more than 170,000multicoloured balls representing a rainbow.

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"The pink balls have been a signature of Montreal's LGBTcommunity for years it put Montreal on the map," said Jean-Sbastien Boudreault, the vice president of Pride Montreal.

"But having the rainbow, especially this year where Montreal's going to be hosting the first edition of Canada Pride, it's really exciting."

The change also marks the 35th anniversary of the Gay Village.

Two stretches of the main artery will be closed off to car and bus traffic for the summer:

• In the Gay Village: Ste-Catherine Street East between St-Hubert Street and Papineau Avenue starting Saturday at 7 a.m.until Sept. 29.
• In Quartier des spectacles: Ste-Catherine Street West between BleuryStreet and St-Laurent Boulevard starting May 1 until Sept. 7.

Along with the first edition of Pride Canada, several activities are planned andpedestrianstructures will be put in placeto allow restaurants and cafes to installterrasses.

Montreal said it will install signs for detours. Delivery trucks will still be able to access the stores during the week.