On Saturday, December 21, Mont Rigaud celebrated the grand opening of its brand-new chairlift, an event hosted by Olympic medalist Jean-Luc Brassard.

Representing an investment of nearly $2.5 million, the Poma Express can transport four skiers per chair, accommodating up to 2,400 skiers per hour. This upgrade doubles the capacity of the ski hill’s lift system, much to the delight of skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

For Luc Élie, owner of Mont Rigaud, this milestone is about more than just logistics.

"This lift won't just reduce wait times on busy days; it also symbolizes who we are: a place where dreams come true and magical moments come to life," reads a statement on Mont Rigaud's Facebook page.

A Vision in the Making
In an interview with Néomédia last October, Élie shared his excitement about the long-term project:

"We began this ambitious process last year, culminating in the operation of this pre-owned lift this winter. It all started with its acquisition from Bromont Ski Resort in 2022-2023."

While the chairlift is pre-owned, Élie is quick to reassure visitors about its quality and safety:
"All the bolts have been replaced with new ones. The structure is used, but it’s as efficient and safe as a new one, which would cost about $6.5 million today in 2024," he noted.

Installing the chairlift was no small feat, requiring extensive work over the past year. Tasks included laying a foundation, erecting the structure, deploying 2,200 feet of cable, and installing electronic, electrical, and control panel components. Every detail was carefully executed to ensure user safety.

Meeting Growing Demand
With Mont Rigaud welcoming increasing numbers of skiers each winter, Élie believes the new lift brings balance to the resort’s operations: "We’ve reached a point where this addition was necessary. With this new lift, we’ve achieved equilibrium. In the future, we won’t be able to expand further, as we’re using all the available space with this addition."

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A new Mont Rigaud lift in operation this winter