The decision that led to the cancellation of the great show of the national holiday on the plains of Abraham on Monday evening was both a crève-hearting and necessary, explained producer Richard Samson, who was the first to be sorry for the evening, Tuesday morning.
The violence of the storm which fell on the park of the national battlefields did not leave any choice to the organizers who hoped until the last minute going forward with production. Depending on their emergency measures in the event of extreme winds and lightning, they were obliged to evacuate the site around 8:45 p.m.
As soon as there is a deadly danger for the crowd, the public, the artists, the technical teams, we must make a decision. We postponed as much as possible. We were always hope that the system would pass north, but unfortunately, this is not what happened. We saw, from 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the cell form
Richard Samson told the microphone of First hour.
The Quebec sky was threatening in the middle of the evening on Monday.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Erik Chouinard
To the recommendation of organizational meteorologists, public security, technical teams, the Quebec City Police Service, the municipal authorities and the Bureau of major events agreed that it was necessary, for the safety of all, to evacuate the site. The operation took place in peace.
People reacted very well. Obviously, there were hoots when the crowd master announced to the people that the site had to be emptied, but people came out in groups. The security team worked very well, the police too. In short, it was done very well, calmly and quickly. Above all, people responded well. And fortunately because 15 minutes later, lightning was present, heavy rain and extremely major winds. We saw power cuts everywhere
continued the producer.
The master of ceremonies of the great spectacle of the National Day in Quebec asked the spectators to evacuate the plains of Abraham, which was done in order and calm.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Erik Chouinard
The latter experienced great sadness by seeing months of work thus wasted, first because the fifty artists had devoted a lot of energy to its preparation, and then because the public would not have the chance to see the fruit of their work.
I saw Claude Dubois leaving a little disappointed. The young people who were on the Kwe show!, Who had set up an extraordinary show with a version ofWhere did everyone go?in the 11 First Nations languages with many people who have made shows, but who had the opportunity to sing in front of 60,000 people. The crowd was there.
In short, it is of total sadness, but of a comfort of having made the decision and not to be forced to speak of a disaster, rather just a party. Quebecers know how to celebrate. They will have a great party in Montreal [mardi soir] And then we will resume to celebrate. But this morning, everyone gets up safe
noted Mr. Samson again.
Producer Richard Samson.
Photo : Radio-Canada
Shortened version of the show in Télé-Québec
Co-producer of the event, Télé-Québec was still able to draw around thirty minutes of filming a rehearsal that she broadcast at the end of the evening on Monday evening. The proposal of musical director Alex McMahon was therefore not completely lost.
Every year, we capture the latest rehearsals to have some bank numbers. It is often for decision -making work on cameras. In short, we capture these numbers and it allows us to broadcast a minimum at least for Télé-Québec, which was of total support for us [lundi]. People were able to see the quality of the numbers that would have been presented, but in a formula without lighting. Dominic Lemieux, a young man from Quebec who made a magnificent scenography, Benoit Landry who made a staging … They worked so much. Me, that’s what sadden on me the most, when we had to make this decision.
Part of the distribution of the national holiday in Quebec, notably Garou, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Claude Dubois, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Claude Bégin, surrounds the spokesperson Bianca Gervais and Sébastien Diaz.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Alicia Rochevrier
The blow was also hard to collect for the artists who were impatient to celebrate the national holiday with the population of the capital.
The artists, people imagine that it is the finances that interest them, but it is rather the applause. And the spectacle of the plains, for any Quebec artist, is really a significant event. And really, we had a good show. We had put the package.
The latter explains that it would have been impossible to postpone the show while retaining its integrity.
On June 23 and 24, it is the busiest days of all technicians, all artists. So when we considered to take up the show around 10:30 p.m., it was not possible. To bring the crowd back, it would have been impossible. Second, stage suppliers, when there are wind strokes like that, are forced to descend the canvases aside so that it does not do like a giant sail. So, from there, water completely enters the stage. The scene was flooded. The instruments were protected, but the scene was flooded. Electricity and water, it does not mix well. And for world safety, it was not possible
he explained.
Technicians at work on the stage of the big show of the National Day in Quebec.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Erik Chouinard
As for the artists, several were engaged elsewhere on Tuesday June 24 and could not extend their stay in Quebec to participate in a resumption of the show.
Several of the artists were not available. Three important musicians of the group, which were a vital part of the numbers, had shows elsewhere, many technicians left for other events … In short, we quickly realized that, despite all our good will, and despite the fact that we were ready to sacrifice the budget to do so, we were not able to concretize this project
Sorry Richard Samson, unable to remember a It’s CH… anyway!
