Getaway

Igloo, igloo, igloo

They speak with the lilting accent of sunny Provence in a land that is completely the opposite! They are from the south-western part of France - Perpignan and Toulouse, to be exact. Pure chance brought them together and made winter their livelihood and their passion. Jean-Pierre Bardy and Jean-Louis Canet settled in the heart of Quebec Region and started building snow houses at Mont Tourbillon.

Make me a queenzy

Village Igloo was born over a couple of cups of coffee. Its creators wondered why no igloos were ever seen in southern Quebec. Because compared with, say, Kuujjuaq in Ungava Bay... Quebec is definitely considered "south". The answer lies in the snow. In the south the Innu, Wendat and Algonquins constructed queenzies and in the north, the Inuit built igloos.

In the southern part of the province, the snow is denser, wetter, less compact; its properties make it easier to shape in mounds but harder in the lightweight, compact blocks required to build an igloo. We won’t go into further detail about the other secrets involved in the process, because they are a crucial part of the winter experience offered by Village Igloo.

Mr. Bardy’s igloo

Jean-Pierre Bardy says confidently, "This is truly a family activity. Even my three-year-old son has slept in the snow." So tell us, Mr. Bardy, with your sun-drenched French accent: what is a typical day for you?   "We receive visitors at 8:00 p.m. We give them a quick tour of the facilities and a presentation on the Inuit culture." Wait a second, Mr. Bardy! There aren’t any Inuit in the south! "But of course there are!" he says. "They are right here. Actually, what we offer is an interpretation of Inuit life. Because we can’t build igloos here, we chose this form of nomadic lodging to allow folks to experience life north of the 50th parallel in the winter." Ok! Now I understand. It’s true - it’s not only the Inuit who live with temperatures of minus 30 in the winter. People in the "south" do, too!

Family fun

Village Igloo is at the base of Mont Tourbillon. For a family, it’s great fun! There is inner-tube or toboggan sliding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and even snowmobiling. Activities tailor-made for the young and the young at heart! After such a busy evening of strenuous activity, sleep comes easily. You need not bring a thing - the hosts supply sleeping bags, sheets, lanterns and flashlights. As well as information on how to spend a night sleeping on snow... In the morning you are taken to the reception pavilion, where you will be served a hearty breakfast worthy of your inner lumberjack and swap stories about your night outdoors.

André Quenneville
Photos: Village Igloo, Tourisme Québec
2009-01-09