As proof of his faith, Father Labelle created 20 new parishes in the Laurentian wilderness just northwest of Montréal, promising his parishioners that one day strangers would flock to the area and scatter gold by the handful. When Father Labelle began his efforts, there were barely a dozen communities north of St-Jérôme, and gold was nowhere apparent.
If he returned today, Labelle would find his prophecy fulfilled in the 19 ski resorts that line Hwy. 117 from St-Jérôme to Mont-Tremblant. The mountains and lakes that once provided foresters and farmers with their livelihoods are now the backbone of a resort destination devoted to skiing and other winter activities. Skiing in the Laurentian Mountains is one of the top things to do in eastern Canada, and some of the best ski resorts in Canada are concentrated in the area around Mont-Tremblant.
Herman “Jack Rabbit” Johannssen loved touring the region and created the Maple Leaf Trail, which linked Prévost with Mont-Tremblant; only part of the trail remains today.
Improvising with lines, tackles and an automobile engine, Alex Foster laid the cornerstone for alpine skiing by building Canada's first ski tow and laying out a slalom run in Prévost in the 1930s. From a simple rope tow and slalom run have come the more than 350 ski runs that now dot the mountainsides as well as the many trails connecting various communities.
The Laurentians are more than a ski resort; they also are a retreat from the nearby urban centers. The tranquility of the area has encouraged painters, musicians, artisans and writers to settle in Ste-Adèle, Val-David and other villages.
During the summer, works are displayed in numerous theaters, craft fairs and folklore festivals. The region also is known for its spectacular fall foliage from mid-September to mid-October, which makes it a popular vacation spot.
If you're looking for adventurous things to do in the Laurentian Highlands, Mont-Tremblant National Park has hundreds of trails from which to view the park's many lakes, waterfalls and wildlife.
Towns in the Laurentian Highlands listed individually are Mont-Tremblant, St-Sauveur, Ste-Adèle, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and Val-David.