May 2011: a canopy of 170,000 pink plastic balls was installed above a one-kilometre stretch on Sainte-Catherine E. in the Village, from Saint-Hubert Street to Papineau Street. What was initially meant to last a period of around four months catalyzed an eight-year lifespan, in which this population of balls lay dormant for much of the year, emerging only in the summer months.
Due to overwhelming public support following the installation’s first year, and an agreement between the Village SDC and landscape architect and urban designer Claude Cormier’s firm CCxA, the display, called “Pink Balls,” returned year after year.
By 2017, one-tone pink became 18 different shades, and the streets of Sainte-Catherine E. reflected a rainbow. Designed to represent the Pride flag, the installation was updated in celebration of various anniversaries: the Village turned 35; Aires Libres, the pedestrian zone and public art event, celebrated a decade of operations; the city of Montreal turned 375; and the city held its first edition of Pride Canada.
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