Au Pays des Géants, the workshop behind Montreal’s iconic parade floats

It's less than a week until the 200th St. Patrick's Day Parade rolls down the streets of Montreal. Wearing an apron covered with paint and sawdust, Paméla Campeau Pelletier looks up: Above her, a rainbow bursts from the brim of a green hat, arching skyward before splashing down into a pot of gold.

"This one was completely custom-made specifically for this year's parade," she says. "It's the highlight of the show."

In less than a week, this float—one of nearly two dozen her family’s company has crafted—will roll through the streets of Montreal, swallowed by the noise of bagpipes, cheers, and the stomping of boots on pavement. Right now, there’s no music, only the sound of light tinkering, ironing and checking each costume, and the voice of her mother, Denise Campeau, giving final instructions if any.

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