Who hasn’t wanted to leave everything behind for the great outdoors. Trade the Montreal skyline and the Desjardins “Aurora Borealis” for the star-clad sky. Well, look no further than Canada’s biggest Recreational Vehicle Showcase! Its 36th anniversary happening Thursday March 5th to Sunday March 8th at the Palais des Congrès is the perfect enticement for a sweet escape. With more than 300 vehicles worth over 20 million! and over 120 companies present, there surely is something to cater to everyone’s idea of wanderlust.
Already Friday afternoon, a large crowd had gathered in the space, mostly composed of retired couples, often accompanied by friends. Advertisements for trips to Florida filled the vehicles, confirming the suspicion that part of the intended crowd was composed of snowbirds and retirees. There were also quite a few families, many keeping their kids’ preferences in mind when looking at larger models.
Unfamiliar with the RV business, I had a chance to interview Marc Rémillard, a pioneer in the industry as the 3rd generation head of the 77-year-old Roulottes Rémillard company. With knowledge and experience to boot, he emphasized how he guided his clients by first asking them “what is you plan, what is the trip?” The second floor of the exhibition held a wide array of booths, promoting trips with RVs accords Canada, spanning from New-Brunswick, passing through Manitoba and all the way to Yukon.
Speaking of models, it was a bit overwhelming just how diverse the different vehicles, sizes and interior designs were! It did seem that many people came to the show with either a specific model or company in mind, ready to talk to the ever-so- helpful sales representatives. Others leisurely strolled, imagining in the different vehicles what a typical voyage could look like. Rémillard suggests people often search for “quality first in material” as RVs are truly “investments”, but rentals were also present.
Some of these RVs put chalets to shame with their grand layout and chic design, complete with a master bedroom larger than some apartments and bathrooms that would be the envy of many. Smaller cars, such as the Westphalia Wave 2 were more for the active family on the go, and as a plus are designed here in Canada!
In an era of uncertainty with the US-Canada relations, and many retirees no longer wintering down South, the RV lifestyle seems a valuable trade-off to the sun. Rémillard emphasized how since Covid, there has been an uptick in RV sales where people want to “go back to their roots and start travelling on the ground.” As he puts it, people want to “rediscover this beautiful country”, especially when air travel feels increasingly unsafe. From an economic standpoint, he mentioned how a vacation for a family of four for a one-week all-inclusive could cost up to $10,000, whereas purchasing a quality RV for $40,000 once would span multiple trips a year for many years, which he highlighted as a worthy investment.
While some people go to Ikea to imagine an ideal lifestyle, the Montreal RV Show could also be the perfect activity for planning a dream vacation. Who knows, one might even invest in an RV? With all these choices of vehicles and possible destinations to travel to, the next question to ask is where to? The answer: sky’s the limit!
The RV Salon is at Palais de Congres from March 5 – 8 and April 9 – 12 in Quebec City. Info HERE.
