About Vanessa Muri
Montreal City Editor Vanessa Muri has lived in London and Tokyo, but finds the charms of her hometown irresistible. From the latest scoops to the best deals in Montreal and everything in between, don't miss her weekly take on life in the fair city.
Ice, Ice, Baby
Montreal Musings: Snow Village canada, Montreal
(Nov.09.11)
My relationship with winter is still a bit dicey, though last season’s ski breakthrough has changed it for the better (I’m already plotting several getaways). And after a press conference I attended last week, it’s about to get even cosier in 2012…
From January 6th to March 31st, the Snow Village will take over Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal. And judging by what I saw last week, it should be pretty spectacular.
Promoters Carl Fugère, Yanick Tremblay and Guy Bélanger, huge winter enthusiasts and good friends, have visited the Nordic countries many times and are passionate about the culture and lifestyle. It was a Snow Village in Finland (see images below) that inspired them to recreate the experience in Montreal – on a grander scale.
Think heated outdoor Nordic spas, a gourmet restaurant, bar, wedding chapel, a labyrinth, and a plethora of cultural activities for sports fanatics and leisure lovers alike. It’s expected to cost 2 million dollars to build and attract 90,000 tourists in 2012.
The Village will include a 30-room ice hotel; visitors can spend the night in either one of 15 standard rooms, 10 themed suites or five igloos. (Just imagine what a night in an igloo must be like…)
The only drawback? Our reputation for living in igloos is permanently sealed.