After 30 years, Canadiana Village is once again welcoming visitors. The renowned 19th-century village, showcasing authentic buildings and antiques from that era, was a popular destination in Quebec during the 1980s, serving as an open-air museum until 1996. However, for the past three decades, it has primarily served as a filming location for movies and TV shows. Thibault Chamot and Charlotte Winterhalter, the current owners, have been gradually restoring and upgrading the village in Rawdon, Quebec, in the Lanaudière region, since acquiring it six years ago, with the aim of revitalizing it as a tourist attraction.
Upon receiving a grant from Tourisme Québec, the couple expedited the restoration project, enhancing the pioneer village with modern amenities such as sophisticated lighting and a comprehensive sound system integrated throughout the park. The funding, announced by Quebec Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau in June, was granted through PARIT, a provincial tourism recovery initiative, totaling $2.3 million. Chamot expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing that the project’s progress would have taken significantly longer without the assistance.
The vision behind the restoration is to offer visitors a unique museum experience, not merely observation but active participation in the historical setting. As part of this summer’s program, visitors can enjoy an immersive performance by local artists from Cirque Alfonse, a family circus troupe from Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, showcasing traditional Lanaudière culture through activities like log rolling, axe juggling, acrobatics, and comedy.
Over the past two years, Canadiana Village has gradually reopened to the public, expanding its offerings from weekend shows to a diverse schedule including circus performances, a Christmas market, and plans for year-round events. Henri Tessier, a member of the Société d’histoire de Rawdon, highlighted the site’s historical significance, recalling its popularity among families decades ago.
Looking ahead, Chamot and Winterhalter aim to honor both the historical period and the village’s cinematic heritage. Through innovative lighting and sound installations, they aspire to create an immersive atmosphere that encourages visitors to engage their imagination in a setting previously reserved for film and television productions. Additionally, they plan to introduce a live light and sound show in January, emphasizing visitor participation in creating their narrative within the historic village setting.