Ski Season Paused Indefinitely Amid Strike at Quebec Resort

The ski season at Le Massif de Charlevoix, a Quebec ski resort, has ceased after the mountain and a group of striking workers couldn’t come to a contract agreement.

The roughly 300-member union, Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs du Massif Petite-Rivière-Saint-François went on strike on January 2, 2026. Wages were a main focus of the demands, but other issues, like sick leave and safety, were involved, as well.

Afterwards, the ski resort held a limited opening between January 6 and January 19. On the afternoon of the 19th, Le Massif de Charlevoix closed at 4 p.m., according to the resort.

“After pulling Le Massif out of a precarious financial situation more than 23 years ago, we now sadly note that Le Massif de Charlevoix, a regional flagship and year-round international tourist destination, wholly owned by Quebec interests and generating more than 525 direct jobs, is once again facing threats to its long-term viability,” said Groupe Le Massif president Claude Choquette in a statement, as reported by The Canadian Press.

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Le Massif de Charlevoix officials said that with the union employees no longer on the job, the resort couldn't continue maintaining artificial snow and ensuring safe ski conditions.

“This operation is strictly regulated, and the reservoir must be filled by Jan. 31 at the latest,” the statement continued. “To meet this legal deadline, a prompt resumption of operations was essential before Jan. 20.” 

The resort, in a web page dedicated to the strike, didn’t share a timeline for reopening. Addressing possible concerns about lift tickets and season passes, it wrote, “As soon as a concrete measure is put in place, we will inform you without delay within the next two weeks.”

“The situation is evolving rapidly. We encourage you to regularly consult our website for official updates,” the page concluded.

The union said they rejected “intimidation and threats” and wanted to negotiate in “good faith.”

“We will not return on our knees,” said union president Annick Simard, in a statement, as reported by The Canadian Press.

“When an employer acts like a king and tries to impose its worldview through pressure and intimidation, you have to stand up collectively,” added Barbara Poirier, president of the CSN (a labor federation) Central Council, The Press reported. “The workers at Le Massif are showing dignity and courage, and the whole region has an interest in ensuring they are respected.”

The strike and closure come amidst an active year for union activity at ski resorts across North America. 

Earlier this season, a group of ski patrollers at Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado, walked off the job after months of negotiations. 

In response, Telluride Ski Resort shut down, which rattled local businesses reliant on tourism. The ski resort and the patrollers have since reached an agreement, and the Town of Telluride is hoping to make up for lost time as the ski season gets underway again. 

That followed a widely publicized ski patroller strike at Park City Mountain, Utah, during the holidays of the 2024-25 ski season. The strike ended after almost two weeks, resulting in a new contract that the patrollers called “a win” and “a great success for everyone in the ski and mountain industry.”