Cindy Nolet and Sylvain Trottier are rebuilding their home in Saint-Thuribe, Quebec, after a landslide destroyed part of their property [1].

The recovery effort highlights the long-term instability of rural landscapes in the Portneuf region and the financial burden of reconstructing homes lost to geological disasters.

The landslide occurred in July 2024, creating a crisis that forced the family to evacuate their residence immediately [2]. According to reports, the slide displaced more than 2,000 square metres [3], or over 25,000 square feet [3], of agricultural land. The event split a local road and left the family home under direct threat, necessitating a rapid departure from the site.

One year after the initial disaster, the family continues to navigate the complexities of restoring their land and dwelling [1]. The scale of the displacement was significant enough to alter the geography of the property, removing essential farmland that the family relied upon for their livelihood [3].

Local residents described the urgency of the situation at the time of the slide. One resident said, "Il fallait qu’on parte au plus vite," referring to the need to leave as quickly as possible [2].

Reconstruction in Saint-Thuribe involves not only rebuilding the physical structure of the home but also addressing the displaced earth that continues to affect the surrounding area [1]. The family's experience serves as a case study for other residents in the Portneuf region who face similar risks of soil instability and land loss [2].

“« Il fallait qu’on parte au plus vite »”

This event underscores the increasing vulnerability of rural infrastructure in Quebec to sudden geological shifts. The loss of over 2,000 square metres of farmland represents a permanent reduction in agricultural productivity for the affected property, signaling that recovery from such landslides involves both structural reconstruction and long-term economic adaptation to a diminished land base.