Terms And Conditions For Participants In The Défilé de la Saint-Patrick de Québec

OBJECTIVE OF THE PARADE

The objective and slogan of the organisation is “Continue the Tradition” of celebrating Irish heritage with a parade in a safe, festive, and family environment as part of the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Other cultural communities are invited to join the participants in the parade. Applicants who wish to promote a political cause of any kind shall be refused participation.

The leitmotiv of the parade is “Cead Mille Failte”, Gaelic for “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes”.

INVOLVEMENT

• The person responsible on site is committed to organising their group according to the objective of the event, and to participating in a way that is consistent with the Irish theme in a safe, festive, and family environment.
• No registration fees will be reimbursed.
• Alcoholic beverages and drugs are prohibited. This applies to all participants, without exception. These offences shall not be tolerated. Any participant not complying with this clause shall be immediately expelled from the parade.
• No animals shall participate in the parade except those accepted by the organising committee following the approval of la Ville de Québec.
• No solicitation or distribution of promotional objects or documents other than those directly linked to our event or your participation is allowed during the parade. The distribution of such objects or documents shall be done in an orderly, respectful manner, and shall not interfere with the pace of the parade.
• The organising committee shall approve all content of your participation beforehand, and it reserves the right to refuse all types of signage, costumes, music, promotional material, and other objects inconsistent with our objective. Furthermore, any participant engaging in disrespectful behaviour offensive to spectators and the team will be immediately expelled from the site.

Commercial Participation

Non-profit organizations cannot carry a banner or promote in any way for a profit corporation within the parade, even if your entry is sponsored by it. If so, we must be informed to make an agreement with your sponsor in question and suggest a form of visibility that will meet their needs. Please contact us at (418) 575-0449 or by e-mail at peter.farrell@qcpatrick.com to discuss possible options.

FIRE LINE

The first two (2) metres on the north side of rue St-Jean have been designated as the “fire line”. This space shall be kept free of traffic of any kind during the parade. Only emergency vehicles and police services shall have access.

MASCOTS

Mascots shall remain with their group during the parade.

BUS

Buses shall park at their designated loading zone. They shall remain there until such time that all participants have embarked or disembarked. Only approved vehicles shall be accepted on the site.

FLOATS AND TRAILERS

All floats and platforms shall be equipped with the following:

• Four (4) protective barriers located on each side of the float or platform (if the vehicle is to transport individuals).
• One (1) protective skirt, up to a maximum length of 12 inches relative to the roadway. It shall be decorated or painted.
• One (1) accompanying adult who shall walk, for the complete duration of the parade, vis-à-vis the connection between floats, platforms, and their means of propulsion.
• One (1) clear and legible sketch and one (1) written description that shall be sent and received before March 1.
• One (1) accessible fire extinguisher. The vehicle operator shall be familiar with its usage.

All floats or platforms shall comply with the following rules:

• They shall be clean and decorated.
• Contain a maximum of 12 people.
• As soon as the parade begins, no new people shall board the platform or float.
• All elements attached to or hanging from floats or platforms shall be bolted down.
• Before the start of the parade, gas tanks of all vehicles shall be filled up to capacity. No fill-ups will be permitted during the parade.
• Proceed and walk at the same pace as other participants in order to maintain an equal distance.
• Keep an even, continuous pace in the parade, and avoid any large gaps ahead of and behind participants.
• Drivers shall continually keep an eye on all participants ahead of them (in vehicles and on foot), and maintain a reasonable distance.
• Remain attentive to all probable slowing down of certain participants.

INSPECTION COMMITTEE

All participants shall parade before a member of the inspection committee prior to taking part in the parade. Only three (3) units1 shall be approved and shall be consistent with the description provided initially. All approved vehicles shall be tagged.

DEPUTY MARSHALLS AND OFFICIALS

• Deputy Marshalls have been assigned to each section of the parade in order to oversee the movement of the parade, and to ensure that safety and security is maintained. Only the person responsible for their group of participants is authorised to communicate with the Deputy Marshall of their section. This person will act as official contact for the other members of the group.
• The Défilé de la Saint-Patrick has adopted a zero tolerance policy for all volunteers, Deputy Marshalls, and participants of the parade. Anyone not complying with this policy shall be reported to parade officials, to the director of the parade, or to the assistant directors present on the route.
• Officials, as well as Deputy Marshalls have the right to expel, at any time, any participant or participants who threaten the safety of other participants or spectators, the movement of the parade, or for any other reason deemed valid.1. One (1) unit is equivalent to either one group of 25 participants or one vehicle.
• All instructions issued by officials of the parade and the Deputy Marshalls shall be followed as matter of course. Non-compliance of one or more instructions shall automatically result in expulsion from the parade. This breach of conduct shall be written up and kept in your file and could compromise your participation in future parades. Safety for all is our priority.
• Deputy Marshalls shall stop the parade for emergency vehicles, if need be.
• All non-alcoholic beverages shall be consumed from plastic containers or cans. Glass containers are not permitted. Bottled water shall be distributed on the route.
• For safety reasons, use of sirens, horns, sound alarms, and firearms is strictly prohibited.
• The volume of musical devices on floats shall not interfere with other participants (ahead and behind).

UNITS OF WALKERS

The presentation of your organisation is important to parade organisers and for media coverage. You shall thus adopt responsible behaviour. Music that is inappropriate, obscene, or blasphemous, and inappropriate attire shall not be tolerated.

Alignment of walkers shall not exceed five (5) people across a row during the entire course of the parade. Uniformity of costumes boosts the authentic nature and appearance of a group.

At the end of the parade, participants shall automatically proceed to the space reserved for transportation to return to the starting point of the parade. It is very important to proceed promptly towards the designated location in order to avoid congestion at the finish line.

Before leaving the premises, please ensure that vehicles, floats, platforms, and parking spaces are left clean and in good order. You are responsible for returning all material belonging to the parade organisation at the end of the event to the person in charge of collecting this material. You may be required to assume costs for any damaged or lost material that is the property of the organisation.

Organisers would like to remind all participants that flags are symbols used to identify members of a group, and as such shall not be subject to offensive acts and/or gestures. The Canadian flag and the provincial flags, as well as all other flags shall be treated with respect. The national flag always takes precedence.