SAINT-LAZARE (Québec), Monday, February 20, 2017  –  The Town of Saint-Lazare officially announced the event’s honour president as well as the official dates of the third edition of the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival.

This year’s Honorary President is Mr. P.J. Stock, former NHL hockey player and sports journalist

On Monday, February 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Saint-Lazare Library, Ms. Pamela Tremblay, Ambassador of the Festival and Town Councillor accompanied by the Mayor of Saint-Lazare, Robert Grimaudo and members of the town council, announced the official nomination of Mr. P.J. Stock, former NHL player and sports journalist, as Honorary President of the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival.

“I am proud to be able to get involved in the community, especially through such an amazing family-focused festival.” – stated Mr. P.J. Stock, Honorary President of the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival.

P.J. Stock is a former professional hockey player who has lived in Saint-Lazare with his family, wife and four kids for the last 12 years. During his seven years in the NHL, P.J. Stock played for several renowned teams including the New York Rangers, the Montreal Canadiens, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins. His expertise lead to a career in radio and television where he has shared his knowledge of the sport on TEAM 990 and CHOM-FM. He has also appeared on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet and is currently part of the Antichambre team on RDS. In 2016, P.J. Stock suffered a tremendous personal loss when his brother Dean Stock passed away following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The first foundation supported by the Festival is the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Quebec. As a tribute to Dean Stock, the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival will be giving a portion of donations received during the event to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Quebec. Did you know? This illness generally strikes between the ages of 40 and 75. An estimated 2,500 and 3,000 Canadians over the age of 18 are currently living with ALS. More people die of ALS every year than of muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis combined.

In Canada, ALS results in more deaths than any other neurological disease.

The second foundation supported by the Festival is Centre équestre thérapeutique Marie-Laurence

The riding centre’s volunteers will be back at the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival for a third consecutive year collecting voluntary donations from festivalgoers at the public parking lots managed by the Town during the Festival. The centre’s main mission is improving the quality of life of children living with physical, intellectual or learning disabilities by offering them riding lessons adapted to their needs. A customized training program is created for each child.

July 8 and 9, 2017: mark it on your calendar!

Saint-Lazare will welcome thousands of citizens, visitors and tourists for two days of equestrian celebration at the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival! The 2017 edition will include two zones, each offering a wide range of activities for both young and old in an equestrian atmosphere faithful to the Town’s unique character.

Recall that the Town of Saint-Lazare enjoys a long-standing equestrian tradition for which it has earned an international reputation. An ideal location for horse farms, Saint-Lazare is truly a cornerstone of the Canadian horseback riding community, most notably as a result of the many equestrian competitions it hosts.

Saint-Lazare’s equestrian flair and desire to revitalize its downtown core are certainly driving forces behind the creation of this festival—one that is a true testament to the Town’s character. As such, in 2015, the Saint-Lazare Au Galop Festival was born, attracting over 10,000 visitors over the three days of its first edition. The first year included the RCMP’s captivating Musical Ride, which helped position the Festival as part of Quebec’s major equestrian events.

Stay up-to-date: at augalop.ca and on our Facebook page!

Sales opportunities during the Festival

To participate in the Au Galop Festival, retailers can register for the cultural, equestrian and/or food fair. To do so, simply contact Roxane Aubin, Project Manager (raubin@ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca or 450 424-8000, extension 281) before April 28, 2017.

Sponsorship opportunities

Jump on the bandwagon! Want to sponsor the event and enjoy extensive visibility? Simply contact Roxane Aubin, Project Manager (raubin@ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca or 450 424-8000, extension 281) before May 1, 2017.