Military parade to mark the 375th of Montréal and the 150th of Canada - The mayor of Montréal gives the Key to the City to Brigadier-General Hercule Gosselin

MONTRÉAL, July 1, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The mayor of Montréal, Mr. Denis Coderre, awarded today the Key to the City to Brigadier-General, Mr. Hercule Gosselin, following the military parade offered by the Canadian Armed Forces to the city in honour of its 375^th anniversary. This parade involving several military regiments located on Montréal territory is also part of the 150^th anniversary of Confederation, on this 1^st of July, Canada Day.

"The year 2017 is the occasion to celebrate for several reasons: the 50^th of Expo 67, the 150^th of Canada and, of course, the 375^th of Montréal. The history of our metropolis is intrinsically tied to that of the Canadian Army and the numerous regiments that cover the island. We would like to commemorate this history, notably by taking action to highlight the involvement of numerous Montréal soldiers during the Battle of Vimy and the Dieppe Raid. I would also like to thank all the regiments here today and offer to Montrealers this iconic and historic military parade," declared Mr. Coderre.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the most important Canadian battles. That is why on April 9, the city unveiled Place de Vimy, in the heart of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Park, during a celebration marking the 100^th anniversary of this Canadian victory. We should also point out that the city will mark the 75^th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid and the war effort of countless Canadian and Montréal soldiers by renaming Cité-du-Havre Park to Dieppe Park.

An honour for Brigadier-General Hercule Gosselin
Since June 2016, Brigadier-General Hercule Gosselin has been commander of the 2^nd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force East. He was invested as an officer in the Order of Military Merit in 2011 and completed the National Security Program in 2013. In July 2013, he was appointed commander of the 2^nd Canadian divison Support Group, a position he held until July 2015, when he was appointed chief of Staff Army Operations within the Canadian Army Headquarters. During the floods, Brigadier-General Hercule Gosselin was in charge of the Armed Forces operations throughout the province.

"We are honoured to receive today the Key to the City and to participate in this unique celebration which coincides with the 150^th anniversary of Canada and marks the 375^th anniversary of Montréal. This is an unexpected recognition and we are deeply touched. Precious ties exist between the military community and Montréal and we are committed to celebrating what unites us: our history, our common values, our optimism and the growing heritage we share. It goes without saying that we also thank Montrealers for their exemplary and infallible support towards our military personnel and their families," declared Brigadier-General Gosselin.

"It is a great honour for me to give the Key to the City to Brigadier-General Hercule Gosselin. In the name of all Montrealers, I wish to thank you for your involvement and for that of the members of the Canadian Armed Forces for the tireless support provided during the flood that so greatly affected so many residents and families of the Montreal agglomeration," concluded Mr. Coderre.

Let us recall the exemplary work of the Canadian Armed Forces during the flood waters last May that struck several cities and boroughs of Montréal's urban agglomeration, including the boroughs of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève and Ahuntsic-Cartierville, the town Senneville and the town of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. During the floods, close to 250 members of the army were involved within the urban agglomeration of Montréal. At the height of the flood, 432 Montréal homes were flooded and 425 had to be evacuated by emergency services.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

Source: Marc André Gosselin, Press attaché, Office of the mayor and executive committee, 514 290-1194; Information: Jacques-Alain Lavallée, Press Relations Officer, Division des relations avec les médias, 514 872-4641