This week’s Throwback Thursday are images of EC Montreal’s annual maple syrup festival, also known as the “Sugar Shack” Festival! It is maple season in Quebec and one of the most important events we offer our students is a Taste of Montreal! Introducing them to traditional dishes and local foods. We are proud of the fact that 90% of the world’s maple syrup is produced right here in Quebec. Maple syrup is not only delicious, but it also is filled with many vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants.
At EC Montreal, we completely transform the student lounge to look like a traditional Sugar Shack or Cabane a Sucre as it is called in Quebec. These shacks are located on maple farms and serve traditional Quebecois meals and yes, there are pitchers and pitchers of maple syrup intended to be poured over everything. The tables all have red and white checkered table cloths and there are piles of fire wood and maple containers that are used to collect the sap from the trees. There is Quebecois folk music playing in the background and every single table is covered in different kinds of local maple syrup treats. There are cakes, pies, cupcakes, donuts, candies, muffins, fudge, popcorn, cotton candy, cookies and so much more!
Every table also has fun facts about maple syrup as well as nutritional information. The festival is only one of many maple syrup activities we plan for our students.
We also give them information about the different maple farms that are located very close to Montreal’s city center. Our tour operator also plans a special trip to the Sugar Shack several times a year so students can experience the real deal and get a tour of the maple farm and learn how the syrup is extracted from the trees and how it is made.
For now, the Sugar Shacks are still operating and you can enjoy a day at the farm. Soon the dining rooms will reopen and we can enjoy a delicious and very rich Cabane a Sucre meal!
Join us at EC Montreal this spring and get your own sweet taste of Montreal with EC!
