The “No” side supporters at the Verdun Auditorium

On the evening of October 24, 1995, a few days before the referendum on Québec sovereignty, the Verdun Auditorium hosted 12,500 supporters from the “No” side. Despite the enthusiasm of the evening, there was a feeling of anxiety in the arena. The sovereigntists were in the lead in the polls of the past few days. The federalist leaders played every card on that historical evening and changed their strategy. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tried, for the very first time of the campaign, to reach out to one of Quebecers’ deepest roots: their history. He declared: “And that is why I am repeating with pride the words spoken by Jean Lesage, the father of the Quiet Revolution, 15 years ago: “Canada is my country, Québec is my homeland. Thank you very much, Merci beaucoup!”