The Musée de Charlevoix is located in La Malbaie facing the Saint-Lawrence. Every day I marvel at the spectacular view. Weather permitting, we eat on the terrace installed on the museum’s rooftop which is also accessible to visitors. The view on the mountains and the river is breathtaking. On occasion, it is even possible to spot the whales!

For six generations, my ancestors farmed the land where we stand today. When the project of starting an emu farm arose, I opted without hesitation for Saint-Urbain and the family lands where I grew up.

As they say in Charlevoix, I am an outsider. I hail from Lac Saint-Jean. After graduation, my wife and I were looking for work and we landed here. Her family comes from Charlevoix, so we had a favourable fondness for the region.

Three days a week between June and October, I operate the train between the Chute-Montmorency and Baie-Saint-Paul or between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie. Between us, I would make this journey for free and it would not even bother me! It is so beautiful it is hardly work! Furthermore, passengers are vacationing: on board the ambience is always pleasant.

Our campground and our ranch are located on my grandfather’s land. We were originally breeding livestock. Then, in 1994, my wife, Murielle, and I decided to open the equestrian center.

Yes, I am from Switzerland. Even after all these years in Québec, my accent gives me away. That’s what’s left from my native Valais which I left permanently to land in Québec in 1996. I discovered Charlevoix at the same time with my then lovely girlfriend. To enjoy the proximity of the mountains and the sea, we explored the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie national park before heading towards Baie-des-Rochers. We fell in love with the area!

I was born in Lac-Saint-Jean and I remember well my first stay in Charlevoix. I was twenty years old and we were celebrating my parents wedding anniversary at the Auberge des Peupliers. It was my first culinary journey and it was exquisite.

I left Montréal to go work in Charlevoix five years ago. Skiing is what first attracted me here. Skiing at Le Massif is quite the experience! The ski area is mind-blowing as much as the after-ski by the way. I have never seen anything like it: people dancing on the bars during shows you gain access to free of charge. Wow!

I was born in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs in Charlevoix. I spent my childhood on the shores of Lac Brûlé. At that time we were the only family to live there year-round. I have always enjoyed cottage living. It must be here, in Saint-Aimé, that I learned to like living isolated and to appreciate all the beauty of life in nature.

I arrived in Isle-aux-Coudres when I was 5 years old. I still live here. My life, my memories are here. In my early twenties, I moved away from hotel business to catering in Québec City. I quickly returned to my island; here people are more laid back, it is much closer to my own pace.

An old French saying states that when marrying, the bride moves into her husband’s country or hometown. The reverse is also true. I met my wife in Montréal where I was born. I was delighted when I found out she came from Les Éboulements as I’ve known Charlevoix for many years and it is a part of the country I love and often visited during the winter. Three years ago we left everything behind and moved to Charlevoix permanently. And we recently bought, sheer coincidence, the house where she was born in Les Éboulements.

I was born in a mariner’s family of Isle-aux-Coudres. I owe to my ship captain ancestors my love of water, the river and this ever present need to make waves. I believe that all my energy and strength come from the tides and the men who weathered the storms before me.