{"id":832757,"date":"2026-07-29T02:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T02:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/832757\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T02:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T02:55:12","slug":"brighter-days-ahead-ariana-grandes-montreal-concerts-feature-quebec-voter-engagement-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/832757\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Brighter Days Ahead’: Ariana Grande\u2019s Montreal concerts feature Quebec voter engagement campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

The rain was falling outside the Bell Centre Tuesday night as thousands of Ariana Grande fans lined up for the first of three sold-out Montreal concerts.<\/p>\n

But inside the venue, another message was taking shape \u2014 one focused not just on music, but on civic participation.<\/p>\n

As part of Grande\u2019s\u00a0Eternal Sunshine\u00a0tour stop in Montreal, fans were invited to take part in a voter engagement campaign led by her Brighter Days Ahead Foundation in partnership with Apathy is Boring.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Apathy is Boring booth is seen inside Montreal\u2019s Bell Centre during the first night of Ariana Grande\u2019s Eternal Sunshine tour stop on July 28, 2026. (CityNews)<\/p>\n

The initiative encourages young people to learn about Quebec\u2019s upcoming provincial election on Oct. 5, 2026, and pledge to vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe partnered with Ariana Grande\u2019s Brighter Days Ahead Foundation to essentially let people know that there is an election coming up in Quebec this October, a provincial election,\u201d said Ash Montgomery, director of communications for Apathy is Boring.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re just encouraging people to first of all know that it\u2019s happening and second of all to pledge to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Apathy is Boring booth inside the Bell Centre, concertgoers could scan a QR code to sign up for election reminders. Those who participated also received an Ariana Grande-designed button reading\u00a0\u201cVote for Brighter Days Ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Ash Montgomery, director of communications for Apathy is Boring, is seen wearing a \u201cVote for Brighter Days Ahead\u201d button outside Montreal\u2019s Bell Centre on July 28, 2026. (CityNews)<\/p>\n

Bringing voter engagement to where young people are<\/p>\n

Montgomery says the campaign is not about influencing how anyone votes \u2014 it is about helping young people feel informed and ready to participate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not telling anyone how to vote or who to vote for; we\u2019re really just getting people to engage in the elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apathy is Boring, a national non-profit organization, focuses on engaging Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30 in civic life.<\/p>\n

Montgomery says one challenge is that many young voters are less likely to hear about provincial and municipal elections compared with federal campaigns.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a lot of the time people say that they only find out about elections after the fact, especially when it comes to provincial and municipal elections,\u201d Montgomery said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Ash Montgomery, director of communications for Apathy is Boring, outside Montreal\u2019s Bell Centre on July 28, 2026, ahead of Ariana Grande\u2019s first Eternal Sunshine concert in the city. (CityNews)<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we tend to hear a lot more about the federal election. So I think it\u2019s really important to just have these moments where we can be here to actually chat to people and remind them that it\u2019s coming and that their vote matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

The partnership came after Grande\u2019s Brighter Days Ahead Foundation reached out to Apathy is Boring about bringing the initiative to her Canadian tour dates. Montgomery said Grande has supported similar voter engagement efforts at her U.S. concerts through the organization HeadCount.<\/p>\n

Fans say influence can create engagement<\/p>\n

For fans, the campaign represents a way for an artist with a massive audience to encourage participation beyond the concert itself.<\/p>\n

Gaelle, a Montreal concertgoer, said Grande\u2019s platform can help bring attention to the importance of voting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think it\u2019s a good initiative,\u201d she said. \u201cShe\u2019s using her fan base, I guess, and her influence to encourage people to vote, which is important as citizens to vote, especially when we\u2019re young if we want our voices to be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sammy, who travelled from Toronto for the show, said people with large platforms have an opportunity to encourage positive action.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really important for people who have such influence to be proactive in what they do and, like with their voice sharing what they feel is right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"The stage is seen inside Montreal\u2019s Bell Centre ahead of Ariana Grande\u2019s first Eternal Sunshine concert in the city on July 28, 2026. (CityNews)<\/p>\n

Stephane, a Montreal fan, said using a concert setting to start conversations about politics could help reach people who might otherwise disengage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a really nice thing for a pop star to do because a pop star just reaches so many people and engages so many people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like politics is one of those things that\u2019s really hard for people to stay engaged with.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said a reminder from someone with Grande\u2019s reach could encourage younger audiences to pay attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s through the thing that they\u2019re using to tune out the world, they actually are forced a little to recognize, actually, there are things that we should care about, like voting.\u201d<\/p>\n

A message beyond the stage<\/p>\n

One father attending the concert with his daughter also supported the initiative, saying participation is ultimately about making sure people have a say.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf more people vote, more people get their voice out there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With three Montreal shows bringing thousands of fans together this week, organizers hope the message continues beyond the Bell Centre.<\/p>\n

Despite the rain outside on opening night, the campaign\u2019s message inside was one of optimism: brighter days ahead begin when people choose to make their voices heard.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tA \u201cVote for Brighter Days Ahead\u201d button handed out to fans who pledged to vote during Ariana Grande\u2019s Montreal concert at the Bell Centre on July 28, 2026. (CityNews) <\/p>\n

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