Our favorite holiday moments, as told by the team

Spending time with family

First of all, in addition to reading her personal collection of literary finds every day, Melissa takes the opportunity to spend quality time with her family, especially her older children.

Puzzles, coloring, board games, and Christmas movies with the family are always perfect ways to have fun and laugh together!

And now, even her children’s respective partners are joining in on their little traditions… proving that nothing can replace the warmth and love of these little moments of happiness spent together!

Winter is THE season!

Winter is the time of year when Alexandre spends the most time outdoors, whether hiking or playing with the children. He takes the opportunity to stroll around places that are busy the rest of the year.

Finding himself in familiar landscapes, but covered in snow, often alone or almost alone, calms him and gives him a slight feeling of being “privileged.”

Giant bonfire

Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Caroline C and her loved ones gather around a huge outdoor fire. Armed with a warm drink to warm their hearts, they head to the woods behind her parents’ house to watch the light show.

For the occasion, they set up a slide that winds behind the shed, lined with torches, much to the delight of the little ones. Tireless, they climb the hill many times during the evening. Even the older ones rediscover their inner child! The atmosphere is festive and magical. They slide down on their bottoms, get sore behinds, laugh out loud, hug each other, fight and throw snowballs at each other…
Precious moments!

Icy trails, strong and… abominable snow tags!

For Olivier, it’s time to slow down and enjoy life and the pleasures of winter. He particularly enjoys family activities such as skating on frozen trails, building snowmen and snow forts, and above all playing… the abominable snow tag!

This is a game he invented himself, which involves taking turns sliding down a snowy mountain without getting caught by the Yeti, who is nestled at the bottom of the slide or hidden in his fort.

This grumpy character must pass the abominable tag to a slider, but can only approach them when their sled comes to a stop at the bottom of the hill and they are not allowed to climb the hill. Hours of fun!

Snow pétanque

Every Christmas Eve, Isabelle’s family organizes a big game of snow pétanque. Christmas lights and music brighten up the event, which takes place not far from a bonfire and mulled wine.

While waiting for Christmas Eve dinner, young and old alike stretch their legs before unwrapping presents and sharing the traditional Christmas meal.

The silver balls sparkle like the Christmas moon on the snow, while the jack, painted red for the occasion, takes on the appearance of a little reindeer’s nose to lead the herd on this magical and festive night.

Sledding, snowshoeing, and music

When there is enough snow, Danny enjoys snowshoeing or sledding with his daughter: activities that make him appreciate winter and, above all, remind him of his childhood.

A former drummer, now semi-retired, he used to be a very loud musician, but now only enjoys playing the drums during rare jam sessions. The holiday season is the perfect time for a little improvisation with his musician friends, a good beer in hand!

For him, it’s also an opportunity to get away from everyday life, spend time with friends and family, and recharge his batteries to face the challenges of the new year ahead.

Shinrin-yo-what?

Caroline R practices Shinrin-yoku! No, it’s not a new martial art, but rather a Japanese practice better known here as forest bathing.

It’s a relaxing activity that allows you to take a break and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the forest.

Let’s hope she comes back feeling very ZEN, ready to tackle the administrative adventures we have in store for her in 2025!

Christmas at Grandpa’s

Simon, who is preparing to become a father for the second time, is our official reference for family activities in Témiscouata. He highly recommends going to see the Christmas lights at “Noël chez Papi” in Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande!

This magical journey has become a holiday staple in the region. Every year, this attraction draws visitors from all over Quebec, as well as Maine and New Brunswick.

Thanks to the work of Serge Boulet and his team, this regional tradition raises funds for the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec to finance cancer research.

Fir tree, shovels, and three skis

For Marie-Hélène, decorating the Christmas tree with her family is a much-anticipated moment! She also enjoys shoveling snow in the yard with her older son and drinking a nice hot chocolate as a reward.

Like many people, she watches lots of Christmas movies, but she also goes sledding with her little ones and takes advantage of this time of year to organize dinners with friends.

Rediscover the Bas-Saint-Laurent region

Winter hiking is one of Raphaël’s favorite cold-season activities. Everything feels calm and peaceful. It’s a chance to rediscover the Bas-Saint-Laurent with fresh eyes.

Whether he’s heading out alone, with friends, or alongside his faithful dog Amir, every moment is a good excuse to breathe in the crisp air and take in the Bas-Saint-Laurent landscapes beneath a pristine white blanket.

In the woods, just like in the kitchen!

Karine particularly enjoys sitting around a cozy fire in the woods with her family, uncles, aunts, and cousins…

On other days, her kitchen fills with magic and delicious smells as she whips up delicious Christmas desserts with her children. Yum!

We all secretly hope that she’ll have a few leftovers to share with her team when she returns from the holidays!

Whether you’re snuggling up under cozy blankets to watch a movie or sit around a campfire, diving into the snowdrifts or lounging on a beach towel, winter is a magical time for everyone, when it’s nice to take time for ourselves and celebrate with our loved ones.