Winter cruises: a La Baie company disappointed not to have been chosen

The upcoming arrival of hundreds of tourists in the middle of winter in La Baie has recreotourism businesses salivating. Alaskan du Nord, a dog sledding excursion company from La Baie, has difficulty explaining why it was excluded from the adventure. Tourists who arrive on the ice of La Baie will instead be offered the Balades Solo excursions from Saint-Fulgence.

It was the company Destinations North America which made this choice. DNA is a Quebec company founded in 2013 which is the intermediary between cruise lines and destinations. It is she who hires companies to offer activities to tourists during stopovers.

Cathie Duval is the co-owner of Alaskan du Nord, on Chemin des Chutes in La Baie. The trained animal health technician owns 75 Alaskan sled dogs. For 35 years, she has offered excursions with her dogs, winter and summer.

She claims to have participated in setting up the dog sledding tour project with Promotion Saguenay. According to her, she was asked for accreditation and a business plan to submit her service offer. This is why she registered with Aventure Écotourisme Québec (AEQ).

We went to a press conference with the mayor and everything, in the Promotion Saguenay offices. It passed that it was us who had the winter boatsshe mentions.

Over the past few months, she has prepared for the arrival of Commander Charcot's passengers.

I hired five guides, purchased 12 more dogs that are here now to supply Destinations North Americasupports Cathie Duval.

Finally, it was through someone that she learned that a competitor had been selected to offer the dog sledding escapades.

By businesses in La Baie who knew that we weren't the ones with the boatssays the lady in an ironic tone.

The owner of Alaskan du Nord claims to have sent letters to Promotion Saguenay and Destinations North America, but that she did not get a response.

While the winter season is slow to begin, she is worried about her season. She says reservations are slow in coming. The animal health technician suggests that there is some confusion.

It doesn't reserve, because people think that we have the boats this wintershe says.

The owner would like Promotion Saguenay and Destination Nord America to clarify the situation.

From La Baie to Saint-Fulgence

It was Balades Solo de Saint-Fulgence which won the mandate to offer dog sledding escapades to tourists.

Musher Dominic Gagnon has a pack of 80 dogs. He has been in this industry for 26 years. The activity it offers is a three-kilometer walk. He never saw his competitor's submission before concocting his package.

I offered them a small activity that I know everyone will be happy with for an amount. They never negotiated. They told me: “Great, we’ll get back to you.” It took two or three days, they contacted me again and said: “Dominic, it's okay, it's settled, it's Balades solo which was chosen.”

Open in full screen mode

Why him? Perhaps because of the breed of his dogs, huskies and malamuts, emblematic dogs for this type of activity, he maintains.

When they came, they told me that they really liked the family aspect. We have six children. They saw the side, the kids helping us and everything. Maybe that’s what convinced them too.he remembers.

Adventure Ecotourism Quebec

The co-owner of Alaskan du Nord, Cathie Duval, deplores that her competitor is not accredited with Aventure Écotourisme Québec.

Questioned on this aspect, Dominic Gagnon affirmed that he was not accredited, but that this had not been required.

I was once part of the AEQ but I gave up because it was too much paperwork for me to fill out. I'm a hands-on guy.

He prefers to provide his company without going through theAEQeven if it is more expensive.

Dominic Gagnon also gave details on the selection process that was put in place. They came here to Saguenay, I was informed at the beginning by Promotion Saguenay that as a matter of fact they were coming to my house and that they were going to visit two other mushers.

They told me that there was nothing certain and that it was not Promotion Saguenay which was going to choose either. They were very, very clear on that.

While waiting for the season to begin, Dominic Gagnon must equip himself with two new snowmobiles.

I always have a guide in front, one in the middle and one behind on a snowmobile.indicates Dominic Gagnon.

Dominic Gagnon has been operating this way for several years to ensure the safety of the tourists under his responsibility.

Not the decision of Promotion Saguenay

Promotion Saguenay declined -'s interview request. By email, the organization said it was working in advance to list the services offered by tourism companies.

When this stage has passed, it is up to the promoters and suppliers to negotiate and agree or not. We do not intervene in this process and do not show any favoritism for the sake of fairnesswrote Dany Gravel, head of operations, international cruises at Promotion Saguenay.

Destinations North America did not respond to our interview requests. Some leaders are outside the country.