La Traversée is a palliative care home situated in Mont Tremblant in the former storied Chateau Beauvallon. Built in 1942 by Joe and Mary Ryan as an annex to Mont Tremblant Lodge, this quaint country inn was originally located on Beauvallon Road between Lac Tremblant and Lac Ouimet. Chateau Beauvallon has changed hands several times since the ‘40s but it has kept its beauty and its Québécois charm.

In 2005, the Chateau Beauvallon was moved from its original location to the “4 corners” of Montée Ryan and rue Labelle by its new owner, the Ville de Mont-Tremblant. During the construction of the new city hall, from 2008 – 2012, the former Chateau Beauvalllon became the temporary administrative offices of the Ville.

In 2016, the building was handed over by the Ville de Mont-Tremblant to La Fondation La Traversée for the purpose of opening a palliative care home, a facility greatly needed in the Laurentians. What exactly is palliative care?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.

A multidisciplinary team supports the needs of each patient and their loved ones through the prevention and relief of suffering and by integrating physical, psychological and spiritual care until the end of life.

The available resources for the terminallyill are inadequate largely due to our aging population. The need for a palliative care home in the Laurentians is critical and long overdue. Residents in the Upper Laurentians and their families now travel more than two hours to Saint-Jerôme or Montreal to access residential palliative care.

This adds an extra burden both financially and logistically at an already difficult time. Beyond medical care, terminally-ill patients need a warm and tranquil setting where they can pass away with dignity and respect.

The Mission of La Traversée Palliative Care Home is to provide FREE palliative care to Laurentian residents from all walks of life and to provide a skilled team of professionals and trained volunteers to allow the terminally ill to spend their final days in a respectful and comfortable environment with their loved ones by their side.

“La Traversée palliative care home will offer a solution to patients when passing at home is no longer possible and when the hospital is no longer an option,” says Dr. Mathieu Guilbault, Chief of Palliative Care at La Traversée.

La Traversée Palliative Care Home has undergone an extensive renovation and Phase 1 of the project is now complete. It includes four palliative care beds and two guest rooms for family. Phase 2 will include an extension to the existing building and six more patient beds for a total of 10.

Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, generous donors, skilled tradespeople and tremendous community support, La Traversée is scheduled to open in the spring of 2021. La Fondation La Traversée is launching a major fundraising campaign starting on December 4 with the sale of Christmas trees and poinsettias.

Reserving your order in advance is recommended. You will be able to pick up your purchases at La Traversée on Friday, December 4, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Sunday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Inventory for on the spot purchases may be limited. To reserve your order and for more details, please go to: fondationlatraversee.com/boutique