Like many Laurentian towns, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts owes its prosperity to the arrival of the railway in 1892. Its beautiful lake, stunning scenery and reknowned superb air quality made it a tremendous holiday spot and an oasis of health and well-being.
It also became a popular destination for winter sports, especially skiing, given its multitude of cross-country trails and downhill ski areas. The later featured a cable lift system said to have been invented by Sainte-Agathe mechanic Moïse Paquette.
Little known fact: Bonhomme Carnaval originated in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the 1950s. Bonhomme’s creator, Adélard Ratelle, made him the symbol of the annual Carnival. He also wasn’t afraid to show him off in Times Square, New York City, where Bonhomme and his duchesses got into a snowball fight!