A hot air balloon, it does not rise in the air as if by magic, but for Martin Isabelle and his team … it’s just like. For 15 years, his company has been carrying out, behind the scenes, the maintenance of the balloons of Quebec, before making them go up in the sky.
Where is the air magic repair workshop located? In the garage of one of his colleagues, we replies candidly Martin Isabelle. A stock of fabrics, sewing wire and parts like burners of the room.
“Precisely, yesterday, I had to repair a balloon there!” “Says the coactionary. Once deflated, a hot air balloon can represent a bag of a cubic meter, which makes the work possible in such a space.
The most imposing week of the year has just ended, for the magic of air. But at the end of the International Festival of Montgolfières in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the company of the same place is far from having finished its mandate: the maintenance of the balloons is done throughout the year.
After 100 hours of flight – or at least every year – the company inspects each ball. Because if we tend to forget it, a hot air balloon is legally considered as an aircraft in the same way as a plane or a helicopter, explains Mr. Isabelle, who obtained his license as a certified aircraft maintenance technician.
Resistance of the canvas to tears, maintenance of burners, verification of the integrity of the nacelle, maneuvering strings, load ribbons and deflation valve: the steps are numerous before flying the boat, whose fabric used is nylon.
The coactionary explains that on a hot air balloon which has, for example, 500 fabric panels sewn together, it is not uncommon for a full row, or twenty panels, must be replaced. It is generally the panels located at the top of the balloon that will be lacking first, because they are the most requested by the heat that the burners give off. “On the other hand, it must be anticipated that the next year, probably that it is the next row that we will have to change. »»
It’s a bit like a car … When you start to put maintenance, you never know where to stop!
Martin Isabelle, Air magic coactionary
The unique expertise of the company makes it a Quebec flag recognized beyond borders and allows it to participate in various media projects. Some of its pilots flew over the sky of the United States, France and the Dominican Republic.
Altitude
The magic of the air also offers flights in a hot air balloon, and this, throughout the year … even winter. In fact, sometimes very high temperatures during the summer can damage hottters more.
“Festivals are a tiny part of our season,” explains Christine Aubin, also a driver for the company. “People are surprised to learn it, so that’s why we don’t have many requests,” said the one who is also the spouse of Mr. Isabelle.
However, the number of passengers is limited during the winter season. The hot air balloons used are smaller, since the pilots must be able to maneuver them easily in the snow after landing.
It is also the perfect time to train new pilots, as demand is less present. The province has about five or six students, currently, estimates Mr. Isabelle, who teaches two of them.
A hobby taking
The soul of the company, founded in 2010, existed for much longer. Because it belonged to the pilot who formed Martin Isabelle, twenty years ago.
“I have associated myself with other pilots at that time to buy the business of the succession, it was a good challenge”, shares the one who also has another job as a technician in electronics, full time. “For us, the hot air balloon is a hobby, we do this for the pleasure of the thing, we like to fly, my two other partners and me,” he ruled, even before starting his conversation with The press, which took place one of the only days when the rain had invited itself to the South Shore Festival.
But this day of respite would soon give way to a more than loaded routine: “Last week, we worked, me and my spouse, we came back to work, we were going to take off, we were going to bed around 11 p.m., we got up at 4 am, then we start the enthusiast.
Chrono Innovation launches a platform
Photo provided by Chrono Innovation
Philippe Gratton, co -founder and product manager at Chrono Innovation
The Montreal company Chrono Innovation, which specializes in the development of tailor -made software solutions, has launched a brand new platform this summer, now ready to be personalized by companies and their software engineering team. Simply named Chrono, the platform allows its users to maximize their operational efficiency, using artificial intelligence. Funding of $ 5 million, including major support from the Canada Development Bank, has made it possible to speed up deployment. “This funding marks a crucial step in our evolution, [dont] Our presence on the North American market, ”said Philippe Gratton, co-founder and product manager in a statement.
New era for Ristorant Beatrice
Image provided by Broccolini and Ristorant Beatrice
Modeling of the Ristorant Beatrice, at the foot of the Le Sherbrooke residential project, in the Golden Square Mile.
The Ristorant Beatrice de Montréal, flagship address on rue Sherbrooke and the Golden Square Mile, closed its doors on August 3 … to better reopen them in the spring of 2026, this time enlarged! Real estate company Broccolini announced this transformation last Tuesday, because it will be a partner in the adventure. In fact, the restaurant will be integrated into the luxury residential tower Le Sherbrooke, adding 4,600 square feet to the gastronomic address. “Combination of Broccolini to reimagine our restaurant alongside the Le Sherbrooke project marks an exceptional chapter,” reacted Pino Forgione, owner of the Beatrice. “This new space pays tribute to its origins and almost thirty years of excellence in hospitality,” he added. The new space, signed by the architect Philip Hazan, will include a vitreous atrium and a terrace and will be inspired by the elegance of large timeless European restaurants.
A new face at Atwill-Morin
Photo provided by Atwill-Morin
For the new director, major works and infrastructure, Éric Landry, Quebec is full of multiple infrastructure projects in which Atwill-Morin scaffolding will be able to play a key role.
A division of the Atwill-Morin building specialist, Atwill-Morin scaffolding, was supported by investments of $ 2 million to acquire new equipment and have new staff, in anticipation of the deployment of major projects planned in the Quebec infrastructure plan (PQI). Last Thursday, the company therefore appointed its new director of major scaffolding projects, Éric Landry. “Mr. Landry has acquired solid expertise in contract management, planning and administration, in particular as a scaffolding project manager for the renovation of major urban infrastructure such as the Turcot interchange, the Jacques-Cartier bridge, the Olympic stadium, the CUSM and several others,” explains the company’s press release.
Nearly 250
Number of local brands present at the Mad festival (fashion, arts and entertainment) which will take place from August 21 to 24 in the Spectacles district. The event, which holds its 25 this yeare Edition, prides itself on being the largest open -air market dedicated to local fashion in Montreal. Several ephemeral spaces will be set up to allow the public to discover this large selection of brands, such as Fervido, Girl Crush Gang, or even the Bugatti bags, announced the organization of the festival at the beginning of the month. “This year, more than ever, we have gathered the Montreal fashion ecosystem […]. In total, more than 1000 people, models, volunteers, entrepreneurs and artists, will make this edition a success, “said Jean-François Daviau, president and founder of Mad Collectif.