132 Quebec flags at Olympic Park ahead of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

Exactly 132 Quebec flags are surrounding Montreal’s Olympic Stadium as of Wednesday ahead of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

The flags were raised on the Olympic Park esplanade, surrounding the stadium, at Sherbrooke Street and Pie-IX Boulevard.

“The Olympic Park is very happy to join in the National Day festivities, by adorning its Esplanade in the colours of the Quebec flag,” Michel Labrecque, president and CEO of the Olympic Park, said in a statement.

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“We invite the population to come and take photos of the flags and to celebrate this moment in our history by relaying them to everyone.”

(CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

(CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

Quebec’s flag – the blue and white Fleurdelisé – turned 75 years old earlier this year.

The flag flew for the first time Jan. 21, 1948. Quebec was the first Canadian province to adopt its own flag.

The Fleurdelisé uses four white fleurs-de-lis (French for lily), symbolizing purity. The blue field symbolizes the skies.

“This exceptional display honours the Quebec flag, emblem of our unity in diversity,” said Louise Harel, president of the National Day Committee in Montreal, in a statement. “So many flags to celebrate the same belonging to Quebec, wherever you come from. Thank you to the Olympic Park for this powerful symbol.”