The two hotels are not among the most striking from the outside, as they sit slightly removed from the area’s commercial and tourist activity at the entrance to the Village. Their distinctive qualities become apparent only after guests step through the doors and experience the rooms, suites and amenities.
The “rebirth” of these two establishments is thanks to the Charron family, entrepreneurs and investors in Montréal real estate for more than 40 years. The founder’s children now run them.
The hotels’ greatest strength is their location: just steps from the Quartier Latin and Vieux-Montréal, at the entrance to the Village and its restaurants and bars, and a few hundred metres from Berri-UQAM station, served by three metro lines. They are also beside the UQÀM campus and the CHUM hospital complex and research centre. The wonderful Quartier des spectacles is less than a 10-minute walk away.
Le Roberval, at the corner of René-Lévesque and Berri, comprises two connected buildings dating from the 1920s. The family acquired it in the late 1990s. Les Suites Labelle, on the short street of the same name, is a more recent building and has belonged to the Charron family since the early 2000s, explains sales and marketing director Charlene Richard.
Each hotel has distinctive features designed to appeal to different guests. Le Roberval underwent major renovations in 2019: floors were redone, bedding replaced, and kitchen counters and bathrooms renovated. It has 75 rooms and suites: 26 studios with one queen-size bed, 11 studios with two queen-size beds, 15 one-bedroom suites with a sofa bed, 17 one-bedroom suites with a wall bed and six two-bedroom suites, including two in the basement. It offers exceptional comfort and a family atmosphere, whatever the length of stay. Workers, students and researchers visiting Montréal for short or extended periods find it a highly appreciated temporary home.
The neighbouring Hôtel Labelle has also undergone major renovations. Its flooring, bedding and curtains were replaced, and new mattresses were installed in rooms on four of its eight floors in 2022 and 2023. Work on the rest of the building will continue over the coming months. The hotel has 97 rooms: 84 standard studios with one or two queen-size beds, 10 superior studios with one or two queen-size beds, two junior suites and one executive suite. It regularly accommodates guests travelling with tour operators.
At both establishments, rooms and suites include a kitchenette, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and many other amenities. Both hotels have spacious, welcoming breakfast rooms, and breakfast is included in the stay. Guests also have access to indoor parking.
The attentive staff are trained to uphold the principles of inclusion and diversity for all guests. LGBTQ guests can therefore count on respect and safety.
The Charron family, conscious of the importance of community involvement, has also welcomed immigrant workers from Ukraine for several years. Around 40 legally admitted Ukrainian newcomers currently work at the hotels, and management is proud of its contribution to their integration.
Hôtel et Suites Labelle
hotellabelle.com
120, rue Labelle
Montréal, QC H2L 4C1
514 840-1151
Hôtel Le Roberval
leroberval.com
505, Bd. René-Lévesque Est
Montréal, QC H2L 5B6
514 286 2992
By Pierre Perreault
When Jean-François Quesnel founded the troupe Ensemble – collectif théâtral LGBT in 2018, he was pursuing a taste for the performing arts that had inspired him since childhood, growing up in an artistic family. Today, with three productions to its name, the initially amateur troupe has evolved into Les productions Jean-François Quesnel, a personal venture devoted to producing professional-calibre theatre.
He describes it as a queer+ and ally-inclusive company whose mission is to bring together people from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for theatre. “We are counting on audiences’ open-mindedness to bring people together around difference and diversity,” he explains.
The troupe’s latest production, Michel Tremblay’s Hosanna, took it to a higher level, thanks to seasoned actors and a production that the playwright himself praised after attending a performance at the Comédie de Montréal in spring 2021.
“At first, I produced and acted in the plays, while professionals directed them. For Hosanna, I took the gamble of bringing together my good ideas and my motivation to direct this theatrical masterpiece, first staged in 1973,” says Quesnel.
The COVID-19 pandemic had seriously disrupted another play scheduled for 2021. After two postponements and for several reasons, the troupe had to abandon that large-cast project and move on, despite the time and energy invested in preparing it. That was when Hosanna entered the picture.
“It was my mother, the painter Dolores Desbiens, who steered me toward this play. I was lying in a hammock by the water in Longueuil in early summer 2021, wondering what I could do to revive the troupe, when she suggested taking on Tremblay. There is little LGBTQ+-themed theatre, so it became interesting for us,” Jean-François explains.
