By Lisa-Marie Bernier
Many of us were looking forward to March Break so that we could take a well-deserved rest, see our friends and family, and maybe even travel. The current government regulations have disturbed most of our habitual customs, and we now find ourselves sitting in bed, wondering what to do with ourselves. Thankfully, SiM’s got you covered. Here are some activities to keep you occupied during reading week.
For those of you looking forward to finally going outside and enjoying winter and all it has to offer, check out the following locations offering activities ranging from skiing and snowshoeing to fat bike, tubing, and dog sledding. Most of them are directly accessible from within Montreal or a 1h drive.
Montreal • Old Port: Zipline • Mont Royal: Tubing, skating, snowshoeing, cross-country, skiing, and hiking • Parc La Fontaine: Skating and hiking • Parc Maisonneuve: Tubing, skating, cross-country, and hiking • Parc Jarry: Tubing, skating, and cross-country • Parc Jean-Drapeau: Tubing, skating, snowshoeing, cross-country, skiing, hiking, and fat bike
1h to 2h Drive From Montreal • Super Glissades St-Jean-de-Matha: Tubing • Bromont: Skiing, hiking, and biking • Sommets Saint-Sauveur: Tubing and skiing • Owl’s Head: Skiing • Mont Orford: Snowshoeing, cross-country, skiing, hiking, and fat bike • Mont Sutton: Skiing and hiking • Mont Tremblant: Tubing, skating, snowshoeing, cross-country, skiing, fat bike, and dog sledding
Lucky for us, some of our annual favourites have managed to organize wonderful outdoor events, all the while respecting Covid restrictions. From March 3rd to March 7th, enjoy puppet shows, talks, exhibitions, workshops, and screenings with the 16th edition of the Festival de Casteliers. Place des Arts will also once again host the Festival Montréal en Lumières from March 4th to March 28th, offering you an immersive experience of Montreal’s local gastronomy, accompanied by Luminothérapie, a luminous experience offered from December 2nd to March 28th. Until March 13th, immerse yourself in a nocturne trail lit by monumental structures with Illumi from Cavalia.
Other events have moved to online formats, namely Igloofest, one of Montreal’s most important electronic music festival, from February 13th to March 13th, as well as Festival Montreal Joue, that will offer remote games and activities from February 20th to March 7th.
Earlier in February, the government announced the re-opening of museums. Just in time for March Break! Here are some of our favourites with their current exhibitions (virtual and in-person).
MAC • Exhibitions: John Akomfrah, Des Horizons d’Attente, La Machine qui Enseignait des Airs aux Oiseaux, Leonard Cohen
McCord • Exhibitions: Christian Dior, Wearing our Identity – The First Peoples Collection, Griffintown – Evolving Montreal
Museum of Fine Arts • Exhibitions: Riopelle, Manuel Mathieu, Yehouda Chaki, GRAFIK!
Musée de la Civilisation • Exhibitions: Special Effects!, Fishing Stories, Head in the Cloud, Brew, of Taverns and Men, People of Québec… Then and Now, Observe. More than Meets the Eye, Nom d’une Bobinette, This is Our History
Pointe-à -Callière • Exhibitions: A Railroad to Dreams, Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers?, The Hudson’s Bay Company – 350 Years of History, Memory Collector, Where Montréal Began, Building Montréal
If you’re looking for something more lowkey to do on a rainy day, think of curling up under a blanket and binge-watch your favourite tv show with a good cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa and some snacks; catch up with friends or family members you haven’t spoken to in a while; read this book you never had time to read because of school’s required readings; start a new hobby; learn new recipes; or simply catch up on much-needed sleep.
Whatever you decide to do, take advantage of this week to take a break from school (if you can), and prioritize yourself and your mental health.
Love, SiM