Three years ago, Catherine Major left her native Montreal with a tattoo on her heart to settle with her lover Jeff Moran and her three children in Lac-Brome in the Eastern Townships. Baby #4, the beautiful Carmen, arrived in the meantime. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the lives of the artist parents upside down. “The first few months, I felt very insecure,” confides Catherine Major from her country home. “I wasn’t performing and, for me, it wasn’t at all a favourable context for writing or composing. I talked to my boyfriend about the prospect of having other assets.”

In partnership with a couple of friends who are real estate investors, they set their sights on a century-old house in the neighboring village that combines two vocations: accommodation and rental property. The friends would take care of the accommodation while Jeff and Catherine would become innkeepers.

Free access

True to themselves, the couple put all their creativity into it. "We are two perfectionists. Our first action was to rejuvenate the place. Our many trips have sharpened our demands in terms of comfort, cleanliness, attention to detail, and elegance."

The cottage will be completely autonomous, a concept that is widespread in Europe. “We will not live on site,” explains Catherine. “Guests will have access to a lockbox for their room with private bathroom. Common areas, such as a fully equipped kitchen, will be at their disposal. After the year we have just had, we wanted visitors to be able to meet in a friendly atmosphere. This freedom could cause unpleasant surprises, we are aware of that, but we have chosen to trust.”

The singer and pianist wanted to go further...

Born Entrepreneur

Having been caught up in a mountain of paperwork for months, Catherine has no trouble drawing a parallel with her career: “My entrepreneurial spirit has always been there. I filled out my first requests for financial assistance to Musiaction on my own. I am a very organized person. I have no choice with four children! I don’t like missing the boat. Jeff’s strengths lie elsewhere. He is very hands-on. He is capable of doing everything from A to Z and doing it very well.”

Catherine emphasizes the importance of understanding the processes behind her projects before potentially delegating certain tasks. “What I find difficult right now is the administrative procedures that are endless and complicated. This burden can discourage many from starting a business or persevering. Fortunately, the City of Waterloo has been extraordinary and provided me with financial support and guidance. I also received help from the Haute-Yamaska and Region Business Assistance Center .”

Even before opening its doors, Au Loup, Bed & Boutique was also a local winner in the Individual Services category of the OSEntreprendre Challenge . “For some time now, we have been feeling an impressive buzz in Waterloo. Nice little businesses have opened their doors. There are more visitors. The place is charming with its large, unexpected lake and a heritage trail of 55 century-old houses, including ours.”

Of music and fresh water

Before the hostel project, Jeff and Catherine had put their good taste and talent to work on the Fostair , a 200 sq. ft. 1973 Airstream transformed into a charming mini-house that they now rent out via the Airbnb platform.

With the album Carte mère released in May 2020, and the opening of Au loup, Bed & Boutique scheduled for the end of June, Catherine Major already has both feet in a busy summer since she was entrusted with the musical composition of the opera adaptation of Michel Tremblay's classic, Albertine en cinq temps . The show by Les Productions du 10 avril will be presented in the fall of 2022 and will be followed by a tour in 2023. "Eventually, there will be a fight between music and our other projects. Jeff also has to make his album. We want to be there for our children. I have my huge vegetable garden to maintain. For now, with the inn, everything has to be learned. I'm especially eager to open, to get it on track. Between now and then, there's a lot to do."