Ski areas are like snowflakes. No two are alike. But what they all share in common is that they all began as small, friendly community ski hills. So, when, how and why did a select few go on to become destination resorts? Mont Grand‑Fonds, Québec stands poised to find out.
Mont Grand-Fonds, Québec
A Community Ski Area On The Cusp
Ski Hill:
Mont Grand-Fonds, Québec
Location:
La Malbaie, Québec
Vertical:
335 m (1,099 ft.)
Snowfall:
500 cm (217 in.)
Map:
Find us here
An Area Rooted In History
Mont Grand‑Fonds is the oldest ski hill in Charlevoix, a scenic, mountainous region northeast of Québec City. The nearest town is La Malbaie (Bad Bay), which was so‑named by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, because his ships had so much trouble weighing anchor here. Later renamed ‘Murray Bay’ by two Scottish seigneurs, the scenic port city began drawing well‑heeled, summer vacationers in the late 1800s. Many stayed in the splendid Manoir Richelieu hotel in next door Pointe‑au‑Pic. In 1929, after the first, all‑wood, Manoir burnt down, it was entirely rebuilt in stone and became a summer playground for the rich and powerful, including U.S. President William Howard Taft. Ironically, the Manoir’s fortunes began to wane in the 1950s, shortly after the 16th hole of its golf course started doubling as a ski slope.
The magnificent Manoir Richelieu and its stunning surroundings attracted many notables, including US President William Howard Taft (second from left).
Although skiing made its debut in the Charlevoix in the 1950s, the first lift didn’t arrive until 1960.
Le Golf In Summer. Le Ski In Winter.
Passionate outdoorsmen like Jean Bergeron and the Bouchard brothers pioneered skiing here in the 1950s. After being certified by the Societé des cours populaires de ski du Québec in Québec City, Jean taught skiing on the 3rd, hole of the Murray Bay Golf Club. Then, in 1960, some enterprising souls banded together, cut four ski trails and erected a rope tow on a bigger, better, nearby slope in the town that had recently been renamed La Malbaie. Skiing’s popularity soared and the new, lift‑served hill soon had over a dozen ski instructors and 140 merry members.
Demand For A Bigger, Better Hill Grows
In the late 1960s, Jean Bergeron (pictured second from right) and his brother‑in‑law went snowmobiling in search of a bigger, better hill. Eventually, they settled on nearby Mount Black. Its northern slopes faced inland and were thus sheltered from the icy, winter winds than often roar off the mighty St. Lawrence River. Interestingly enough many locals, including skiers, disliked the location because it was famous for getting too much snow (on average, over 650 cm per year.) In 1970, a ‘provisional committee dedicated to promoting winter sports in the area asked the provincial government for funding. Meanwhile, the local Lions Club and its president, a.k.a. Jean Bergeron, asked the town for help buying the land to create a park where people could go skiing, tobogganing, skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and even dog sledding.’ Everyone agreed it should be municipally owned and operated.
Skiers in and around La Malbaie were quick to embrace their new hill: Mont Grand‑Fonds.
Mont Grand‑Fonds Officially Opens
In 1972, the town began work on the Parc des loisirs et Sport de Plein Air de Charlevoix. Local lumberjacks and tradespeople went to work cutting trails, erecting a lift, building a chalet and clearing land for a parking lot. The unused wood was sold to help finance the community project. One year later, Mont Grand‑Fonds opened with a rope tow and a beginner’s slope. Between four and five hundred eager skiers rode that lift every weekend. Meanwhile the plans to build a toboggan run and design and cut the various other winter‑sports trails were quietly scrapped. The ski hill would have to survive on its own.
The Best Laid Plans…
The next decade saw another $2.7 million invested in Mont Grand‑Fonds. Over 325 students were enrolled in the ski school and, every week, between 1,500 and 2,000 skiers tackled the slopes. Further improvements included a much‑needed Hydro‑Québec power line, a chairlift and a new T‑bar that ran up to the summit. While many Québec ski areas were either floundering or shutting down, Mont Grand‑Fonds was flourishing. People throughout Charlevoix loved their ski hill. Unfortunately, La Malbaie was facing growing economic uncertainty. Many, including a local association of hotel and inn‑keepers, demanded that the ski area be sold. The town agreed. Enter Raymond Malenfant.
The late 70s and early 80s saw Mont Grand-Fonds make countless new improvements including a new chairlift.
In 1985, when Raymond Malenfant (right) bought le Manoir Richelieu and Mont Grand-Fonds, he got more than he bargained for.
