During a free Montreal Jazz Festival concert on Saturday night, six individuals were transported to the hospital, according to organizers and Urgences-santé. The event proceeded as planned despite the incident. A large crowd of festival attendees gathered to witness Quebec’s famed masked band, Angine de Poitrine.
Benjamin Dansereau, a spokesperson for Urgences-santé, mentioned that emergency medical teams attended to 10 people for various medical issues. Among them, some individuals had fallen, while others were found in an intoxicated state. Of the 10 individuals, six were taken to the hospital, while four declined transport with the medical team.
Dansereau noted that some of the hospitalized individuals were in a more concerning but non-life-threatening condition. He emphasized that these numbers were within the expected range and that the emergency crews responded promptly and effectively.
To prevent similar incidents, Dansereau advised festival attendees to stay hydrated, find shade or cool areas if feeling overheated or dizzy, and stay vigilant in crowded settings. The turnout at the concert was compared to Stevie Wonder’s 2009 show, with attendee Robert Mark expressing that the event was overwhelming due to the large crowd dynamics.
Despite the challenges, Mark and his companions eventually found a spot behind the main stage to watch the concert comfortably. Festival organizers confirmed that the event unfolded smoothly, with Maurin Auxéméry, the director of programming for the Montreal Jazz Festival, commending the team’s handling of the situation.
Auxéméry mentioned that they had anticipated the high turnout, increased security measures, and executed their plan efficiently. He highlighted the uniqueness of the event, emphasizing that such massive crowds had not been seen since Stevie Wonder’s performance in 2009. Auxéméry expressed pride in hosting a local band that could draw such a large audience in downtown Montreal.
