Charlevoix as seen by… Gabrielle Desgagnés
An islander receptive to connections to nature and to the constant changing of its landscapes, Gabrielle Desgagnés transposes that raw beauty into the movements of her choreography. A contemporary dance performer and instructor, she has danced on many stages, but she prefers, above all else, to plant her feet in the soil of her island. It’s no surprise to discover that this devotee of gyrotonic exercises is also a fan of the outdoors and of culture, in this interview, a discovery of her favourite things about Charlevoix:
6 QUESTIONS
1. Where in Charlevoix do you feel at home?
On the river, on a paddleboard, around my Isle-aux-Coudres.
2. The gourmet products from Charlevoix you’re a fan of?
Cheeses from the Laiterie Charlevoix, from the Famille Migneron and the Fromagerie St-Fidèle, charcuterie from Viandes Biologiques de Charlevoix, and products made on my island, like the ciders from Vergers Pedneault, home-made cookies from their Aux Fruits du Biscuitier counter, and lastly, the indispensable Boulangerie Bouchard bakery. With all that, you can get a picnic together, or put out a spread of local flavours!
3. Your favourite local activites?
On the island, Suroît Aventures for exploring the river by paddleboard, kitesurfing, or even snowkite surfing, in winter. There’s also yoga. The energy of the place and of the people does a person good! There’s La Fabrique de l’Isle for something pretty, something tasty, and something that ''feels good,’’ the Le 1603 soap shop for natural body products, made from plants gathered on my island, and the les Traverseux heritage space for the ice canoe tradition they keep alive, and for the adventure we can experience, thanks to them.
In Baie-Saint-Paul, The Faux Bergers restaurant floors me every time with the originality of its flavours. Also in Baie-Saint-Paul, Le Rond Point, the delicious snack bar that showcases local food products, all the way to Festif! for its programming and the quirky way in which it reinvents the approach to staging shows.
For getting back to nature, the steep terraces with magnificent views of the river and the whales at the Falaise-sur-Mer campground in St-Siméon; hiking in the mountains at the Parc national des Grands-Jardins National Park and the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, again for views that leave me speechless; walking the trails of the L’Anse de sable de la Baie-des-Rochers for its uniqueness and beauty… because there’s so much beauty there!
4. A Charlevoix sight you never tire of?
The view from behind my family home on the island, at the river’s edge, any time of day. The breathtaking mountain landscapes and provincial parks in the backcountry. Sunrises and sunsets anywhere in the region, which are different and oh-so-brightly coloured, every day.
5. When you come to Charlevoix, who can’t you wait to see?
My family, my friends, and all of the smiling people who take pride in their region!
6. What’s something you learned to do, or learned about yourself in Charlevoix?
Paddleboarding and kitesurfing, my love for the river, swimming in it and making it mine again. This area literally makes me unplug, I just go with the flow, and take time to be in the present moment.
