SAM Magazine—L’Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Nov. 12, 2026—Following a multi-year process seeking a new operator for Mont-Édouard, the municipality of L’Anse-Saint-Jean agreed to a long-term lease with La Compagnie des Montagnes de Ski du Québec (CMSQ) last week. The deal also includes the acquisition of certain assets and responsibility for the development, operation, and management of the ski area.
According to reports, the lease agreement can reach a term of 99 years, starting with a 33-year term than can be renewed twice. L’Anse-Saint-Jean began seeking other entities to take over operations of Mont-Édouard in November 2024. At least five groups had expressed interest, and CMSQ was chosen among them.
Prior to the bidding process, Mont-Édouard had experienced several years of financial troubles. The municipality, which owns the land the ski area is on, had run Mont-Édouard since 2006. The ski area entered bankruptcy protection in July 2023. A local group called “the Friends of Mont-Édouard” raised CA$2 million (about $1.4 million) to keep the ski area running, and then the base lodge was destroyed in a fire in May 2024. Temporary buildings have been serving guests since then.
As part of the new agreement, CMSQ plans to make roughly CA$44 million (about $30 million) in improvements. A new base lodge must be built in the next two years. Other improvements include lift and snowmaking updates, a new hotel, and expansion into year-round activities.
CMSQ president Christian Mars is gradually building a network of regional ski areas through a combination of acquisitions, operating agreements, and commercial partnerships, said Quebec Ski Areas Association president Yves Juneau. CMSQ owns Mont Grand-Fonds and Mont Lac-Vert, and the company has also developed relationships with other Quebec ski areas, including Massif du Sud, Mont Orignal, Ski Belle Neige, and Centre Vorlage, offering joint season-pass opportunities.
“This approach demonstrates how regional ski areas can work together to increase their visibility, strengthen their competitiveness, and offer greater value to skiers and snowboarders while preserving their individual identities,” said Juneau.
