During a free concert at the Montreal Jazz Festival on Saturday night, six individuals were hospitalized, but both organizers and Urgences-santé confirmed that the event proceeded as intended. A massive crowd of festival attendees gathered to witness Quebec’s renowned masked band, Angine de Poitrine.
Benjamin Dansereau, a spokesperson for Urgences-santé, mentioned that medical teams provided care to ten individuals for various medical issues, including falls and intoxication. Of the ten, six were transported to the hospital, while four declined transport. Some of those taken to the hospital were in a concerning but stable condition, although Dansereau stated that these numbers were not uncommon during peak summer events.
Dansereau praised the swift response of emergency crews and emphasized the importance of festivalgoers staying hydrated, finding shade or cool areas if feeling overheated, and being cautious in crowded spaces. Robert Mark, a festival attendee, described the overwhelming experience of the event, noting the challenging movement of the crowd towards the stage.
Despite the challenges, Mark found delight in observing families with young children and fans dressed in polka dots paying homage to the band’s distinctive style. Festival organizers expressed satisfaction with the event’s execution. Maurin Auxéméry, the festival’s programming director, commended his team for maintaining control and implementing security measures as planned.
Auxéméry highlighted the exceptional turnout at the concert, comparing it to the audience size at Stevie Wonder’s 2009 performance. He praised the local band’s ability to draw such a significant crowd in downtown Montreal, emphasizing the success of the event and the team’s preparation.