CALEB NICKERSON
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT July 8, 2020
A familiar face has returned to the Chutes Coulonge Park in Mansfield and is looking to attract local residents with a sizable discount.
André Piché first started as the aerial park director in 2008, but had a long history in the adventure tourism industry prior to that, having . . .
worked as a rafting guide for the decade before.
“The company I worked for was Equinox Adventures,” the Île du Grand Calumet native said. “They also had a rescue school, called the Advanced Rescue Techniques school of Canada, so I was a certified high angle rescue trainer with these guys.”
He explained that the ziplines and aerial course at the park had been installed in 2008 by a company called Prisme Equipment Canada, who specialize in building “adventure projects” at heights, such as suspended bridges or ziplines. He started working part-time with them in the off-season in 2009, and took a full-time gig in 2011.
“They head-hunted me more or less, because the first time they met me here in ‘09 they asked, when does your season end?” Piché said.
The new job took him all across Canada and even internationally, working on complex construction and renovation projects.
“Basically it’s any specialized work at heights, mostly cable parks, or aerial parks,” he said. “We also did jobs like re-caulking the windows at the Olympic stadium in Montreal a couple years ago … changing the IMAX screen at the Old Port of Montreal, anything that’s rope access construction.”
Despite the thrilling line of work, Piché said that he felt it was time to return to where he grew up, and returned to the Chutes as director general this February.
“Basically they were looking for a director and I was ready to settle down and come back to my roots in the Pontiac,” he said.
This summer, Piché said that he is trying to entice local residents to take a trek over to Mansfield to try out the park by offering a 20 per cent discount to Pontiac residents from Wednesdays to Fridays.
“Basically, we’re all about the staycation this year with the pandemic and everything and I want people to discover what we have in our backyard,” he said. “Just trying to promote and get p
ople out of their homes in the Pontiac.”
Those looking to reserve a spot can call 819 683 2770 or email info@chutescoulonge.qc.ca.
