Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, on June 20, 1975, the legendary Gilles Vigneault performed his song, Gens du pays, for the very first time on Mount Royal in Montreal. On stage, three Quebec music greats, Gilles Vigneault, Louise Forestier, and Yvon Deschamps, sang the now-famous lyrics that ring out during our national holiday celebrations as well on as birthdays.
Gens du pays is one of the greatest gifts to francophone song. It is a classic, an anthem for Quebeckers. It is a testimony to our collective memory. This year, our national holiday will give us an opportunity to pay tribute to this iconic song. The singer from Natashquan will be proud to hear his words, which unite us and bring us together, being sung throughout Quebec.
I would like to thank Mr. Vigneault for leaving such a lasting impression on our culture. I wish everyone a happy national holiday.