Montreal Symphony Orchestra performs for flood victims tonight in Pierrefonds-Roxboro

Thousands of people are expected tonight for a free concert by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra to benefitvictims of this spring's flooding.

The orchestra's director, Kent Nagano,decided to organize the event in thePierrefonds-Roxboroborough after seeing whatpeople in the area and neighbouring boroughs were living through during the flooding in May.

Adam Johnson, the assistant conductor of the OSM, said members of the orchestra were keen to be a part of the concert and to help give members of the community a boost.

"As musicians, we're not exactly going to be able to rebuild homes, but we want to be able to offer what we can givean evening of music for free," Johnson said.

• Your guide to Montreal's free, family-friendly summer activities

He said they wanted to give people a moment of peace after the traumatic and costly flooding.

The event will start at 7:30 p.m. outside thePierrefonds Comprehensive High School, located at 13800Pierrefonds Boulevard, just east of Saint-Jean Boulevard.

The venuecan hold up to 10,000 people and attendees are invitedto bring their own chairs.

The Canadian Armed Forceswill also take part in the concertby firing blanks from three 155-millimetreguns around 9 p.m.

The school is accessible by taking the 68 bus thatruns along Pierrefonds Boulevard, or the 201 or 205 from the Fairview Pointe-Claireshopping centre.

Free shuttles will also be offered from Westview Bible Church, locatedatPierrefondsand Saint-Charles boulevards, as well as theRoxboro-Pierrefonds train station at 11100 GouinBoulevard West.

The shuttle service starts at 6 p.m. from both locations and runs until 10 p.m. after the concert.

There is no parking near the school, the borough says.