Hosanna resonates with members of the community in part because it depicts a toxic relationship that still happens today. Tremblay’s way of presenting and exploring it makes the play all the more compelling to theatre lovers and audiences. Once the performance rights had been secured, Michel Tremblay was invited to a performance and immediately accepted. “It would be a lie to say it did not cause me great stress. But seeing his immediate reaction after the performance, his emotion and his respect, was a gift beyond words and an enormous relief, both for the entire troupe and for me. It took the project into another dimension. Mr. Tremblay showed his support and interest even after attending,” says Quesnel.
Michel Tremblay with the 2021 cast and crew of Hosanna
Photo: Martine Poulin
By billing Marc-André Leclair (the famous Tracy Trash from Cabaret Mado) alongside a talented actor for the role of Cuirette, one could expect an explosive mix. It drew large crowds for the eight or so performances last fall. The play will tour with a new actor, Florent Deschênes, as Cuirette, to Lanaudière, to Val d’Or for Pride, to Lévis, and back to Montréal in August as part of the Festival Fierté Montréal.
The “Tremblay” effect will continue in 2022–23 as Jean-François Quesnel prepares to stage and produce “La Duchesse de Langeais”, with Luc Arsenault in the lead role. One should expect a recreated and reimagined version of the duchess, far removed from the one imposed by the late actor Claude Gay, who portrayed her in André Brassard’s 1974 film “Il était une fois dans l’est”. The project is now entering its creation and planning phase, before rehearsals begin.
What else drives and excites Jean-François Quesnel? He recently became casting director for two Québec film productions. First, Sophie Dupuis’s Drag, currently wrapping up filming, in which Marc-André Leclair has a key role. More than 200 members of the LGBT community were auditioned for this production. He then served as casting director for the film “Pour ceux qui errent seuls dans le noir”, which is expected to begin production later this year.
It was chance that led him to casting. “Sophie Dupuis, the director of Drag, came to see Hosanna. She then wrote to me about her upcoming project. My experience in directing actors and staging proved valuable in casting the identified roles for this shoot. As a passionate, structured, and well-organized professional, I could confidently take on this new experience,” concludes Jean-François.
Working with actors who will be able to live the projects, not just perform them, and above all touching people: that is the very essence of what drives Jean-François Quesnel’s company. Developing a casting director role for film is also in his plans. With film shoots constantly increasing in Montréal and producers increasingly wanting to work with local resources, it is a safe bet that this will happen.
More recently, Ensemble has presented other productions, including Un coeur normal (2023), Michel Tremblay’s Les anciennes odeurs (2024), Michel-Marc Bouchard’s Tom à la ferme (2024), Bent – Le triangle rose (2025) and Souvenirs de Brokeback Mountain (2025), as well as a Québec tour of its revival of Hosanna in 2023–24.
In spring 2026, Michel Tremblay returned to the programme with La Maison suspendue, a play less familiar to the general public but every bit as rich in interesting characters and plotlines. It is said to be his most significant work, presenting scenes from three eras and three generations in Tremblay’s world: 1910, 1950 and 1990. All three May 2026 performances were sold out two months in advance.
Photo credit JF Quesnel: Benjamin Allain-Vaillant
Good ideas often take time to come to fruition, because visionaries want to give their projects every possible chance of success. Steve Horman, his partner Véronique Piché and their associate Mathieu Fleurent, a building contractor, understood this well: they spent more than 15 years imagining their ready-to-camp retreats in Les Éboulements, Charlevoix.
In 2020, in the middle of the global pandemic, they decided to make their dream a reality. Originally from the Laurentides, they settled on the Charlevoix region: the river, the mountains and vast open spaces stretching as far as the eye can see. In the village of Les Éboulements, they found “a place that reflects who we are, a welcoming village with a tight-knit community. It was love at first sight,” explains Steve Horman, who has lived there for two years with his partner and their three children.
Hauts Refuges is intended as a gathering place where people can live in the moment, have fun and reconnect with nature. Construction of the first three retreats began in spring 2022. Made entirely of cedar inside and out, they were acquired from Cédréco in the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs. Within a few months, La Luciole, La Forestine and La Canopée rose in the middle of the forest. The retreats were designed to be practical, comfortable and welcoming for families who want to travel without too much hassle.
