St. Donat
Within the frosty forests of rural Quebec, one may stumble upon the large sign with the welcoming message “L’Étoile du Nord”. I should know; for three nights, it was the hotspot of eating and sleeping for a small contingent of French students, myself included. Perspectives, the group that organized the French language retreat, provided participants with a multitude of fun activities with memories that will last a lifetime.
The main attraction is Mont Garceau, a member of the Laurentian chain from which one can just make out the looming silhouette of the revered Mont Tremblant in the distance. Naturally, the skiing was fantastic with temperatures staying at a manageable minus nine degrees. Skiing magazines essentially overlook Ontario skiing as a whole, dubbing us “vertically challenged”. The amusing trails and wild undulations present at Mont Garceau sadly reinforce such accusations. If that is not your tasse de thé, might I recommend the chalet? Quebec treats such as very large poutines can be found there.
As part of the French experience, our ventures led us to many opportunities to be immersed in the French language.
Our meals (breakfast and dinner at L’Étoile du Nord, lunch at the ski chalet) were ordered in French, we bought pies and chocolate at the Boulangerie in French, we spoke French to random people on the chairlifts and we spoke French in our rooms. Well, perhaps not that last one. In any case, we spoke French at our activities, such as at the musical recording studio and the winter games. The various schools in attendance were divided into their activity groups named after legends and stories (I was part of Le Violon Magique), and we went to all sorts of activities with our counsellor, the exceptionally enthusiastic guy named Momo in my case.
The St. Donat nightlife is quite spectacular, too. On one occasion, we snowshoed through the dark forest with our flashlights. Two at a time (or three if absolutely necessary) we would prepare for snow tubing, down an icy hill with no helmets and trees on both sides. My personal favourite was the skating, one-and-a-half kilometers of forest trail turned into a shadowy skating track by the lights. Quite tired but happy at the day’s end (but not before cookies, juice and a disco in the atrium!) we would return to our rooms. I don’t know if anyone was really in bed sleeping by 10:30, but mum’s the word on that.
One is not required to be entirely fluent to fully enjoy all that St. Donat has to offer. While nearly everyone else was in French Immersion or Extended, I had just finished Grade 10 Core. Yes, I probably sounded robotic, repeating the same simple phrases constantly. Anyway, teachers are willing to help you in English if you do not understand. Finally, remember to have fun in the experience. The best kind of education is where you are having too much fun to realize you are learning.