Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended the St. Patrick's Day parade in Montreal. Although the parade route has had to be changed in recent years as a result of construction, revellers once again lined the route in joy and celebration.
Montreal has celebrated St. Patrick's Day since 1759. A parade has been held every year since 1824, which shows just how deeply Irish culture is entrenched in Montreal. To this day, Montreal's parade is still the largest of its kind in Canada.
St. Patrick's Day celebrations were brought to Canada by Irish immigrants. This year marks its 195th anniversary. On this special day, I want to take the time to recognize the structural role that the Irish community has played in the foundation of Canada and how much it has contributed to its values and heritage.