For weeks, skiers and locals were left scratching their heads, unsure whether Le Massif would open or stay closed. Every update seemed to shift the story—talks stalled, rumors flew, and then on Monday, the resort announced it was shutting down for the season after failing to reach a contract agreement with its unionized employees. The mixed signals left everyone spinning, from visitors planning trips to local businesses counting on winter tourism.
lective agreement.
Union Members Approve New Contract
Union members voted 91 per cent in favor of the new deal, following a proposal presented by a government-appointed conciliator. Staff will return to work Friday, with lifts scheduled to turn the following day.
Union president Annick Simard said the agreement addresses workers’ concerns while protecting the winter season. “We wanted better salaries and improved working conditions, and that’s exactly what our members achieved,” Simard said. The contract includes a built-in inflation protection mechanism and guarantees cumulative wage increases totaling 19 per cent over five years.
Mountain Management Responds
Le Massif management thanked the conciliation team for helping both sides reach a resolution under tight timelines. “The agreement addresses concerns on both sides and makes it possible to preserve the winter season,” the resort said in a statement.
The conciliator had been appointed earlier in the week by Quebec’s Labour Ministry after negotiations stalled, allowing both sides to find common ground and avoid a prolonged closure.
Impact on the Charlevoix Community
The strike and temporary closure hit the Charlevoix region hard. Local businesses and officials called the shutdown a blow to winter tourism.
Stéphane Coutu and Lison Harrisson, who run a grocery store just a few kilometers from the resort, said the closure left their parking lot empty during what should have been the busiest time of year. “It’s a relief,” Coutu said. “We’re preparing for the rest of the winter and hoping we can recover some of the lost business.”
Petite-Rivière-Saint-François mayor Serge Bilodeau echoed that sentiment: “We are back in business,” he said, highlighting the community’s eagerness to make up for lost time.
Ski Season Isn’t Over
Simard acknowledged the wider effects of the strike and closure on the community but emphasized that shutting the mountain down was never the union’s goal. With fresh snow on the ground and weeks of winter still ahead, she said the season still has plenty to offer for skiers eager to hit the slopes.
