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.