Ghost bike ceremony commemorates cyclist’s tragic death in 1981

by


Each new bicycle death reminds Suzanne Chartrand’s loved ones of their loss.

Author of the article:

Marian Scott • Montreal Gazette

Cyclist Suzanne Chartrand, who was killed on Sept. 15, 1981, was commemorated with a plaque at the corner of Henri-Bourassa Blvd. and Berri St. in Montreal on Sunday, May 22, 2022. Today would have marked her 61st birthday de ella. Her Former boyfriend Maurice Bergeron of Suzanne Chartrand and her sister, Hélène Chartrand, look over the plaque.
Cyclist Suzanne Chartrand, who was killed on Sept. 15, 1981, was commemorated with a plaque at the corner of Henri-Bourassa Blvd. and Berri St. in Montreal on Sunday, May 22, 2022. Today would have marked her 61st birthday de ella. Her Former boyfriend Maurice Bergeron of Suzanne Chartrand and her sister, Hélène Chartrand, look over the plaque. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

Every time Christiane Valiquette hears a cyclist has been killed in traffic, her heart turns over.

Forty-one years ago, she lost her best friend Suzanne Chartrand, 20, in a bike accident at the intersection of Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E. and Berri St.

On Sunday, which would have been Chartrand’s 61st birthday, Valiquette and Suzanne’s sister, Hélène Chartrand, 63, took part in a ceremony organized by Vélo fantôme au Québec in marking the site of the tragedy.

“It’s our duty to remember,” said Valiquette, noting the ghost bike organization, which erects white bikes or plaques on the scene of cycling fatalities, did not yet exist when Chartrand was killed on Sept. 15, 1981.

“We’d known each other since kindergarten,” she recalled.

“To die at 20, when you’re just starting to spread your wings, to me it seemed a great injustice,” she said.

When she learns another cyclist has been killed, “it always touches me and makes me relive the emotions I felt at that time,” Valiquette said.

“I thought it would be important to honor Suzanne’s memory by putting up a white bike or a plaque,” ​​she added.

Séverine Le Page, a spokesperson for Ghostbike in Quebec, thanked Valiquette for approaching the organization to request it erect a memorial to Chartrand.

“You wrote to us mentioning that even though Suzanne died more than 40 years ago, you still miss her terribly and that every time a white bike is installed, you recall what happened to her. Suzanne was young, she had her life ahead of her and she had just started to share her life with her beloved de ella, Maurice, ”she said.

“We are all very moved to be here with you today,” she added.

Rather than putting up a white bike, the organization erected a plaque. The choice reflects the fact the city has greatly improved safety measures at the intersection by building the Réseau express vélo (REV) bike path on Lajeunesse and Berri Sts.

Plans are also underway to make Henri-Bourassa, a six-lane highway, safer for cyclists and pedestrians, Le Page noted.

Hélène Chartrand said the ceremony brought back both painful and happy memories of a sister who was also a best friend.

“I’m feeling so much support and solidarity for her memory,” she said.

“My sister Suzanne was an exceptional, brilliant girl,” she added, recalling her as a terrific athlete who cycled long distances and studied haute couture.

“We were very close — serre knits,” she said.

Among the Montreal city councilors in attendance were Émilie Thuillier, borough mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Nathalie Goulet, councilor for Ahuntsic, and Alba Zúñiga Ramos, assistant opposition house leader and councilor for Louis-Riel.

The ceremony was one of three held by Ghostbike in Quebec over the long weekend.

On Saturday, the organization put up a white bike and plaque honoring Irène Dehem, who was killed May 18, 2021, while cycling on l’Anse-à-l’Orme Rd in Pierrefonds. On Monday, it will erect a memorial to Joanna Barcessat, who was killed on Nov. 2, 2021, at the intersection Notre-Dame St. W. and St-Pierre Ave.

The three ceremonies are the 17th, 18th and 19th held by the Montreal-based organization to honor victims of cycling accidents.

[email protected]


Leave a Comment