La Grande marche, now in its ninth year, will be taking place across the entire province on Friday, October 13, as part of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie. The Town of Rosemère will be one of 106 participating municipalities in Quebec hosting a free walk. The event will be held virtually as well as in person to allow as many people as possible to join in. 

The walk will officially begin at 7 p.m. at Alpha School (334 De l’Académie Street), but participants are invited to arrive at 6:45 p.m. for a warm-up activity.  

“Whether it’s on your own or with family and friends, we encourage you all to lace up your sneakers and take part in this fun community event,” said Mayor Eric Westram. “It’s not a race. There’s nothing to win. It’s just a nice, leisurely walk and a great opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air. I’ll be there at the starting line. See you there!” 

Walkers who join the group will follow an easy and accessible 5 km route mapped out by the Town’s Recreation Department. Those who participate virtually from their own homes can start at any time and go at their own pace. 

Regardless of which option they choose, participants are encouraged to register online at onmarche.com to get into the spirit of the event and enter for a chance to win one of 50 Mammut “Grand marcheur” jackets. 

About the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie

The overriding goal of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie is to create a culture of preventive health in Quebec by encouraging everyone to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. The initiative is designed to appeal to people of all ages, throughout the province and beyond. To this end, various major events are organized each year to bring people together and drive lasting change in our society. Among these events are the School Tour, the Mini Cube Tour, Force 4, La Petite Expé, the Energy Cubes Challenge, the Grande récompense à ton école, La Course, the 1000 KM, 1 000 000 de KM Ensemble and La Grande marche.

La Grande marche is a joint initiative of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ), with the support of Rio Tinto and the Quebec government. Every year, the event draws thousands of participants from all over Quebec.