The Musée du ski des Laurentides – the Ski Museum of the Laurentians – will from now on welcome its visitors in the heart of Saint-Sauveur at 6 rue de la Gare. More than 130 persons attended a reception held on June 21 to highlight the relocation of the museum institution.

“The history of skiing is the history of the Laurentians AND the history of the Laurentians is the history of skiing,” said museum president Guy Thibaudeau during his welcome speech.

Founded in Saint-Sauveur in 1982, the Ski Museum has a collection of more than 7,500 artifacts and 20 private archives. It offers a permanent exhibition called “The history of skiing in the Laurentians: Living in winter, from winter and with winter,” temporary exhibits and even an educational service. The museum’s mission is to preserve and disseminate the heritage of skiing in the Laurentians, the cradle of skiing in Canada.

“[…] Its new location, in the very heart of the village, will certainly have a positive impact on its visibility and its number of visitors […],” stated Jacques Gariépy, mayor of the Ville de Saint-Sauveur.

“One of the greatest honours of my life was being inducted into the Laurentians Hall of Fame at its first banquet, beside Herman Smith-Johannsen, and to have been selected as the honorary president of the Musée du ski des Laurentides”, said Lucile Wheeler-Vaughan during her speech.

You may recall that Lucile Wheeler was the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing, in downhill, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (1956).

Photo:  Michel Kieffer, advisor to députée Marie-Hélène Gaudreau; Nancy Belhumeur, museologist; Rosa Borreggine, municipal councillor; Lucile Wheeler, honorary president of the Musée; Sonia Bélanger, députée for Prévost; Jacques Gariépy, mayor of Saint-Sauveur; Pierre Urquhart, general manager and Guy Thibaudeau, president of the Musée du ski des Laurentides.