Large fire engulfs Mont Gabriel Hotel in Laurentians; multiple fire departments respond
Firefighters from several municipalities were called to the scene of a large fire Friday at the Mont-Gabriel Hotel in Sainte-Adele, Que.
Officials told CTV News the fire began at around 10:15 a.m., though the cause of the blaze is not yet clear.
"At around noon, we thought the fire was under control, but it continued to spread through the walls and floors," wrote Sainte-Adele Mayor Michèle Lalonde on social media. "We are trying to preserve the main section."
"It is a general alert, firefighters from about twenty municipalities and cities are involved," she added.
By late afternoon, large portions of the structure had been destroyed while plumes of smoke rose high above what remained of the hotel.
A large plume of smoke hangs over the Mont-Gabriel Hotel in Sainte-Adele, Que. Friday. Firefighters from several municipalities were called to the scene to fight the blaze.
'I THINK OF MY COLLEAGUES, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS'
Sainte-Adele is a small municipality located about 60 kilometres north of Montreal.
Mont-Gabriel advertises 136 available rooms at its hotel. A promotional video on its website shows large interiors with prominent wood finishing and exposed ceiling beams, which are also made of wood.
"It was a vintage hotel, all made out of logs," said Nathalie Leblanc, who works in the dining hall.
"I’m thinking of the owner,” she said. “After COVID-19, and there was also the tornado at the beginning of the summer."
In late July, a tornado swept through the nearby town of Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard, flattening areas of forest and causing devastating damage to several properties. Leblanc told CTV the hotel was also impacted, with the high winds knocking out power to the building.
"I think of my colleagues, just before Christmas time. I think of the clients, too," she added. "Tonight, the hotel was [fully booked], tomorrow night as well. I imagine that they will all be cancelled.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.