The partners received funding through Tourisme Québec’s EPRTNT programme to implement the project. The programme aims to renew and enhance regional tourism by developing attractive, distinctive offerings, showcasing innovation and opening new niches for tourism businesses. They also received support from the Fonds d’aide au tourisme of Développement économique du Canada (DEC) pour le Québec. This made it possible to complete the fourth retreat, La Chouette, in recent months.
What, exactly, is Hauts Refuges? It is a four-season ecotourism property with several retreats perched among the treetops and accessible only by walking trails. These ready-to-camp units can accommodate one to six people and are designed for families. Guests can light the wood stove, read by the fire, play cards or cook with friends, an inspiring prospect. Every unit has several comfortable beds and everything needed to prepare meals.
Some even have an outdoor slide running from the balcony, enough to fascinate children and even their parents. Steve Horman explains that the slides came from former indoor play areas at McDonald’s restaurants, recognizable by their bright colours.
For now, the retreats stand at different heights above the ground and each has its own features. They have electricity and a refrigerator, but no indoor toilet or running water; a comfortable chemical toilet is located at the foot of each unit. In future phases, the owners hope to add a shared gathering area, a large communal kitchen, a park, a campfire space, a garden, washroom facilities and more.
Hauts Refuges – Prêt-à-camper
hautsrefuges.com
760, rang Sainte-Catherine
Les Éboulements (Qc) G0A 2M0
(418) 635-2329
Following a successful first edition that attracted about 500 people, the second Fierté aux Îles de la Madeleine, organized by the Vent de Fierté committee, will take place on August 22 and 23. For the first time, a Pride March will be held on Sunday, August 23. It will leave Cap-aux-Meules town hall and follow local streets for one kilometre to Place des Gens de Mer.
The preceding day, Saturday, August 22, the Marché Queer at Anse-aux-Baleiniers will bring together about 15 artists and craftspeople from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Representatives of Coalition des familles LGBT+ will also travel to the Îles especially for the event. Founded in 1998, the coalition advocates for legal and social recognition of LGBT+ families and provides a network in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans parents and prospective parents share information and activities.
A barbecue is planned, while DJs Beausir and Le Spiz of La Plage électronique will create a festive atmosphere. Usually based at Parc de Gros Cap, the DJ collective founded by Le Spiz and Beausir will once again energize the site with a moment of sharing, dancing and letting go. Drawing on their passion for house and electronic music, they will perform a set designed to celebrate our community.
Fantasy face painting will be available, and participants will make signs for the Pride March.
A multidisciplinary artist born in Saint-Siméon, Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay published her first poetry collection, Le Ventre des volcans, in 2015 and a second, Les secrets de l’origami, in 2018. In 2021, she released her first autofiction novel, La fille d’elle-même, which she finally ‘gave birth to’ after beginning it at age 15. It is a coming-of-age account of a child’s experience of trans identity in a Québec that is both cruel and full of life. Set amid Charlevoix’s bucolic landscapes and the majestic Saint-Laurent, the novel changed her life and offered Québec a more intimate view of a reality that is still often little known.
La fille d’elle-même is to be adapted for television, and the following year the novel received the Prix des libraires du Québec. It is the first French-language autofiction novel written by a trans woman in Québec. In 2025, Boulianne-Tremblay published La fille de la foudre, a sequel exploring life after transition through the experience of a woman with borderline personality disorder.
After earlier appearances in several documentaries and short films, she made her feature-film debut in 2016 in Mathieu Denis’s Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau. Her performance as Klas Batalo earned a best supporting actress nomination at the Prix Écrans canadiens, making her the first trans woman nominated as an actress by those awards.
A trans-rights activist, she served in 2023 as spokesperson for the first Fierté Charlevoix.
In 2026, she wrote François.e, a comedy in which François, a declining cisgender male screenwriter, poses as a trans woman to obtain financing for a television series. The film was very well received by critics.
Eve Lambert
From Worst to Best
Born in Chicoutimi, Eve Lambert began her literary career in 2017 at age 25 with Tu aimeras ce que tu as tué. The debut novel achieved major success, was published in France and was later translated into English. It already received extensive praise and a few significant literary awards. Set in a sinister, morbid version of Chicoutimi, the novel adopts hatred as a literary tone and fiercely attacks the xenophobia and homophobia that still rage in Québec.
