The threat of weather wasn’t going to keep these good folks away. This past Sunday, more than 200 owners of Mazda MX-5 Miatas from across Quebec ignored the foreboding morning clouds and gathered with their beloved roadsters at Mazda St-Jérôme, north of Montreal, for the third annual Mazda MX-5 Miata gathering.
Organized by Benoit Lavigne and Auto123 contributor par excellence Germain Goyer, the free community event brought together hundreds of owners and visitors to celebrate Japan's iconic roadster. It was hard to tell which group was the more enthusiastic.
While the two prior editions of the Miata Meet took place at Mazda Canada’s regional office in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, this year marked the first time the meet was hosted at the Mazda Saint-Jérôme dealership. Mathieu Leclair, the dealership’s owner and newly appointed president, welcomed the crowd and marveled at the scene: “More than 200 cars in the lot, nothing but enthusiasts. It’s great to see the brand shine like this, and we’re proud to be part of it!”
With over 200 Miatas in attendance, all four generations of the roadster, the NA, NB, NC, and ND, were well represented. A particular highlight of this year's gathering was a special tribute marking the 35th anniversary of British Racing Green, the iconic forest green colour first introduced on the Miata in 1991.
Attendees were also treated to a display of four historic Mazda models from the private collection of prominent auto journalist Antoine Joubert, including a 1991 Mazda Miata, a 1988 Mazda 323 GTX, a 1992 Mazda Precidia and a 2006 Mazda MX-5.
There was more to the event than just celebrating a shared passion, mind you, and that’s to the credit of organizers Lavigne and Goyer. There was a charitable purpose as well, so that while admission remained completely free, organizers collected donations on site to support the Fondation Soutien à l’enfance de la Rivière-du-Nord in Quebec, which does important work providing support for disadvantaged children.
“We are thrilled that the event organized as part of the Miata’s 35th anniversary festivities in 2024 has become a tradition for fans of this iconic model,” stated Lavigne and Goyer, highlighting the continued backing of staff from Mazda Canada’s Quebec regional office. “We are all the more proud that this entirely free event raises funds for the community.”
Following the strong turnout and positive community response, the event’s organizers and the leadership of Mazda St-Jérôme have already confirmed plans for a fourth annual gathering in 2027, with specific dates still to be announced.
