Outremont residents who are upset by the results of a recent referendum extended a hand of friendship to the borough's Hasidic community.
This year the borough has banned synagogues and other places of worship from select commercial streets.
The decision to implement the ban on Bernard Ave. was upheld by a referendum where 60 percent of eligible voters took part.
On Monday evening, those who oppose the bans held a candlelighting ceremony to show support for the Hasidic community.
Several hundred people met in St. Viateur park and lit candles as a way of celebrating diversity and building bridges between communities.
Joanne Shiller was one of the event's organizers.
"People are very happy to be here and meet with one another and there's equal representation from the Hasidic community and the broader community in Outremont and people have even come from outside of Outremont to show their solidarity and stand up because it's a human rights issue ultimately," said Shiller.
It was the first gathering of this nature in the borough that included both Hasidic Jews and members of the broader community.
The Hasidic community is still debating whether or not to challenge the bylaw in court.
