The chequered flags and crowned champions of Hochelaga’s most joyful race

“This event is something we don’t see anywhere else,” says organizer and time keeper Pierre-Alexandre. “It’s unique to Hochelaga—and we’re proud it’s part of our cultural landscape.”

Loulou Leblanc rolls triumphantly around the course in a red wig, one hand on the steering wheel while her amputated arm clutches a water bottle. She’s just won second place.

The Course des Glorieux Triporteurs started in 2019 when Patrick Legault, the director of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Société de développement commercial (SDC), asked the locals with triporteurs—three-wheeled electric mobility scooters commonly used by people with disabilities or limited mobility—if they would participate in a friendly race. The now-iconic Hochelaga event has only grown since, and now includes quadriporteurs and electric wheelchairs.

Pierre-Alexandre has observed the demographics change in the last three years: "The crowd used to be pretty homogenous. But now we see more women, younger folks, and different types of disabilities. Last year we started accepting folks in wheelchairs—it makes for a really exciting show."

He points out that accessibility becomes truly meaningful when it’s not just a logistical detail, but the driving force of the event.

Cast in a new light

Charlotte, a Swiss native that calls Hochelaga home, is waiting for the race to start. "This is a yearly classic," she says.

As the 1 p.m. start time gets closer, rows of people start crowding around the metal barriers set around the course. The race is MCed by local comedian Samuel Flynn who starts warming up the crowd.

“The Plateau has electric scooters, Rosemont has Communauto, the Mile End has English and Hochelaga has the triporteurs!” he says.

"This is my third year hosting—and it’s always just as fun. The crowd is so welcoming and the event keeps growing,” he says later after the race.

“I’m really happy that Hochelaga has taken the initiative to highlight folks who are often overlooked." 

As a historically francophone, working-class neighbourhood, Hochelaga can be often reduced to the struggles its residents face. In Samuel's mind, the race helps shift the neighbourhood’s image.

“In the past people were quite negative about the neighbourhood and now it’s being shown in a more positive light as an inclusive place,” he adds.

He feels those who compete are part and parcel of the social fabric like Monique, the wife of last year's winner, Capitaine Québec; and Viviane, who volunteers with a local senior community centre, Résolidaire.

The 12 competitors for 2025 include 8 women and 4 men, and several stand out: Lina with her chihuahua John Snow; Sabrina aka the “triporteuse Barbie” decked out in pink; and the TikTok influencer Dany (@legarsquidrift), a young man in a motorized wheelchair who uses oil and soap to drift in his living room.

Playing with the queen of hearts

Hundreds of people have come from all over the Montreal area for the occasion, from the Plateau and Rosemont to the North and South Shore. Then there are folks like the Hellzeimers, a collective from Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré, or Marilou, a contestant from Chambly.

Sylvain Bouchard, a proud local triporteur owner whose ride is customized with wolf and skull decals, attends as a spectator. “[My triporteur] is brand new this year. I don’t want to mess it up in a race,” he says.

The event begins with a practice run by last year’s winner, the motorized superhero Capitaine Québec decked out in blue, to familiarize the participants and the crowd with the course.

There’s a reverse parking exercise, a slalom, then bowling and two bag toss challenges. The first competitor starts out strong by nailing the parking exercise and then accelerating so fast one of his wheels leaves the ground. The crowd gasps and cheers. 

At 39, Marielou Beauregard-Brault is one of the youngest competitors. “I have Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis. I’ve been using a triporteur for 12 years,” she explains. Today, she’s dressed as the Queen of Hearts, her triporteur decked out in red. At the end of her run, one of the judges cheers.

“Marilou, you may not be from Hochelaga—but you are our new queen!”

When asked if she intends to move to her new fiefdom, she explains her whole family is here, “but I couldn't find any accessible housing in Hochelaga. That’s why I don’t live in Montreal anymore."

In spite of her disability, she travels often and attends festivals in Montreal regularly. She praises the measures taken to make the latter accessible, though she laments the inaccessibility of many metro stations.

“It’s their moment to shine—and everyone cheers them on,” says Marie-Astride, a first-time attendee.

“It brings the whole neighbourhood together—it’s fun, it’s community-building, and it helps break isolation, especially for the seniors,” says Julie, a longtime local.

"Today, it was fun to be disabled."

Now Loulou, donning her red wig, rolls up to the starting line. Samuel jokes that she changes wigs every year to keep participating.

“It’s really thrilling,” she says after her run. “Mobility aids like wheelchairs or quadriporteurs are rarely celebrated. Today, it was fun to be disabled.”

Loulou became disabled in the 90s after she contracted necrotizing fasciitis and they had to amputate part of both legs and her right hand. She raves about the event: “It’s really thrilling... Usually we’re absent from public life. But here, we’re taking up space—and I think that’s amazing.”

While visibility is powerful, the challenges disabled Montrealers face around accessibility remain significant.

“Montreal is okay because the people are great—but when you’re disabled, it can be hard. Some European cities, like Vienna or Barcelona, have much more accessible transit systems than here," Loulou observes. Accessibility is made even harder during the harsh Québec winters, she adds. “In winter, the quadriporteur gets stored. I use adapted transport—it means planning ahead and being patient."

Loulou zooms off triumphantly and does a lap of honour for her second place win, a huge grin on her face. Marilou’s name then echoes across the square: she's won. The crowd cheers as she waves to them, a red popsicle in hand. She is now the queen of Hochelaga's hearts.