Parade runs through downtown Montreal to end the 18th Pride festival

The 18th Montreal Pride Festival ended with a bang on Sunday, with the parade through the centre of the downtown core.

The parade started downtown, at the intersection of René-Lévesque Boulevard and Metcalfe Street, and ran to Atateken Street.

The parade was forced to stop at one point as pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters assembled to block the route.

Montreal police (SPVM) confirmed that there were no injuries and that the parade re-started after about 20 minutes.

"Despite the heated atmosphere, the parade went ahead peacefully," said SPVM spokesperson Veronique Dubuc.

This year's theme was "We Are the Rainbow!"

"It is a reappropriation of the rainbow. It is a more inclusive evolution of its meaning," Pride Montreal said on its website. "We Are The Rainbow. We are the possibilities. We are what’s to come."

A moment of silence is scheduled for 2:15 p.m., which will be dedicated to lives lost to AIDS, lesbophobia, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, Pride Montreal said. 

We also take this time to commemorate the lives of missing or murdered Indigenous women, girls, children, and Two-Spirit or LGBTQIA+ people," the organization said. "May this moment of reflection inspire us and guide us for the rest of our actions."

• READ MORE: Here's what to expect at Montreal Pride 2024

Pride Montreal executive director Simon Gamache explained that the aim was to reach as many people as possible.

Several politicians announced that they would be attending the event.

After the parade, events are scheduled at Montreal's Olympic Park Esplanade, including the Mega T-Dance.

With files from The Canadian Press.