The cafeteria of Mont Saint-Bruno, one of the Monteregian hills dotting southern Quebec, was crowded. As soon as the first snow falls, this modest summit – 218 meters high – turns into a popular winter sports resort. In this venue packed with children, a mother contorted her body with a tray of pizzas to get back to her offspring. "I've never seen so many people here! Maeva, put your coat down next to save the table," she asked her daughter. Outside, the earwormy country-dance anthem Cotton Eye Joe echoed from the speakers as Granule, the resort's mascot bear, strutted his stuff between thick snowflakes. Indifferent to the ursine's dance, a small boy howled as if his tooth were being pulled out because he couldn't clip his boot into his ski.

"Why are we putting ourselves through this? Should we go home?" her mother asked her partner, frustrated, as she prepared to pack up skis, mittens and hat. From the look on his face, you could tell that her partner was also considering heading back to the parking lot: "Let's try to stay a little longer..." he said. Eventually, they got their son to smile again, and he set off snowplowing once his tears had been wiped away. They, on the other hand, were exhausted.

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