Born in Sainte-Adèle in the Lower Laurentians, Louis Dufour quickly became an excellent skier and it was through ski competition that our friendship began. At the time, the Lower Laurentians and the Upper Laurentians were fiercely competitive on the ski slopes and Louis was an unbridled competitor. I was three years younger than he and considered him an opponent on the slopes, but our love of skiing created a healthy and respectable camaraderie which lasted more than 50 years.

At the very beginning of our respective careers, the categories were very different from those we know today. Under the governance of the Canadian Ski Association, there were two categories by sex: Juniors to 19 years of age and Seniors aged 20 and older. Whether in downhill, slalom or giant slalom, the woman started first, beginning with the youngest, and then it was the men’s turn, still from youngest to oldest.

In each category, there were three levels, A, B and C; level C was the least accomplished. As the competitions were run, the racers accumulated points which permitted them to move to a higher level. It was possible – even if the skier had started competing at a more advanced age – to achieve a higher level without the stress of age. A young skier who had results above their category could pass to a higher level and be part of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team with the points collected, but it was the same for a skier too old to be part of the competition system. In the inter-regional competition, we made it a point of honour to win a race and it was, without fear of contradiction, an added motivation to win for our “home team”.

Back from a season of skiing in Europe, the Canadian Alpine Ski Team was strongly encouraged to participate in a giant slalom competition at Mont Habitant. This event was twinned with a fundraiser organized by Mickey Stein, owner of that ski centre. This was in March 1963. After my run, I went back up to the start to encourage the racers and I noticed Louis in the starting gate. His blue eyes were blazing and I realized that the race was not yet won. Result: Louis won the race. I was disappointed, of course, but so happy for him. His photograph was in the newspapers which told the story of his win.

In 1968, Louis married Dahris Dandurand whom he had met on the slopes in Sainte-Adèle. Both of them were passionate about skiing and the Laurentians. As you have to earn a living, however, the young couple settled in Montréal where Louis went to work at Eaton’s, a big downtown store, in the men’s department. One day as I was walking down Saint Catherine Street, I was hailed by Louis who announced that he was leaving to work in Saint-Sauveur. When I asked him what he planned to do, he answered: “I don’t know; I’ll know when I’m there.” And the rest is history.

Jacques Hébert, one of the owners of Mont Saint-Sauveur ski resort, saw in Louis the man who would change the reputation of Saint-Sauveur. His dynamic personality and his passion would make it a place known for its innovation and customer service. A visionary, Jacques Hébert, had correctly evaluated the full potential of this young man, and of the mountain.

The proximity of Saint-Sauveur to the cities of Montréal and Laval had made it a very popular destination for urban skiers. Thanks to the brightly lit terrain and the ease of access, night skiing – already established in the other ski resorts – became very successful there. Students, workers… everyone could treat themselves to a few hours of skiing at the end of the day. Not only did the mountain benefit from the keen interest, but retailers and restaurant owners in the village did good business. It was a win all around.

Louis Dufour and Serge Couture (operations) became partners in what is now known as Sommet Saint-Sauveur. Their investment came out of their pay cheque at a rate of $1000 per year. Under this new administration, the place took off. And how about that chalet at Sommet Saint-Sauveur?! It’s the work of the famous architect Peter Rose, with whom, by the way, we also competed. A nice start to his career as an architect which won him, as well as those he worked with, a big award offered by the American magazine Progressive Architecture.

The Ski-In/Ski- Out buildings, the first quadruple chairlift in the Laurentians, the acquisition of neighbouring ski centres as well as that of Jay Peak, Vermont… Everything translated into success!

The years passed. I heard about the achievements of Louis and his team, including the flash of brilliance of dumping snow on Saint Catherine Street to show that there was snow at Saint-Sauveur. We saw each other at least once a year at the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame. Louis talked to me about his sons David, Christian and Éric and their work at his side. Every year we would say that we would do a few turns together and the next year we would promise the same thing because, life being what it is, we thought there would always be time to do it…

Louis died in 2022. I was there for his celebration of life and I held back. I could hear and see the legacy of Louis in his boys. You can’t predict the future, but I note in the next generation of the Hébert and Dufour families a continuity of a vision of the future and the attention to detail which pays tribute to the men that were Louis Dufour and Jacques Hébert

For decades now, as I’ve driven past the slopes of Saint-Sauveur, I’ve been fascinated by the activity and feel proud for Louis Dufour. Today I still feel the same admiration, but I regret the turns we didn’t make together, side by side on the snow.

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