Photo credit: Pierre Rochette
A Complete Reversal And A Change In Direction
A successful businessman, Raymond Malenfant owned the Universel Motels chain. In 1985, he agreed to buy the Manoir Richelieu, which had fallen sadly into disrepair. Malenfant planned to restore and reopen it as a posh, year‑round, destination hotel. The following year, he bought the entire Mont Grand‑Fonds property hoping it would attract overnight guests to his hotel. He also promised to invest over three million dollars in the ski area. But that spring, his employees at Mont Grand‑Fonds voted to unionise and promptly joined their brethren at the Manoir who went on strike. A lockout ensued. The strike grew long and bitter.
Anyone Want To Buy A Ski Hill?
Once the labour dispute was settled, Raymond Malenfant inexplicably refused to advertise that the ski hill was both open and newly improved. He’d borrowed extensively and installed snowmaking plus a new quad chair. Whether uninformed or unimpressed, skiers stayed away. In droves. When Malenfant defaulted on his loan, the bank took over the ski hill. The town of La Malbaie was now flush with cash, and ready to buy back its beloved ski hill. Instead, it was sold to a popular, real estate agent and former Mont Grand‑Fonds ski instructor named Louis Dufour. Three years later, both the hill and the town were booming. Louis Dufour (see video), not so much. The bank once again took over the hill and waited… for an offer.
Despite consistently drawing crowds, Mont Grand-Fonds was still losing money. What to do?
Government Works?
In 1995, the town bought the entire Mont Grand‑Fonds property for just over half‑a‑million dollars. It then set up the Corporation du Park regional du Mont Grand‑Fonds to manage it. A few years later, although the hill was busy, it was also losing money. When the town council voted to sell it, the citizens launched a successful fundraising drive that saw both the municipal and provincial governments kick in millions to upgrade the lifts and snowmaking, cut and clear cross‑country trails, renovate the chalet and add a new slope. Skier visits were soon nudging 50,000 per annum. The trouble was, Mont Grand‑Fonds still needed major upgrades and improvements.
A New Deal. A New Owner
In 2021, La Malbaie and the ski area’s governing body signed an agreement with e‑Liberty. Founded by Christian Mars, a former Swiss National Ski Team member, the Swiss firm is a world‑leader in on‑line ski pass sales. To manage the new hill, e‑Liberty created la Compagnie des stations de ski du Québec. It also promised to invest $30 million to “upgrade and transform the site into a high‑quality, four‑season, outdoor recreation centre.” In addition to overseeing Mont Grand‑Fonds’ day‑to‑day operations, e‑Liberty set its sights on attracting 100,000 skier visits per year. As for the surrounding parkland, well, it still belonged to the town. Exactly two years later, in 2023, La Malbaie sold everything to e‑Liberty.
From beloved community hill to an aspiring international destination, Christian Mars redefines Mont Grand‑Fonds with a high‑speed six‑pack chairlift.
Mont Grand‑Fonds Looks Ahead
La Compagnie des stations de ski du Québec has since acquired a second ski area and is currently negotiating for a third. In addition to drawing skiers from across Charlevoix, Mont Grand‑Fonds is also attracting fans from Québec City and Montréal. Plans are in the works to start wooing Europeans seeking ‘an authentic North American outdoor sports and recreation experience’ that would include skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Jean Bergeron would be delighted. In December 2025, Christian Mars presided over the grand opening of Mont Grand‑Fonds new high‑speed, detachable six‑pack. Work crews are now building the hill’s first slope‑side chalets. Will he and e‑Liberty succeed in transforming this small, friendly, community ski area into a coveted international destination resort? Only time will tell.
Mont Grand-Fonds: A Legacy of Builders
Mont Grand-Fonds, une histoire de bâtisseurs ! (Video available in French only.)
Mont Grand-Fonds Chalet
Spring–Summer 2013 Worksite.
CA Daniel Melançon at Mont Grand-Fonds (winter 2020)
Daniel Melançon inspires us to explore and stay in La Malbaie, Charlevoix. In this short video, discover the Mont Grand-Fonds ski area. (Video available in French only.)
Doppelmayr 6-CLD "Lynx Express" Mont Grand-Fonds (2024)
A brand new 6-seater chairlift at Mont Grand-Fonds embodies a solid partnership, a commitment to innovation and, above all, another step towards an ever more enjoyable and modern mountain experience for all. (Video available in French only.)
Writer: Dave Fonda
Web designer & integrator: Dominique Paquette
Photographs and videos courtesy of Mont Grand‑Fonds and used with their permission.
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