Eve Lambert holds a master’s degree and doctorate in creative writing from the Université de Montréal. Her thesis on the creative process in the work of Victor-Lévy Beaulieu won the Université de Montréal’s award for best thesis in arts and humanities. Known before her gender transition by her birth name, Kevin Lambert, she has said that she wants her work to participate in a movement of gay affirmation. ‘I like being part of the LGBTQ category,’ she says.
Writers are known to sometimes write under the influence of drugs or alcohol. By her own admission, Eve Lambert sometimes writes under the influence of anxiety. ‘I tend to imagine the worst that could happen,’ she confides. ‘In the opening scene of my novel Querelle, I imagined my boyfriend, who wasn’t yet officially my boyfriend at the time, screwing a bunch of other guys. I didn’t censor myself; I went completely wild. When I write, I’m not necessarily in a state of well-being, even if there’s something liberating in letting our imagination run wild. There’s a kind of ecstasy in freeing ourselves from our anxieties.’
Since 2018, she has published three further novels, Querelle de Roberval, Que notre joie demeure and Les sentiers de neige, all of which also appeared in France. The record confirms her as a prolific author and recipient of the most prestigious awards, including the renowned Prix Médicis in 2023.
In 2023, she adapted Marie-Claire Blais’s novel Un cœur habité de mille voix for the stage. The production premiered at Espace Go in April 2024 and drew widespread praise for its bold theatrical portrayal of an aging gay man’s life.
The Brome-Missisqueer collective is back with a second Cowansville Pride March on August 22. LGBT+ people, allies and friends are invited to join a march starting at 1:30 p.m. on rue du Sud, then head to an LGBT+ village set up at parc Centre-ville at 3 p.m.
The event will feature festive, fun and educational activities. ‘This year, it was important for us to apply the lessons from the first edition, which was organized in five weeks, so we can improve our facilities and include more partners in our event,’ says Béa Touchette, one of the collective’s members.
‘Last year’s success truly energized us as a collective. Our first goal is to show that welcoming communities for queer people exist in our rural areas and that people can put down roots there and build networks of solidarity,’ added Alex Fortin, another member of the collective.
The Brome-Missisqueer collective was recently formed by six people to promote the fulfilment of 2ELGBTIA+ people in rural communities and counter the rise of intolerance.
August 23: a Pride day in Sept-Îles
Queer Nord will once again present a day celebrating sexual and gender diversity. The expression of LGBTQ2E+ Pride and community sharing will take centre stage on Sunday, August 23, beneath the Tente jaune on the Vieux-Quai in Sept-Îles.
The day has particular significance for Queer Nord because it is the first Pride celebration since the group incorporated as a non-profit organization. ‘This is a new stage in the committee’s history as it continues to develop and help improve the living conditions and well-being of people representing sexual diversity and gender plurality (DSPG) on Côte-Nord.’
Organizers note that the chosen site in Sept-Îles stands on the unceded Innu territory of Uashat mak Maliotenam. They invite members of Innu communities and residents from across Côte-Nord to celebrate together at parc du Vieux-Quai.
The programme includes creative, participatory activities such as sign-making, a collective artwork, face painting, a music jam and karaoke. The day will conclude with the Pride March at 3 p.m.
Queer Nord will provide tables for artists and organizations wishing to present their work, services or projects. An open microphone will allow participants to share a text, poem, song or any other form of expression that inspires them.
Les Salons d’Edgar started in 1997 in Québec’s Saint-Roch neighbourhood. The space was once a theatre called Les Fourberies, but it didn’t take long for it to become a cultural hub where artists, students, professionals, and locals all mixed together.
If you’ve been coming for years, you might have spotted Robert Lepage here, actor, playwright, director, and entrepreneur, who made the place his regular hangout.
François Boulianne and Annie Brassard ran the show for nearly 25 years. In 2022, after a pandemic transition, new owners took over, with the founders staying on to guide the team. Actor, director, and casting agent Nicolas Létourneau says he and his friend Raphaël Posadas (a director, stage director, and actor) bought the place on a whim, they were already regulars.
Two of the partners: Raphaël and Nicolas.
