The Peak Watina Story
One Man.
One Mountain.
A lifelong dream at the summit of the Laurentians.
Some real estate projects are developments. Others become a life’s work. Peak Watina belongs to the latter.
Long before ecotourism became a familiar concept — and before access to nature and quality of life became defining priorities for buyers — a Quebec entrepreneur was already imagining a place where people could live in harmony with the natural world. That man is François Filion.
For more than 35 years, he has patiently shaped a remarkable property in the Laurentians — an entire mountain developed according to a long-term vision, where every road, every lot and every viewpoint has been carefully considered to preserve the balance between development and the environment. Today, Peak Watina represents the culmination of that vision.
The name PEAKWATINA was created by François and inspired by the Algonquin place name Minawaniko Pikwatina, described in the project’s history as meaning “the mountain where one feels happy.”
When François discovered the expression, he wanted to preserve its spirit while giving it a more universal identity. He transformed Pikwatina into PEAKWATINA, replacing the first part with the English word Peak — the summit. For him, the word evokes striving higher, reaching one’s full potential and pursuing excellence.
A journey toward the summit, in a place where people can grow, thrive and find happiness.
Originally from Saint-Jérôme, François Filion was immersed in real estate development from an early age. By 25, he was developing his first lots in Saint-Colomban. He went on to complete several projects, including some of Saint-Jérôme’s earliest condominium developments.
“The value of land isn’t determined by location alone. More than anything, it comes from the vision of the person developing it.”
In 1991, with Quebec in the midst of a major real estate recession, François made a decision that surprised nearly everyone around him: he purchased the summit of a mountain just a few kilometres from Mont-Tremblant. At the time, there was virtually nothing there — no infrastructure, no roads and no services. Even his accountant strongly advised him against it. To many, it seemed reckless. To François, it was the project of a lifetime.
“Big projects often require just as much energy as small ones. You might as well think big.”
Nearly four kilometres of municipal roads. Hydro-Québec. Fibre-optic Internet. Municipal services. Over more than three decades, Peak Watina has evolved into a genuine residential community.
Work began in the spring of 1992. Over the following years, François Filion personally invested in the first major infrastructure, opening more than 2.3 kilometres of roads to the summit. The network would eventually grow to nearly four kilometres of municipal roads. Essential services followed, including Hydro-Québec, fibre-optic Internet, postal service, municipal waste collection and snow removal.
Unlike so many developments that never move beyond the planning stage, Peak Watina became a real community. Today, approximately 50 homes have been built and more than 100 lots have already been sold, creating a community of both permanent and seasonal residents.
Even before the property was acquired, University of Montréal botany students had studied the site’s remarkable biodiversity. Across approximately 650,000 sq. ft., a genuine boreal forest has taken root, with black spruce, wintergreen, rare mushrooms and other northern flora more commonly associated with areas much farther north in Quebec.
Rather than turning the area into developable land, François Filion chose to protect it permanently. The forest is excluded from the property offered for sale. It is Peak Watina’s natural legacy.
Peak Watina was never simply subdivided into lots. It was conceived as a series of complementary living environments, each with its own identity and development potential, allowing the project to progress gradually in step with the market.
The warmest and most community-oriented of the four areas — a small village nestled in the forest. The predominantly level terrain helps reduce infrastructure costs, while a remarkable beaver pond creates a natural focal point.
François’s vision is for a neighbourhood with a harmonious architectural identity that strengthens the value of the entire community.
Nearly 160 acres — the largest development opportunity within the property. Spectacular mountain panoramas, remarkable sunsets and access to Lac Long, one of Peak Watina’s natural treasures.
A rare opportunity to live quite literally at the summit of the Laurentians, immediately adjacent to the protected boreal forest. A peaceful, majestic setting with views extending for kilometres across the surrounding landscape.
With existing infrastructure nearby, La Vallée offers the simplest and fastest development opportunity to bring to market. Limited road-opening requirements and lots that can be marketed relatively quickly make it an ideal candidate for an initial phase.
In real estate development, time is often one of the greatest risks. Developers can spend years waiting for approvals before work can truly begin. That is precisely where Peak Watina stands apart. After more than two and a half years of work, François Filion obtained comprehensive PIIA approval (Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program) in 2024 — an approval that covers the overall development and remains valid for 20 years.
The required studies have also been completed, including biological studies, environmental characterization, wetland inventories, watercourse analysis and plant-species assessments. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been invested, substantially reducing many of the technical, administrative and regulatory uncertainties that typically accompany a project of this scale.
“For more than 35 years, I have devoted a significant part of my life to this mountain. I have invested my time, my energy, my resources and, above all, my passion. Today, Peak Watina is ready for its next chapter. I want to pass it on to people who understand its true value and who will continue its development with the same respect for nature and quality of life. This mountain still has so much to offer.”
This is about more than acquiring land. It is an opportunity to take over a project refined over more than 35 years — one that is ready to enter its next phase of development and accelerate its path to market.
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