MONT-SAINTE-ANNE LAUNCHES ITS TRANSFORMATION: NEW LIFTS ORDERED

Beaupré, March 30, 2026 – Mont-Sainte-Anne is reaching a major milestone in its $100M investment plan with the order of three lifts to be commissioned between February 2027 and December 2028. The Mountain Plan is a major initiative aimed at transforming the destination in a sustainable way and strengthening its position among North America’s leading tourism hubs.

Clearing and construction work will begin as early as summer 2026 and will continue through December 2028. These efforts will replace existing lifts with new state-of-the-art installations, supported by optimized alignments across the mountain, significantly improving circulation flow and accessibility throughout the ski area.

“This project marks a turning point for Mont-Sainte-Anne. It allows us not only to modernize our infrastructure, but also to rethink the overall experience offered to our guests as early as next season, focusing on performance, comfort, and innovation,” said Maxime Cretin, Vice President and General Manager, Eastern Region.

This milestone follows the project launch in December 2025, particularly after the government decree authorizing Investissement Québec to grant a $50M loan. Since then, all partners have worked collaboratively to bring together the conditions necessary for implementation and to ensure rigorous deployment of the investments.

Since that time, efforts have focused primarily on technical planning and defining solutions best suited to the realities of the ski area. Supported by Ecosign, a firm recognized across North America for its expertise in mountain resort planning, teams conducted an in-depth analysis of lift alignments, capacities, and configurations.

This process confirmed a clear and structuring vision for the site’s development and led to a key milestone: the overall order placed with Doppelmayr Canada, on March 26, for the construction of the three new installations. Doppelmayr Canada’s head office, located in Saint-Jérôme, Québec, provides strong assurances regarding installation quality and adherence to timelines.

THREE REIMAGINED LIFTS TO TRANSFORM THE EXPERIENCE

The South Express – Enhanced Access and Flow (COMMISSIONING: FEBRUARY 2027)

The new South Express is a key component of the project, replacing both the current lift and the Tortue lift with a fully redesigned alignment. This new configuration will more efficiently connect the north, east, and south sides, while increasing network redundancy. Beyond performance, this lift will play a structuring role in the organization of the ski area.

Designed as a high-speed detachable six-person chairlift equipped with weather protection bubbles, the South Express UNIG 6-CLD-B will provide a significantly higher level of comfort and a more enjoyable experience in variable conditions. Ride time will be considerably reduced, allowing skiers to reach the new summit terminal approximately four times faster than before.
With 97 carriers traveling at a speed of five meters per second, ride time will be 7.28 minutes, with a capacity of 2,400 people per hour.

Beyond performance, this lift will play a structuring role in the organization of the ski area: it will provide optimized access to the summit, particularly via the north sector and the intermediate/expert zones of the south side. It will also improve circulation flow and ensure a more efficient distribution of skiers and snowboarders across the mountain, while reducing wait times during peak periods.

Finally, the positioning of the base terminal was integrated into the broader reflection surrounding the redevelopment of the base area, parking lot P1, and the tourist village, based on comparative analyses conducted by Ecosign. This approach ensures overall coherence and provides ski-in/ski-out access to new residential developments and adjacent lodging units, creating an immersive and innovative experience.

L’Étoile Filante – A Signature Four-Season Gondola (COMMISSIONING: DECEMBER 2027)

A true centerpiece of the project, the new UNIG 10-MGD gondola has been designed as a signature installation that will redefine the Mont-Sainte-Anne experience.

Equipped with premium OMÉGA IV LWI 10-passenger panoramic cabins, the gondola will offer enhanced comfort with individual seating and large glass surfaces, allowing guests to fully enjoy the scenery from the summit to the St. Lawrence River. Ride time will be significantly reduced, reaching the summit in just over seven minutes.

With 65 cabins traveling at a speed of 6 meters per second, the ride time will be 7.42 minutes, representing a gain of more than 33%, with a capacity of 2,600 people per hour.

Designed for four-season use, this installation will also accommodate mountain bikes, supporting the development of the summer offering. It will become much more than a transportation system: an experience in itself, suited to skiers, visitors, groups, and conference clientele.

The repositioning of its base, aligned with the redevelopment of the village and main access points, will help structure the entire site and create a cohesive and modern arrival experience at the heart of the resort.

Finally, the learning area and its conveyor lifts will be relocated west of the base, opposite the mountain access of the Delta Marriott Hotel, creating a dedicated space for beginners away from returning ski traffic.

The North Express – Performance and Optimization of the Ski Area (COMMISSIONING: DECEMBER 2028)

The replacement of the North Express will complete the transformation of the lift network. This UNIG 6-CLD model, also a detachable six-person chairlift, will significantly reduce wait times during peak periods, particularly when certain parts of the mountain are not yet accessible.

With 67 chairs traveling at a speed of 5 meters per second, ride time will be 4.62 minutes, with a capacity of 2,600 people per hour.

It will improve the capacity of the north sector from the very first weeks of operation. Its alignment has been fully redesigned to optimize the ski experience:

• The line will be shifted west into the wooded area currently occupied by the L’Échappée surface lift, eliminating towers or obstacles within the signature trail La Paradeuse;
• The top terminal will be positioned on the summit cap, slightly further south than the current installation, optimizing access to expert terrain and the entire ski area.

In parallel, as part of a broader effort to enhance the destination’s attractiveness, Mont-Sainte-Anne is developing a real estate project aimed at a major transformation of the village at the base of the slopes. This project could generate additional investments of up to $450M. A development master plan completed in March 2026 is currently under review. Land identification and development phasing were part of the mandate entrusted to BC2.

Reminder – Key Highlights of the Mountain Plan

• Installation of new state-of-the-art lifts across the ski area
• Modernization of the snowmaking system enabling:
  • A targeted 30% increase in snow production capacity;
  • A targeted 30% reduction in energy consumption.
• Major redevelopment of base and summit areas, integrated into the natural environment, offering innovative spaces and services.
• Installation of a mountain coaster to enhance the summer tourism offering.

For more information, click here