Caroline Sage, Director-General of the Parc de la Gorge of Coaticook

Video of Caroline Sage, the Director of the Coaticook Gorge Park, discussing two important innovations: the Suspension Bridge and Foresta Lumina, the multimedia after-dark trail. She stands on the covered bridge of the Gorge Park; behind her is a glimpse of the round barn, one of the Park’s features. In the video we also see images of the nocturnal trail, of technicians installing equipment, and of visitors waiting in line to start the trail.

Transcription:

[Caroline Sage]

The suspended bridge was a dream,

[The suspended bridge appears, looking majestic against an autumn landscape]

[Voice off-screen]

the big dream, of the town council in the days of mayor André Langevin

[Screen back to Caroline Sage]

who wanted to draw attention to the Gorge in a different way. They had the idea of building the longest suspension bridge for pedestrians in the world. The work took 6 months and was done by the local firm, Couillard Construction. So, the work started in July ’88 and was completed in December ’88, and it opened to the public at the end of May, 1989.

[Visitors stand on the bridge, admiring the view]

[Voice off-screen]

In its biggest years, the suspended bridge would attract up to 150,000 visitors.

[Screen back to Caroline Sage]

For a long time the bridge was the symbol of the Park of the Gorge of Coaticook.

[People stand in a forested decor, illuminated in colour]

[Voice off-screen]

Foresta Lumina! What a triumph for the Park of the Gorge! The idea of creating Foresta Lumina, a nighttime trail, had been in the works since 2010, following some strategic planning when our dream was to build a 2nd “bridge”. In the sense that we wanted to draw attention to the Coaticook Gorge, but in a different way, using new technologies. In 2013, we were put in touch with Moment Factory by means of a common friend; after many discussions they came down to Coaticook to see what sort of playing field they would have, to create a nocturnal trail that would include lighting, projection mapping and a theatrical design based on our own legends, that became Foresta Lumina as we know it today. The goals of the project were very clear. We wanted a multicultural event, that each visitor could make their own, regardless of ethnicity, religion or culture. We didn’t want words used; we wanted everything to happen by lighting, or by drama, by sound or visuals. We also wanted something that was respectful of the environment.

[Two technicians are setting up technical installations in a wooded area, first on scaffolding, then using a cherry picker]

[Voice off-screen]

We had to adapt a lot of the techniques, for example, even the system of hooking up the speakers to the trees; we didn’t want to screw them directly into the trees, so we created special cushioned rings to protect them. And those rings, all that equipment, we take it down every year, so the rings can be adjusted for each tree’s annual growth.

[Back to Caroline Sage]

When we made our business plan, Foresta Lumina was expected to draw 7500 visitors per year. But in our first year, more than 72,000 people came to see Foresta Lumina. It was a gigantic success, a success that a community like Coaticook never expected at all, nor did the Park expect such numbers either. Foresta Lumina made waves around the world. The Park of the Gorge won several international prizes, including Attraction Park of the year awarded by Walt Disney. We won the Numix prize, which is awarded for artistic creativity, and many others as well.

The outcome of all of this is that now, every municipality in Quebec and even beyond, wants to have their own Foresta Lumina.