The 2017-2018 ski season begins and Sommet Saint-Sauveur celebrates Founding Member Louis Dufour’s 45th anniversary on the hill

It's with great emotion and pride that Sommet Saint-Sauveur launched the 2017-2018 season today and celebrated the arrival of a pivotal moment in its History. The Quebec Company is proud to highlight the 45th anniversary of one of its Founding member Louis Dufour as part of the family-owned company.

Employees and skiers reunited to celebrate the beginning of ski season 2017-2018

A man and his passion
Former member of the Canadian Ski Team, honoree of many awards, including the Canadian Skiers of Distinction, given by SKI CANADA, the Réal Boulanger Award and the 2003 Personality of the Year presented by the Quebec Ski Area Association, this ski pioneer was inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame in 1994, stressing not only his dedication but his passion for the sport. 'The company is lucky to have 45 years of passion and love of skiing among its management team, thanks to Louis Dufour. Synonym of passion and love for skiing, he is at the heart of a great part of the company's success,' says les Sommets' CEO, Louis Philippe Hébert.

The DNA of a family

Louis Dufour was already on the slopes of Ste-Adele's Hill 40-80 at the age of 3. He got the competition bug as a teen and joined the Canadian Ski Team. Passionate about skiing, he wanted to remain present in the industry even if it was a seasonal or weekend job at the time. In 1965, he became an Instructor and joined the Up-Hill team.

Louis Dufour joined Mont Saint-Sauveur in 1972 as Marketing Director and befriended the Founder and President Jacques G. Hébert. He was nicknamed a visionary-craftsman in the ski industry and he was the man behind evening skiing, which allows the Saint-Sauveur valley to light up at night and shine. He made it the largest evening skiing terrain in the world and made the village of Saint-Sauveur one of the most popular tourist site in Quebec by extension. While Louis Dufour made a difference in Quebec, his brothers Robert and Georges became respectively Vice-President at the Whistler ski resort and Director of Snow School in the Laurentians; confirming that skiing is part of the Dufour family's DNA.

One family, three generations of passion. In the usual order, Christian Dufour (Marketing Director), Éliott and Lyssa, M. Louis Dufour, Chairman of the Board, David Dufour (Operations Director), Cory and Eric Dufour (Sommet Gabriel Director).

Known for his ground-breaking vision, he was constantly in search of the innovation that was going to give the resort a lead. He implanted unique and different products as well as activities to interest all age groups. He brought a touch of magic and flair to all the innovations that inevitably became a norm in the industry.

Always on the lookout for innovations and mindful of the resorts' high tech equipment, the snow guns blow an avalanche of snow under his direction. He makes skiing always accessible, even despite the weather's vagaries. Sommet Saint-Sauveur is therefore known as the ski resort with the longest ski season in Quebec.

A man of action, enthusiastic, determined and constantly listening to his customers, all visitors will cross paths with Louis Dufour on one of the resorts' trails, in the cafeteria or in the Water Park's pools, making sure that standards are reached for the customers. His catchphrase: « The Devil is in the details » fits him like a glove. Proud of making people move in a healthy environment, Louis Dufour is as active today as he was 45 years ago. Always looking forward, Louis Dufour leaves an indisputable mark in the ski industry.

45 years on the hill, 45 years of passion, 45 years for the love of skiing.

Text and Photo Source : Patricia Bergeron - Sommet Saint-Sauveur