Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant pay tribute to a pillar of our community, Thérèse Barrette, who passed away on July 31.
Thérèse’s career in our region began when she became a director of Le P’tit Bonheur at the request of Père de la Sablonnière. She then co-owned and managed L’Auberge La Boulée for a decade. Many will remember her for her 16 years at the helm of the Chambre de commerce de Saint-Jovite, which became the Chambre de commerce de Mont-Tremblant after the municipal merger. Her leadership was recognized provincially when the Chamber was named Québec Chamber of Commerce of the Year in 2004.
In 2005, Thérèse began a new chapter in her life: municipal politics. For twelve years, she served as a municipal councilor for the Ville Mont-Tremblant, then as deputy mayor starting in 2013. Her commitment to our community was unwavering, as she sat on numerous committees dealing with issues as diverse as the environment, recreation, and culture.
One of her most significant legacies is undoubtedly the Fondation Tremblant, which she co-founded with our dear friend Roger McCarthy in 1997. Motivated by the unacceptable realization that children in Saint-Jovite were going to school hungry, Thérèse played a key role in the creation of this foundation. Its first event, in March 1997, far exceeded expectations, raising $85,000 to support disadvantaged youth.
A passionate environmental advocate, Thérèse received the Patrick O’Hara Award in 2012 for her sustained commitment to environmental causes. She was a driving force behind AGIR pour la Diable & the Conseil régional de l’environnement des Laurentides (CRELA), among other initiatives.
Thérèse Barrette was a person of action, a generous soul who worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make Mont-Tremblant a better place for all. She is survived by her son Jean-François, her daughter Anne, five grandchildren, and a community eternally grateful for her contributions.
A public tribute will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 3:00 p.m., at the Fairmont Tremblant.
About Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant
Our mandate is to ensure the harmonious real estate development of the region while maintaining transparency and community acceptability.