The Pioneer — a popular bar in Pointe-Claire — will be closing its doors for good, but not without one final hurrah.
Starting Saturday night, several bands will take the stage, as the bar hosts its official sending-off party.
One of the bands in the lineup is East of Sunday.
WATCH BELOW: The Pioneer’s last waltz
Band member Derek Wiltshire told Globalnews he had mixed feelings about performing at the goodbye party.
“It’s kind of bittersweet, it’s like we’re going to celebrate it, but also it’s a little sad because it’s closing too,” he said.
Wiltshire noted the importance of the Pioneer for local bands.
“We’ve all played there mulitple times,” he said. “It’s just one of those West Island hubs… It’s kind of a rite of passage for a lot of Montreal, West Island musicians.”
The Pioneer isn’t just a popular watering hole, it’s an iconic landmark. The building has been around for over a century.
READ MORE: Pointe-Claire’s iconic Pioneer may soon be sold, turned into condos
After hearing back in May that the Pioneer could be demolished to make way for a condo project, residents rallied together and started a petition.
More recent efforts by the Save Le Pionnier group focuses on a letter-writing campaign addressed to the demolition committee, scheduled for next week.
The aim of the campaign is to halt demolition.
READ MORE: Pioneer owner says ‘memories are much more valuable’ than the building
Owner Diane Marois told Global News in June that the building had been on the market for several years and that she’d accepted the developers’ offer, noting it was the only one she had gotten.
While Marois said she felt bad people were upset over the news, she said business wasn’t as great as it once was and the building was in bad shape.
“I feel bad that everyone is protesting that the building is going, but really it’s an old, falling apart building,” she said. “I think their memories are much more valuable.”
READ MORE: Pointe-Claire mayor responds to residents about future of the Pioneer
Whether or not the building is saved from the wrecking ball, Saturday night is about one last chance to be part of a moment.
Admission to the event is free.
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