Last January, Rigaud residents Sylvain Faubert and his wife Mélissa Renaud purchased Camping Choisy, located on Route 201. Interview with the businessman who already operates two other businesses.

It was a few months earlier, in July 2024, that Mr. Faubert began discussions with the former owner, Richard Poirier, who had expressed a desire to sell.

"I knew him because he used to come and eat at the restaurant my wife and I own. During one of his visits, he told me he'd like to sell Camping Choisy, and that's how it all started. The transaction was completed last January. What immediately appealed to us about Camping Choisy was the family aspect of the business. It's a value that's important to us," sums up Mr. Faubert, who also operates Hamelin restaurant and Dépôt entrepôt Rigaud with his wife.

Pictured from left to right: Martin Cadieux Desjardins Entreprise, William Faubert, Sylvain Faubert, Mélissa Renaud, Serge Ouellet Desjardins Entreprise. Photo credit: Facebook Sylvain Faubert

Sylvain Faubert and Mélissa Renaud can also count on the support of their 22-year-old son William Faubert. “He works with us in all three of our businesses, and he'll be taking over when we retire in a few years' time (laughs),” he continues.

Even though he's only just acquired the business, Mr. Faubert and his partner already have aspirations for Camping Choisy. 

Firstly, they'd like to expand the site in the future. "At the moment, about a third of the campsite's current surface area is not being developed to its full potential. We'd like to make sure it is in the future. “Currently, there are 63 mobile homes occupied year-round on our site,” he informs.

To date, Camping Choisy has a total of 435 sites, including mobile homes. These are occupied by seasonal campers, nearly 95% of whom are regular customers from May to mid-October, and vacationers. The latter can take advantage of the two swimming pools, one for children, the other for adults, the spa, a hebertism center, a bouncing pillow, mini-golf, an arcade and other accommodations (tennis courts, petanque, iron and shuffleboard) to entertain themselves during their stay on site.

"We even have a little train, which is quite popular and can transport campers to the reception pavilion or another facility. We're lucky to have twenty or so volunteers to operate it seven days a week."

For summer 2025, the reservation book for campsites is 50% full so far. To diversify its offering, Camping Choisy is also proposing the rental of trailers, chalets and coolboxes on its premises, in order to attract a greater number of visitors.

Mr. Faubert and Ms. Renaud would also like to see Camping Choisy's restaurant, convenience store and laundry open year-round to serve not only the annual residents of the site, but also the surrounding population.

In addition to this, the pair would also like to develop the range of winter activities available on site. For example, by allowing people to snowshoe on specially prepared trails, or by holding a Christmas Market for a few weekends in November or December.