Settlement Could Give $5.1 Million CAD To Riders Injured From Gondola Breakdowns
Quebec — Back during the not very notable year of 2020, two notable lift incidents started a whirlwind of events at a major Quebec ski resort.
In early 2020, two lift incidents at Mont-Sainte-Anne injured skiers and riders. Malfunctions in the gondola caused rapid stops on February 21st and March 10th, resulting in injuries to guests. Injuries to guests ranged from nothing except for a good bar story to a spinal fracture. In response, two class action lawsuits were filed against the ski resort. The Supreme Court of Quebec approved them in 2021, leading to a potential trial. Rather than going to trial, it sounds like an agreement will be reached.
The CBC reports that a $5.1-million CAD ($3.7 million) settlement agreement has been reached between the affected passengers and the ski resort. This allows the ski resort to avoid a trail that could have implicated them as responsible. On March 3rd, a court will ratify this agreement, leading to these individuals being compensated.
The payout will apply to around 300 people. This will include people who were part of the incident but weren’t injured. The payout for each person will depend on how seriously they were impacted.
“We are securing a significant global fund that, in our view, allows for reasonable compensation for the members. I am very happy with what we managed to obtain for them,” stated Jean-Sébastien D’Amours, a lawyer for Tremblay Bois, a law firm in Quebec City.
The news comes as the Quebec ski resort and the province announced the start of a partnership that will modernize Mont-Sainte-Anne. These projects will include lift replacements. This partnership was somewhat surprising. In late 2025, the province forced the closure of lifts due to a power issue. That closure followed a 2022 incident in which a gondola fell off the haul rope, resulting in an extended closure of the lift.
Image Credits: Mont-Sainte-Anne
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