By Lawrence Belanger
Local Journalism Initiative
On the village of North Hatley’s snowy, icy Pleasant View beachfront sits two small, unassuming wooden structures, housing an oddity for the Quebec winterscape: a sauna. Frédérik-Toran Nissen and Ismaël Ulvik, two business partners both originally from Lennoxville, opened Solstice Sauna on Dec. 16 to a curious and fascinated community.
You may have been in one if you’ve been to Europe or certain hotels in Canada or the United States, but saunas aren’t a common sight for most North Americans. Ulvik says that “like the local coffee shop”, he hopes that Solstice becomes a place “where people can come and feel welcome.” He wants the facility to be welcoming to everyone, “you’re younger or older or if you had a family, it’s accessible.”
(It should be noted, that the sauna is accessible via steps, so it might prove difficult for someone with a wheelchair to access on their own).
