St. Patrick’s parade float takes top prize in category

This is the second time in three years the City has won the prize.

The parade trophies will be handed out by the United Irish Societies – the parade organizers – at its annual awards banquet on March 29.

Inaugurated in 2006, this is the second time the 'Westmount: Then and Now' float has been recognized as the best municipal entry in the St. Patrick’s Parade in the last three years. The float was also given the trophy in its debut year.

The float was designed by Westmount architect Rosanne Moss, and features an innovative approach to displaying photographs of people and scenes in Westmount. The photos, mounted accordion-style atop a steel frame, are angled so only historic black-and-white photos would be visible as the float approached, with corresponding colour photographs from today appearing as the display rolls by. A true community effort, the photos are provided by the Westmount Historical Association, with tireless local volunteers helping to assemble the float each year, alongside dedicated carpenters and other staff members from the City.