In the middle of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, Premier Christine Fréchette announced that legendary racing driver Gilles Villeneuve had been designated a historic figure in Quebec.
Fréchette made the announcement on Friday on Île Sainte-Hélène, in Montreal.
“It was a gesture that was necessary and long-awaited and which, fortunately, is seeing the light of day today,” said Fréchette, in front of the Minister of Culture, Mathieu Lacombe, and members of Gilles Villeneuve’s family.
Villeneuve was given the status for the role he played in motor racing in Quebec and in F1.
To mark the moment, a commemorative plaque will be installed at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
Gilles Villeneuve died in 1982, at the age of 32, following an accident on the Zolder circuit in Belgium.
Villeneuve’s story is unique, to say the least. After making a local splash in Berthierville by winning snowmobile races, he gained attention by beating several Formula 1 drivers at a Formula Atlantic race in Trois-Rivières in 1976.
The following year, in his first full season with Ferrari, he won his first Grand Prix in the first race held on Île Notre-Dame.
The son of a piano tuner and a seamstress, Villeneuve had an atypical path to F1, and his tragic death during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix certainly contributed to making him an icon of motorsport.
“Nearly 45 years after his departure, Gilles Villeneuve remains a prominent figure in Quebec society and in the history of motor racing. This designation not only honours his memory and extraordinary courage, but also celebrates the exceptional impact he had on the popularization of Formula 1, and on the influence of Quebec around the world,” said the premier.
Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal, added, “Gilles Villeneuve is one of those figures who goes beyond sport. Its name is intimately linked to Montreal and the history of the Grand Prix, which thrills our city every year. As visitors from around the world gather here, this designation and exhibit will allow a new generation to discover the legacy of this great Quebec racing hero.”
To go along with the announcement, the Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau and the Gilles Villeneuve Foundation announced a temporary exhibition called “Salut Gilles: A Story of Speed in Montréal” will open on July 16.
The exhibit will showcase the world of Gilles Villeneuve, including rare archives, emblematic objects, replicas of historic cars, and excerpts from the special effects of the film “Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend”.
Tickets for the exhibit can be purchased online by visiting the Parc Jean-Drapeau website.
In addition to this designation, Gilles Villeneuve will finally have his biographical film this year. The feature film, which has been in the works for several years now, will be released in cinemas on 11 November.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
