Montrealers, Quebecers, and Canadians willing to make long trips have proven once again that they love Olympic athletes.

Thousands of people lined Ste. Catherine street at lunchtime, as more than 150 athletes from the 2010 Winter Games and Paralympic games took part in a parade to Phillips Square.

Cheers erupted as people recognized Joannie Rochette riding down the street in a convertible, sitting next to Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay.

"It was just amazing the welcome we've had," said Rochette from the stage in Phillips Square. "In Vancouver... I never had the chance to celebrate, but here it's been amazing!"

"Two months after it's such an incredible moment."

Athletes cannot believe fans still care

Skier Lauren Woolstencroft, who won five gold medals at the Paralympics, loved seeing the enthusiastic fans.

"To come here today with a big crowd it was just awesome," said Woolstencroft.

"We were just wowed by the crowd in Vancouver, and here today we were just wowed by the people in the street."

In a conversation with CTV News anchors Todd van der Heyden, Mutsumi Takahashi, and TSN broadcaster James Cybulski, Woolstencroft seemed as if she didn't fully understand the admiration people have for her.

"Ultimately we set out every day just to do our sport and we love it," she said. "To be a role model is a nice side effect."

A grinning Jon Montgomery, wearing a pair of sunglasses and his gold medal from the men's skeleton event, said the parade was one more chance for the athletes to bask in Canadians' Olympic spirit.

"It's been so awesome ... it's been an experience shared by Canadians from coast to coast," he said. "Montrealers have been incredibly gracious hosts to have us in their city."

"If you walked out of your door this morning in Montreal with a frown on your face it would be just a matter of minutes before you were smiling. It's been an awesome atmosphere in this city."

Alex Bilodeau, who broke the "Canadian curse" by being the first Canadian to win gold on home soil, has already been feted in his hometown of Rosemere, but he's still happy to meet his fans.

Golden boy Bilodeau

"For all the gold medals and all the Olympians who were in Vancouver it was the most amazing time of our lives," said Bilodeau.

"We feel privileged to represent Canada."

But like many of the athletes attending on Friday, he could not believe the public still cared.

"In Vancouver the streets were filled... We come back two months later and the streets are filled again," he said in disbelief.

Ashleigh McIvor, who won one of the final gold medals of the games, was also shocked.

Like many athletes, she continued to compete through the end of the season, so it was weeks before she returned to her native Whistler.

"I thought everyone would have forgotten all about it by the time I got home," said McIvor.

Judging from the crowd, very few people forgot.

Gala celebration Friday night

After the parade, multi-talented artist Gregory Charles led the athletes on stage one-by-one to introduce them to the fans in attendance, then led the band for an extended musical performance.

On Friday night, several Canadian athletes were honoured by being inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

The 2010 Canadian Hall of Fame inductees are

  • Sprinter Bruny Surin
  • Speed skater Susan Auch
  • Kayaker Caroline Brunet
  • Coach Paul Poce
  • Builder Carol Anne Letheren (posthumously)
  • Builder Peter Lougheed
  • Builder Walter Sieber

In addition John Furlong, who led the Vancouver Olympic Committee, received the Canadian Olympic Order, along with BC premier Gordon Campbell, and Jack Poole.

Dozens of musicians performed at the Bell Centre gala, including Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, and Quebec natives Nikki Yanofsky, Annie Villeneuve and Ginette Reno.

"It's pretty exciting and it's pretty glamourous tonight," said Rochette. "It's nice to see all the Olympians once again."

Montgomery - who works as an auctioneer when not training for skeleton - was commissioned to sell the truck Wayne Gretzky rode in to the opening ceremony. It sold for $60,000.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on hand to salute the 150 athletes, calling the Vancouver Games the best ever.

"When you look at our performance, I don't know any other way to say it: Canada rocks," he said.

The event airs Saturday night at 8 p.m. on CTV.