A group of exotic dancers in Montreal is planning a strike during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, using one of the city’s busiest tourism periods to push for better labour conditions and stronger workplace protections.
The action has been called by the Sex Work Autonomous Committee, which says the timing is intentional because clubs are typically at their busiest and most profitable during Formula 1’s visit to Montreal.
The strike is planned for May 23, the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix and the same day as the sprint race. The group argues that the Grand Prix weekend gives dancers the strongest leverage because club owners stand to benefit from a major increase in visitors and revenue.
According to the committee, dancers face tougher working conditions during this period despite clubs making more money. The group has pointed to increased bar fees, overbooking, additional workplace rules and limited concern for dancer safety as key issues behind the campaign.
One of the main complaints focuses on bar fees charged to dancers for the right to work at clubs. The Sex Work Autonomous Committee says these fees can become especially costly during major events such as the Canadian Grand Prix.
The group previously cited the example of a Montreal club charging $110 per night across five nights of Formula 1-related events. With an average of 60 dancers working per night, the committee said the club could collect around $33,000 from those fees alone.
For the group, that model gives club owners too much financial power over dancers while shifting the cost of working onto the performers themselves.
The committee also says clubs have an incentive to book as many dancers as possible each night because bar fees generate revenue for management. According to the group, that can create overcrowded working conditions and reduce individual earning opportunities.
Safety is another central concern. The dancers’ group argues that employers provide limited support and often leave performers to manage workplace risks on their own.
The campaign also highlights a broader dispute over worker classification. The dancers are treated as independent contractors, but the group says they are still expected to follow schedules, dress requirements and other workplace rules.
Because they are not salaried employees, dancers say they do not receive the same protections normally available to employees. Celeste Ivy told the Montreal Gazette that this leaves them without access to many standard worker safeguards.
The Canadian Grand Prix is one of Montreal’s biggest annual events. The 2025 race drew a record attendance of 352,000 people, creating one of the city’s largest tourism surges of the year.
By targeting the Formula 1 weekend, the Sex Work Autonomous Committee aims to put pressure on club owners at a moment when demand and public attention are both high. The group says the goal is to challenge the current power imbalance and push for better conditions for dancers working in Montreal clubs.
