Le Massif ski hill partially reopens after strike in Quebec

Strike Affects Ski Operations at Le Massif in Quebec

When Andrew Maas booked his family’s first trip to Le Massif in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, he did not expect his three kids to end up sledding down a ski slope on a makeshift sled made of a large plastic bag.

Near the end of his trip last week, the mountain completely shut down when workers went on strike. They called for better salaries, more vacation and sick days, and safer equipment.

On Friday, the first day of the strike, Maas said people staying nearby had “nothing else to do.”

“Kids got out like bags and whatever they could find and were sledding down one of the hills,” said Maas, who traveled from Ballston Spa, N.Y. “Which was amusing, but also not really what we paid for.”

Maas mentioned that the mountain’s policy suggests he will receive a refund for the ski day his family lost after they prepaid for their tickets.

Partial Reopening Announced

Days into the strike by the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs du Massif, Groupe Le Massif announced a partial reopening of some runs this week.

In a news release, it stated the Camp-Boule sector will be accessible Wednesday to Saturday between 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. for season pass holders, Club Med Charlevoix guests, members of Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective, and those staying in accommodations marketed by Le Massif de Charlevoix.

After a weekend filled with uncertainty for tourism-dependent businesses in the region, Groupe Le Massif said this gradual approach allows them to resume activities responsibly. Managers will be operating the slopes.

Details on Open Trails

Only 10 trails will open out of the 53 located in the ski area. A Groupe Le Massif spokesperson said the open trails are labeled green and blue, meant for beginner and intermediate skiers. Black diamond and double black diamond runs will remain closed.

Concerns from Visitors

It’s not what Ori Reiss, from Northwest London, U.K., had in mind for his upcoming mid-January trip.

He first heard about the possibility of a strike last week from his son, who is in Quebec taking ski instructor courses.

“The strike turned to be an indefinite strike, which then obviously put my holiday into jeopardy,” he said.

Reiss, who services skis, started planning his January trip last spring with friends. He planned to stay at Club Med Charlevoix and says his group spent more money to travel to Canada instead of skiing in Europe.

Since the announcement of the strike, he has been stressed and calling his insurance company and hotel. He is opting to keep his travel plans, hoping the strike resolves soon.

“I’ve never skied in Canada. I was really looking forward to enjoying that. Having just 10 slopes open, I’m not quite sure,” he said.

Impact on Local Businesses

Philippe Hamel, CEO of the chalet rental agency MonsieurChalets, said the partial reopening of the mountain is a good first step.

About 20 percent of the cottages with his agency are in the area of Le Massif. Some people are calling the rental agency with questions about what’s going on and how to move forward.

Reopening 10 slopes means some people in the cottages on the hill will still be able to ski, but he says it will still cause a larger problem for avid skiers.

“Because the ski season here in Quebec, in a lot of areas, it’s only three months,” he said.

Concerns for Tourism

Le Massif is a major attraction this time of year and has international recognition, says Mitchell Dion, general manager of Tourism Charlevoix.

“For us it’s really important to have this mountain up and running because they have the power of attraction,” he said.

While he said it’s unclear how much money might be lost from the closure, he has heard from businesses about significant cancellations. He says this closure could affect the area’s reputation.

“If it continues like this for a long time, I think the impact could be quite significant,” he said.

Union’s Statement

In a statement to CBC News, Le Massif’s union said it is taking note of the employer’s contingency plan and reiterates its desire to negotiate and reach an agreement.