On Thursday, July 17th, Santropol Roulant celebrated 30 years of magic at its annual open house/block party, Rue Fermier. Although it rained, the party did not stop; Santropol Roulant brought everything indoors and transformed the Roulant into a fair.
To kick things off with a bang, brass band La Fanfare d’Occasion led a lively musical procession through the Roulant, ending on the second floor. The scent of freshly popped popcorn and cotton candy filled the air as the honoured guests admired the wonderfully crafted decorations made by volunteers.
Each floor brimmed with fun, guided by a very special MC: former volunteer coordinator Ellen! Ellen truly kept the energy of all 550 guests up all night long.
The first floor was a gathering place, where laughter and storytelling were shared by volunteers, clients, donors, board members, and past and present Roulant team members and neighbours alike. The Roulant served a delicious menu of Mexican corn salad, pasta salad and roasted veggie sandwiches complete with homemade seitan and focaccia curated by our amazing kitchen team and volunteers. As the night progressed, celebrated magician Le Grand Alexandre roamed about, keeping attendees on the edge of their seats with his magic tricks.
Dance enthusiasts were able to enjoy themselves on the second floor with a line dancing class presented by former farm manager Virginie, who was accompanied by Les Bastringue Boys. After a full set indoors, guests continued to enjoy the band’s melodies out in the gardens (once the weather cleared) with homemade lime and cucumber popsicles. Meanwhile, guided tours and a treasure hunt allowed young and old alike to explore the Roulant all the way from the Terrasses Roy to the rooftop in full bloom.
What’s a birthday without cake and presents? Our talented kitchen team and volunteers baked a succulent homemade chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream icing, which everyone enjoyed on the Terrasses Roy. To thank our community, custom 30th anniversary tote bags, prints, magnets, and t-shirts were given to guests. The night ended with a clear-skied intergenerational dance party outside to the beats of DJ Michele Azur.
Thank you to our community partner Plein Milieu, who shared information on their programs and resources throughout the Plateau Mont-Royal for supporting people in situations of homelessness, and to the Roulant collectives, including the beekeeping collective, Mycollective, and Santrovélo, for presenting their projects to the community in engaging ways.
Special thank you to the volunteers who helped throughout the preparation of this Rue Fermier with the decorations, the meals, and the take-down. Thank you to the donors who continue to make it possible for the Roulant to sustain its impact in the community, including through beautiful events just like Rue Fermier! But most of all, thank you to this special community for 30 years at our side.
More than 5,580 clients and 45,000 volunteers over three decades has allowed for community to connect to advocate for food security and community care.
Relive the festivities with the magnificent photos taken by Ivan Arturo, Emma Beckman, Miklos Agoston, and Ashley Merlov.