Two of the original four partners moved on to other projects. Chef Francis Proulx joined later, and longtime employees Lou Miriam Bolduc and Léa Ratycz-Légaré became partners in 2024. Now, each member of the team handles part of the business based on what they do best.
These days, shared management, a fresh approach, and a focus on making guests feel at home keep Les Salons d’Edgar a Saint-Roch staple. Over 25 people work here, covering the kitchen, service, and bar.
Les Salons d’Edgar is a Québec nightlife landmark, comfort food, craft cocktails, and an eclectic, welcoming space. Every evening from 5 PM (closed Mondays), the two rooms offer pool tables, a small stage, dance nights, and two bars, one up front, one in the back, for different moods. It’s warm, a little over-the-top, and always fun, with a cozy vibe that keeps people coming back. In summer, the sunny terrace out front is the perfect spot. Saturday nights are especially lively, much to the delight of longtime regulars.
A few years ago, the team got a restaurant license, so now minors can join adults and enjoy the kitchen and its well-loved menu every evening from 5 PM. When asked about the most popular dishes, Nicolas doesn’t hesitate: the marinated beef flank steak, the shareable nachos platter, and the classic poutine. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 1 PM.
The team at Les Salons d’Edgar has big plans. They’d love to buy the building and add a second floor to the back for private events, group gatherings, or performances.
Nicolas Létourneau, who had no restaurant experience before taking over Les Salons d’Edgar, recently became co-owner of Chez Victor on boul. Laurier with the same partners. It’s a new adventure for him, with a team of about twenty and updates to the space to make the experience even better.
Les Salons d’Edgar
lessalonsdedgar.com
263, rue Saint-Vallier Est
Québec (Québec), G1K 3P3
418 523-7811
It’s early May 2026, a rainy Tuesday night in Saint-Sauveur. The neighborhood is in the middle of a makeover, especially along Rue Saint-Vallier Ouest. Parking’s a little tight if you’re driving, but the place still pulls you in, two big garage-style doors swing open to the street, promising something cozy inside.
Step through those doors and you’re in a snug, thirty-seat room. Some tables have retro banquettes, others face the kitchen so you can watch the chefs at work. The whole place feels like the neighborhood’s favorite hangout, laid-back, a little rowdy, and totally fun. That’s the vibe before you even look at the menu.
Diner Saint-Sauveur has been serving up its take on comfort food for eight years now. The three partners behind it love the way locals keep coming back, and how word has spread, visitors from across the Capitale-Nationale region, even tourists who’ve heard about the food, stop by to see what the fuss is about.
The team is small, eight people working shifts from 5 PM to 10 PM, Monday to Saturday, and 2 PM to 9 PM on Sundays. When we visited, partners Sylvain Barbeau and Eric Lemay showed us around. You can tell they live for this: years in the business, stories from every corner of it, and a clear idea of what they want the place to be.
The menu is all about reinventing classics with an American diner twist. Burgers, classic and creative, share space with indulgent poutines, mac ’n’ cheese, and chicken ’n’ waffles. We tried their hot chicken sandwich: breaded chicken on grilled cheese, smothered in homemade brown sauce and peas. It’s the kind of dish that makes you want to come back for more.
Other favorites include fish ’n’ chips, pâté chinois, pasta, meatloaf, and seafood. If you’re feeling adventurous and the ingredients are in, you can even build your own plate.
Drinks are just as thoughtfully put together. There’s a solid lineup of Québec microbrews, wine by the glass or bottle, and cocktails that are creative without trying too hard.
Space is tight, so the team opened *Supérette du Dîner* next door. It’s a neighborhood grocery focused on Québec-made food and drinks, craft beers, ciders, artisanal wines, plus non-alcoholic options and ready-to-drink mixes. It keeps the kitchen from getting overwhelmed and makes sure you can still grab something great even if the restaurant’s full.
The *Supérette* also stocks homemade ready-to-eat meals from the diner. It’s a smart way to let more people enjoy what they’re cooking, and the grocery’s open seven days a week with flexible hours.
Le Diner Saint-Sauveur
dinersaintsauveur.ca
450 Rue Saint-Vallier Ouest
Québec, QC G1K 1L1
(581) 741-4090
Supérette, neighborhood grocery
superettedudiner.com
411 Rue Saint-Vallier Ouest
Québec, QC G1K 1K7
581 705-9555
