Protesters want things to change at Mont-Sainte-Anne ski hill north of Quebec City

Skiers and snowboarders protested at Mont-Sainte-Anne ski hill and are demanding that ownership change hands after a lack of investment.

Skiers and snowboarders near Mont-Sainte-Anne ski hill held a protest on Saturday, bemoaning the state of their hill with the hopes that things will improve.

The ski hill northeast of Quebec City, operated by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) out of Alberta for 26 years, was given the green light to begin operations this week after the opening being postponed twice. After Friday’s opening was cancelled due to rainy weather, it opened on Saturday.

RCR operates hills and golf courses across the country, including in Stoneham ski hill in the Eastern Townships.

One of the protest organizers, Lucas Gonthier, said there has not been any investment in Sainte-Anne for years.

“We can feel the lack of investment every day,” he said. “We’re here to say that we’ve had enough of RCR and they’ve shown in the past that they weren’t a good operator for this beloved resort.”

Those who gathered on Saturday afternoon say the mountain is in a state of disrepair, including failing infrastructure and power outages.

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) ordered the closure of four ski lifts in early December following inspections, in connection with a failure in the 25,000-volt high-voltage network that powers the buildings, ski lifts, and snowmaking system at the ski resort.

In 2022, a gondola fell at the hill, forcing the resort’s closure.

“It is unacceptable to play with people’s safety in this way,” the event’s Facebook page says. “Mont Sainte-Anne is a Quebec gem, a place of sport, nature and collective identity. It deserves better than abandonment.”

It is the second protest at the mountain, with around 1,000 attending one in March.

For Gonthier, neglecting upkeep is frustrating for both those who use the mountain and the surrounding businesses.

“As a lover and user of this mountain all year long, it’s very sad and really heartbreaking for the whole population, and all the business owners are suffering from it,” said Gonthier. The government has to take a decision and to use courage to make the good decision."

Gonthier said the protesters hope a new operator is found and the jewel of the region can thrive and continue to operate.

“The population, the business people have suffered enough,” he said. “Now it’s time to act.”