Gossip

New Release: Launch of "The Secret Hideout"

The Historical village of Val-Jalbert is enhancing its tourist offerings with a new attraction for families with children aged 5 to 12.

CHAMBORD, THE June 16, 2026 – To mark the official launch of its summer season 2026, the Historical village of Val-Jalbert is making a big splash by unveiling its brand-new flagship attraction: The Hideout (secret secret). This large-scale, interactive, and immersive project demonstrates Val-Jalbert’s commitment to establishing itself today as a regional leader in tourism innovation by combining modern technology with authenticity.

Railway heritage through children's eyes: a learning environment for the next generation.

Attentive to its customers’ needs, the Village is taking its family-friendly offerings to new heights. Designed especially for children ages 5 to 12—our true ambassadors of the future— The Hideout of the pulp mill offers a captivating, immersive journey into the world of rail travel in the 1920s.

This innovative concept allows young children to learn about the historical significance of the lumber and railroad industries, which were the cornerstones of our region and the founding of Val-Jalbert in 1901. By combining cutting-edge technology with a respect for heritage, this attraction promises to become families’ favorite playground this summer.

“We have gathered you here today right next to Val-Jalbert’s centerpiece, the paper pulp mill, it's not only to honor our rich industrial past, but to show you how Val-Jalbert is establishing itself today as a leader in tourism innovation,” says Guy Thibeault, strategic marketing and communications partner at the Historical village of Val-Jalbert.

A partnership on a scale unlike any other in Quebec!

To create the experience we’re presenting to you today, we had the good fortune to work with a young team whose talent is already captivating audiences all over the world.

Following a rigorous bidding process, the Val-Jalbert team chose to work with the studio Supply + Demand. Their innovative and bold concept truly won us over.

We are extremely proud of this collaboration. For Val-Jalbert, it provided an opportunity to partner with a Montreal-based studio with extensive experience in large-scale projects. For the Supply + Demand team, it was a chance to contribute to a local project that is meaningful and helps raise the region’s profile.

Indeed, the young Montreal-based company is already orchestrating large-scale, international projects. They are the creative minds behind the success of the experience Minecraft for which they have just won the THEA Award 2026 in the “low-budget” category”. To give you an idea, the THEA AWARD is like the Oscars in entertainment. Not to mention major exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago or at the Spark Center in Calgary.

They used our train cars as a starting point to be creative and innovative, designing an exhibition space tailored to our young visitors and creating inspiring content that brought our vision to life in a truly unique way.

“We are very pleased to present a project at the Historical village of Val-Jalbert. We can’t wait for children and families to discover our secret hideout and enjoy a unique experience traveling through time with this endearing group of friends.”
Rémi Lapointe — Supply + Demand Studio Inc.

A vibrant calendar of events for the 2026 season

At the same time, Val-Jalbert is introducing a completely revamped program of annual activities, designed to enhance the experience for repeat visitors and maximize the value of season passes:

• The Big Night: The highly anticipated return of the famous vintage dance party.
• Living heritage: Exclusive Dodge tours, 1928, vintage photography workshops Tintype, 5 to 7 musical events and photo contests.
• Nature and knowledge: Themed workshops on the local flora and fauna and guided horticultural tours of the historical site.
• Historical gastronomy: A unique culinary experience featuring a tasting menu of “budget cuisine” from the 1920s at the restaurant.
• The big, unmissable day: The annual picnic, featuring food tastings, surprise activities, and the official launch of the program. https://valjalbert.com/calendrier-evenements-ponctuels/

Strategic financial support to propel the region forward

The creation of this major attraction was made possible thanks to the shared vision and financial commitment of key partners from the business and regional communities.

“Supporting businesses and organizations in every region of the country is essential to building a strong and diversified economy. We help them improve their products and market their events abroad to attract more visitors and generate significant economic benefits. I am therefore delighted with CED’s support for the innovative project at the Val-Jalbert Historical Village, a major tourist attraction for the region. Its contribution to the economic vitality of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean is undeniable! There is no doubt that the success and benefits of this project will extend to the entire region, to Quebec, and to Canada. ,” said the Honorable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for CED.

« “Thanks to the Fonds du Grand Mouvement, we are proud to support a project that reflects the strength of our region. It is fully in line with our commitment to supporting sustainable and community-building initiatives that contribute to our region’s visibility and the preservation of our collective heritage,” said Mr. Louis Lefebvre, representative of the Desjardins caisses in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

“Each new season at Val-Jalbert is an opportunity to rediscover an exceptional place that is the pride of our region. Thanks to the enhanced experience offered to children, families will be able to enjoy their visit even more and instill in the youngest visitors a love for our history and heritage. I invite the residents of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, as well as visitors from across Quebec, to come and visit—or revisit—this exceptional site where history, culture, and the beauty of our landscapes come together.” says Nancy Guillemette, Government Assistant to the Minister Delegate for the Regions and Member of the National Assembly for Roberval.

The Val-Jalbert Historic Village would like to express its thanks and appreciation to its valued financial partners: Canada Economic Development, Desjardins, Investissement Québec, the Domaine-du-Roy RCM, and the Municipality of Chambord, whose support is at the heart of this collective success.

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