Bal Interdit: 20 photos from the most mysterious night of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal

For one night only, on the sidelines of the Canadian Grand Prix, the Ritz-Carlton Montreal was transformed into a nocturnal world where luxury met temptation, and where nothing was quite what it seemed.

The iconic hotel opened its doors to a select list of guests for the Bal Interdit: Soirée After Dark, an immersive experience where elegance, temptation, and excess came together under the glow of chandeliers and crimson lights.

Soraya Martinez Ferrada has been the leader of Ensemble Montréal since February 2025, and she was elected mayor of Montréal on November 2, 2025, becoming the first person from a diverse background to lead Quebec’s largest city.

Her attendance at the Bal Interdit underscores her commitment to her city’s cultural and festive life. For the occasion, the mayor wears a black strapless dress with raised floral embroidery, a glamorous and sophisticated look. Her partner, Pascal Delinois, accompanies her in a white tuxedo with black lapels, impeccably elegant—a couple that embodies the prestige of Montreal.

Three key figures from the Quebec scene came together for the Grand Prix’s most glamorous evening. Jessika Dénommée is the co-founder, alongside Vahiné Lefebvre, of POP Underwear, a brand of comfortable bamboo underwear. Cindy Cournoyer is the co-founder of the eco-friendly clothing brand Girl Crush, which she launched with Lucie Rhéaume in 2019. Noemy Petit has been an active influencer since 2014, with over 160,000 followers on Instagram and collaborations with several major Quebec brands. On the black carpet at the Ritz-Carlton, the trio opted for a striking color scheme: Jessika in a long black slit dress, Cindy in a bright red dress with an asymmetrical drape, and Noemy in a long black dress with a red bag—bold, elegant, and perfectly in tune with the After Dark theme.

Martin Matte is a Quebec comedian, actor, author, screenwriter, and producer who graduated from the École nationale de l'humour in 1995. He created and starred in the TV series Les Beaux malaises, and in 2019 became the first Quebec comedian to have his own special on Netflix, which was streamed worldwide. In 2026, he is working on his new series Vitrerie Joyal, streaming on Amazon Prime, inspired by his father. At the Bal Interdit, he exudes understated, impeccable elegance in a tailored black suit paired with a black shirt and black tie—a dark, refined total look that perfectly complements the Ritz-Carlton’s After Dark ambiance.

Yanic Truesdale is a Canadian actor born in Montreal, best known for his role as Michel Gerard, the sarcastic and distinguished concierge in the cult American series Gilmore Girls. He recently joined the cast of Étoile, the new series from the producers of Gilmore Girls, alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, reuniting with the duo Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino to play Raphaël, the main character’s right-hand man. At the Bal Interdit, he wore an elegant black three-piece suit with a white pocket square—a formal and distinguished look befitting his status as an international star.

Mitsou Gélinas is a Quebec-based TV host, businesswoman, singer, and actress. She left her mark on the Quebec music scene in the 1980s and 1990s with iconic songs such as “Bye bye mon cowboy” and “Dis-moi, dis-moi.” Mitsou is one of the most influential and beloved figures in Quebec’s cultural landscape. At the Bal Interdit, she dazzled in a long electric blue gown with fringed sleeves—spectacular, daring, and totally in keeping with her image: an icon who has never ceased to surprise.

Mathieu Joseph is a right winger in the NHL who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings. He won the Stanley Cup two years in a row with the Tampa Bay Lightning, in 2020 and 2021. At the Bal Interdit, he shines in an elegant charcoal gray suit over a black shirt with a bow tie, a perfectly tailored formal look. Content creator Emy-Jade Greaves accompanies him in a silky chocolate brown gown with subtly sensual cutouts, a stylish and harmonious duo.

Andrew B. Bachelor, known as King Bach, is a Canadian-American actor who first gained recognition for his talents on the Vine app, where he was the most-followed user before the platform shut down. He then carved out a niche for himself in Hollywood with roles in several films, including Greenland, The Babysitter, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, while maintaining a massive presence on TikTok with over 28 million followers. At the Bal Interdit, he stands out in a white shirt worn without a tie, paired with red suspenders—a bold pop of color that suits him perfectly.

Stéphanie Bélanger is the star of the docu-series Vie$ de rêve on Crave. She has been married for many years to international model Francis Cadieux. For the Bal Interdit, the couple exudes the height of elegance: Francis in an impeccable black tuxedo with a bow tie, and Stéphanie in a black strapless mini dress with a daring side slit on a long panel of fabric—sexy, sophisticated, and perfectly in keeping with the Ritz-Carlton’s After Dark spirit.

Charles Hamelin is one of Canada’s greatest Olympic champions of all time in short-track speed skating, having won a gold medal in the relay at the 2022 Beijing Games. His partner, Geneviève Tardif, is a sports journalist and will serve as an on-air presenter for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The couple pulls out all the stops for the Bal Interdit in a completely different style: Geneviève in a long black feathered gown, glamorous and dramatic, and Charles in an elegant black tuxedo.

PO Beaudoin is known for his career as an international model and as a content creator. Marina Bastarache, a professional dancer turned host and content creator, will launch a documentary series on motherhood and fertility on VÉRO.TV on June 9, 2026. At the Bal Interdit, PO wears a dark suit with an open-collar shirt, while Marina dazzles in a burgundy sequined strapless mini dress—a glamorous and close-knit duo.

Marc-Antoine Déquoy is a former professional defensive back who played five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. Named a league All-Star twice (2023 and 2024), he won the Grey Cup with the Alouettes in 2023 before announcing his retirement in February 2026, citing the physical toll of football. At the Bal Interdit, he poses in an elegant, structured forest-green blazer over a white shirt, a confident and distinguished look for this first major post-retirement outing.

In 2004, Quebec singer and actress Caroline Néron put her creativity and innate business acumen to work to found her jewelry company, Caroline Néron. True to her resilient nature, after regaining control of her jewelry brand in 2020, she diversified her business by launching her adult product line, Libre & Assumée, whose products are now sold in over 300 pharmacies across Quebec. At the Bal Interdit, she arrives in a spectacular and extraordinary outfit: a long pearly white gown with floral embroidery and sheer organza sleeves.