Théâtre Laurier

When the theatre first opened in 1935, the owner, Léopold Florant, screened silent films accompanied by piano. It later had bowling alleys in the basement and hosted “talkies,” live plays and variety shows. Top attractions included comedy numbers by Olivier Guimont and vaudeville shows by La Poune.

Built in 1921, the theatre is now home to Cinéma Laurier. It is part of the town’s built heritage showcased on the “Downtown Mont-Laurier Historical Tour,” available on BaladoDiscovery.

The municipality’s original name, Rapide-de-l'Orignal, comes from a legend that a moose once leapt 30 metres over the Rivière du Nord falls and rapids to escape a pack of wolves. This town, now a key hub in the Upper Laurentians, still has an active logging industry. 

“There are many ways to offend God, but perhaps the most widespread and serious one is not to use the resources given to us by divine providence.”
- Curé Labelle

A walk along the trail is a journey through history with fascinating tales of the downtown’s urban heritage.

Did you know, for example, that lumberjacks in the early 1900s earned $8 to $12 a month? Or that cooks were the superstars of early logging sites?