After thirty years, Canadiana Village has reopened its doors to the public. The 19th-century village, known for its original buildings and antique pieces from the era, was once a popular attraction in Quebec back in the 1980s until it ceased operations as an open-air museum in 1996.
For the past three decades, Canadiana Village has primarily served as a filming location for various movies and TV shows. Thibault Chamot and Charlotte Winterhalter, the current owners, have been gradually restoring and revamping the village situated in Rawdon, Quebec, within the Lanaudière region since taking over ownership six years ago, aiming to transform it into a tourist hotspot once again.
Chamot mentioned, “Upon our arrival, significant renovations were needed on the entire street. Some buildings were mere facades left over from a movie shoot two decades ago.” Thanks to a grant from Tourisme Québec, the restoration project was expedited, allowing the couple to revitalize the pioneer village while incorporating modern amenities like advanced lighting and a multi-channel sound system installed throughout the premises.
The funding announcement by Quebec Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau in June highlighted the international appeal and tourism prospects of the attraction, leading to the approval of a $2.3-million grant through the PARIT provincial tourism recovery program.
The village’s transformation aims to provide visitors with an immersive museum experience rather than a passive observation. This summer, Canadiana Village features a special show by local performers Cirque Alfonse, showcasing traditional Lanaudière culture through log rolling, axe juggling, acrobatics, and humor.
The site has gradually reopened to the public over the past two years, expanding from weekend shows to a full schedule of events, including circus performances and a Christmas market. The ultimate vision is to establish a year-round event calendar at the village.
Henri Tessier, a member of the Société d’histoire de Rawdon, was present during this summer’s official launch to engage with visitors about the region’s Irish heritage.
Looking ahead, Chamot and Winterhalter aspire to preserve the historical and cinematic legacy of the village by creating an interactive environment for visitors to engage with lighting and sound elements, fostering a space where imagination can thrive beyond its previous use for film and television productions.