The Lac Carling hotel, an economic pillar of the Lower Laurentians region, was completely ravaged by flames during a fire on Sunday night, leaving a gaping hole in the tourism and cinema industry.
“It turns me inside out. It’s 10 years of work, 10 years of attachment,” laments, with tears in his eyes, the man who tirelessly manages the team at the Lac Carling hotel, built in 1992 in Grenville-sur-la -Red, Luc Dupont-Hébert.
Fire departments from four municipalities were dispatched to the scene on Friday to extinguish the blaze which “forever changed the landscape of the region” by destroying 50% of the building, said Mr. Dupont-Hébert, director of restoration and events.
On the street and unemployed
In addition to “being part of the region’s tourist heritage” with its bucolic landscape, the hotel hired around fifty people, who found themselves without a livelihood, just one month before the holiday season, he worries. -he.
Simon Drouin, waiter, bartender and confidant of Mr. Dupont-Hébert, is devastated by the loss of the hotel. “It’s not my first job,” explains the man who is initially a master electrician. Working here was above all for pleasure and additional income.”
Some of Mr. Drouin’s colleagues are on the street in addition to finding themselves unemployed.
“We provided accommodation for certain staff members to stay with us, like my restaurant manager. She lost everything,” saddens Mr. Dupont-Hébert.
A crisis unit will be set up on Monday by the director of the Economic Development Department of the MRC d’Argenteuil, Dany Brassard, who makes the relocation of employees his priority.
An important place for the economy
“It’s a disaster,” he said, because in addition to directly affecting many families, this hotel helped stimulate the region’s tourist economy.
“On average, we had an occupancy rate of 70%. But in the summer, we were at 100%,” indicated the manager, whose institution was just recovering from the difficulties caused by COVID-19.
In addition to hosting numerous couples and families who could enjoy watercraft, the institution hosted several film shoots.
“The Laurentides territory is very important for the cinema industry,” explains Marie-Josée Pilon, commissioner and general director of Films Laurentides, which promotes the territory and filming locations.
The large capacity of the Lac Carling hotel allowed Films Laurentides to promote nearby filming locations. Film crews like Simple like Sylvain by Monia Chokri and Viking by Stéphane Lafleur were hosted there.
“In 2024, there were 2,600 nights at this hotel. It is certain that for us, this fire will have an impact and, conversely, the cinema industry has a very positive impact on the economy of the region,” laments the one who is worried about filming in come.
A production team of around sixty people was to stay at the hotel for 10 days at the end of next week for the filming of an Apple TV series.
All persons concerned and consulted by The Journal have assured that they are committed to the reopening of the hotel. In the case of Luc Dupont-Hébert, it is a personal mission.
