Behind the region’s must-do winter activities are passionate people. In the web series Behind the Scenes in Gaspésie, Christine Bérubé-Martin takes us behind the scenes of Gaspésie winters. During one of her visits, she spoke with Bruno Belliveau, president of the Coop Accès Chic-Chocs.
Bruno Belliveau’s Journey
Bruno is a trained forest engineer and a passionate skier who loves powder. At Coop Accès Chic-Chocs, he works on developing backcountry skiing areas that are safe, sustainable, and enjoyable to ski. He is also one of the driving forces behind the growth of some of the most beautiful ski areas in the region.
Beyond private projects, he is committed to developing community-accessible, free skiing sites, such as the backcountry skiing area at the Montagne Saint-Pierre in La Rédemption. One of his greatest satisfactions is seeing young people now choosing Gaspésie for their “skibum trip” instead of heading to Western Canada and the Rocky Mountains—a testament that Gaspésie is the best skiing destination in Eastern Canada!
The Expertise of Coop Accès Chic-Chocs
Founded in 2009, Coop Accès Chic-Chocs is a non-profit organization born from a collaboration of local businesses. Since its inception, the Coop has developed extensive expertise in designing backcountry skiing areas. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, the team studies the terrain of each site before determining the most appropriate intervention. This method allows them to provide the best skiing experience while protecting the forest in the long term.
Montagne Saint-Pierre was one of the first sites to showcase their expertise. Located in La Rédemption in La Mitis, this area features several glade trails of varying difficulty levels. It is an ideal spot for anyone looking to get started with backcountry skiing in semi-secluded conditions.
By highlighting Montagne Saint-Pierre’s skiing potential, Bruno Belliveau and Coop Accès Chic-Chocs aim to diversify the offerings of this small community of 480 residents. They hope to encourage visiting skiers to support local businesses in La Rédemption and beyond, making outdoor recreation one of the true drivers of the region.
The site also stands out for its relaxing moments in the spa overlooking the open sea. It is a complete destination, combining outdoor adventure, the pleasure of good food, and direct contact with both the sea and the mountains.
Watch the episode Shaping and Caring for the Summits to learn more about Bruno Belliveau and Coop Accès Chic-Chocs.
To make more discoveries and meet some of the people who help the region shine in winter, the web series Behind the Scenes in Gaspésie features several inspiring profiles available on our YouTube channel.
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Please note that these texts have been translated by AI.
