SAM Magazine—Terrebonne, Qué., June 5, 2015—Ski areas in Quebec tallied 5,887,000 skier and snowboarder visits this season, down 2.7 percent over last year ,according to the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ). The news was announced during the association’s annual meeting in the Laurentians at Manoir St-Sauveur, with more than 300 industry executives in attendance.

During the meeting, results from a new demographic study were also presented. The new data shows there are about 1.5 million skiers and snowboarders aged 15 years old and older in the province. This equates to about 22 percent of Quebec’s total population. The ASSQ study suggests that there is opportunity for ski areas to attract an additional 8 percent of the population, or about 500,000 residents of la belle province, to the slopes.

The association also presented four awards recognizing ski areas’ efforts to attract new skiers and riders to the slopes as well as individual contributions made to the industry. Groupe Plein Air Terrebonne and Ski Bromont received awards for their new skier development programs, and Simon Blouin, ski school and rentals director at Ski Bromont, was honored as the top manager under the age of 40. Marc Fortin, principal vice president of Jolicoeur Savard Insurance, was honored with an industry tribute award.

ASSQ celebrating 50th anniversary of 5 ski ares this year : Ski Bromont, Mont-Garceau, Belle-Neige, Ski Saint-Bruno, Mont-Vidéo (From left to right, Daniel Rochon, Mont-Sainte-Anne/Stoneham - ASSQ board president, Benjamin Desourdy - Ski Bromont, Martin Gauthier - Mont-Garneau, Élaine Bertrand - Belle Neige, Michel Couture - Ski Saint-Bruno, Maxime Legros - Mont-Vidéo and Yves Juneau - ASSQ).

Two award recipients at ASSQ’s annual gala, Marc Fortin, Principal VP, Jolicoeur Savard Insurance - Industry Tribute’s prize and Simon Blouin, ski school, rentals and ski shop Manager, Ski Bromont -  Manager Under 40 prize accompanied by Yves Juneau, GM ASSQ.

ASSQ’s team having fun at the Mont-Saint-Sauveur ski area annual meeting opening night and preparing to ride the « Viking » mountain slide.