man in blue jacket and blue denim jeans holding orange and white surfboard

Several blocks of rue Sainte-Catherine, running through Montreal's so-called Gay Village (certainly gay but a rather queer sort of 'village') get tarted up for the summer season. Colourful garlands overhead, bright rainbow flags along both sides of the street and terraces installed in front of the restaurants, cafés and bars invite visitors and locals alike to relax for a while and enjoy the atmosphere of the neighbourhood.