SURVIVALIST
READY FOR ALL
Often reduced to stereotypes of bunkers, stockpiles of canned food, heavily armed individuals, and fear of the end of the world, survivalists are in reality far from this image. In Quebec, most fear weather conditions that could cut them off from usual resources. And they prepare to be able to handle as long as possible. Encounters.
A REPORT BY CHLOÉ MARRIAULT
ANTICIPATE
TO SURVIVE
"I can't wait to see the article that will say we're all crazy, dangerous, racist and paranoid..." "Not to mention a crazy and dangerous individual with military weapons." Following a post published on a Facebook group for survivalists to gain testimonials, for this article, the replies are frosty. And for good reason: survivalists fear being stereotyped and dread being portrayed as doomsayers.
"The media portrayal of survivalists does not correspond to the reality of things," explains Bertrand Vidal, a French sociologist specializing in disasters and author of the book "Survivalisme," which has just been released in Quebec. "They are summarized by the media through their imagination, their fantasies, their fabrications. Yet they are very rational."
Among the few survivalists who agreed to respond is Benoît*, 60 years old. In his second home, everything has been designed for long-term autonomous living. This business leader describes himself as "a high-end survivalist, extremely well-equipped and organized."
Six years ago, he acquired a 300-acre plot of land in the Laurentians. There, he had his second home built, reflecting the survivalist ideal.
In the jargon of the community, this would be referred to as a "sustainable autonomous base," a retreat where one can be self-sufficient in the long term.
At first glance, nothing distinguishes his building from a conventional house. The residence is perfectly maintained, luxurious, and comfortable. But upon closer inspection, Benoît's words were apt: he is indeed prepared for an uncertain tomorrow. On his property, he has extensive forest resources, a private lake, a large vegetable garden and an orchard, energy resources, a spring, a beaver dam... In short, everything needed to be self-sufficient in the event of a crisis.
Survivalists have a wide range of concerns. Some fear an environmental disaster, a disruption in water or electricity supply, an economic collapse, a pandemic, an industrial accident, a failure of the state or banks... What does Benoît fear? A snowstorm, an earthquake that would disrupt the electrical system, or a large-scale hacking attack that would bring down the banking system.
FOOD AND ENERGY AUTONOMY
This long-time survivalist has planned everything to live in self-sufficiency and stay as long as possible in his house in the event of a major incident. He has made it a point of honor to achieve food self-sufficiency. In his kitchen, he has a pantry where he stores provisions that have a long shelf life. Even more impressive, an entire room above his garage is dedicated to his supplies. He has meticulously organized bags of rice, pasta, spices, sauces... And he takes care to replace the goods when the expiration date has passed.
"I think I have a year's supply of food for eight people."
— Benoît, survivalist
And everything has been thought out down to the smallest detail. "We even have a cake to celebrate a birthday. In the end, all we would have left is the radio to know that others are in trouble elsewhere," jokes Nancy, 48, Benoît's partner. She describes herself as "carefree, artistic, and dreamy." "I didn't even have a gas reserve when I got here this morning!" she says with a smile. "But I knew that Benoît could provide some when I arrived. He's my survival backpack. It's reassuring to have someone like him in your life."
In his living room, the survivalist has stored his collection of books related to survival. If he is no longer able to procure food, this hunter-trapper will know how to manage with what nature offers. Bear, deer, turkey, beaver, mink, coyote, partridge... He also has chickens and rabbits on his property. He has a private lake, into which he has stocked 500 speckled trout that he can fish. As for water, he has a well and a spring that flows 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Around Benoît's residence, there is a thick forest with many maple trees. Therefore, he produces his own syrup, taffy, and maple butter in the sugar shack installed in his building.
"If the banking system collapses and we have to revert to bartering, having a resource to trade, like maple, is important."
— Benoît
Finally, in terms of energy, Benoît has equipped himself with a large generator, a substantial amount of gasoline (1300 L) and diesel (5000 L). He heats with wood and already has many reserves thanks to his wooded area. "I have also acquired a 300 W solar panel that can power the lights," he indicates. "And I would like to install an electric turbine in the river that runs through the property."
A FALLBACK POINT FOR THE FAMILY
But where does this need to anticipate everything, turned into a life philosophy, come from? At 13, he was already reading "The Trapper's Guide." "My father fought in World War II, and it somewhat traumatized me to hear these stories about people who lacked everything," confides the tall man. The ice storm crisis of winter 1998 reinforced his belief that one must be prepared. With all this equipment, he could even assist individuals in the surrounding area if the authorities are unable to cope with the situation.
His house was designed as a fallback point for the family. His four children know that in case of a crisis, they can all meet there. In total, 10 people can be accommodated on site.
"We neglect the social aspect of a crisis. Thanks to all this anticipation, we would find ourselves here in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. Others, who would not have prepared, would be depressed and scared..."
— Nancy, compagne de Benoît
Benoît's next goal is ambitious: to build 12 autonomous chalets and create a community on his land, with individuals who each have a specific expertise. "There would be, for example, a doctor, a biologist, a mechanic... Everyone would share the same values, we would complement each other and be more efficient," he explains.
*In the event of a crisis, survivalists believe they could be subject to attacks by people who do not have resources. That is why Benoît has requested that his last name not be published.
SURVIVALIST LEXICON
On Facebook groups, in their YouTube videos, or on specialized websites, survivalists, wherever they are, use a specific vocabulary.
BOB (Bug Out Bag): A backpack that contains supplies to survive 72 hours when one must evacuate.
EDC (EveryDay Carry): The set of gear that a survivalist always carries with them or keeps close by. The gear depends on individual needs and the risks they anticipate.
TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It): Literally "the end of the world as we know it." It refers to a situation of a breakdown with the system as we know it.
Zombie: A person who is unprepared and who could become an enemy wanting to plunder the resources of those who are prepared.
THE SURVIVAL KIT
Here is a sample of the basic survival gear that every good survivalist possesses.
— Chloé Marriault, La Presse
RAISING AWARENESS AMONG THE POPULATION
Websites, books, survival courses... Survivalists use various channels to perfect their knowledge and advocate for the preparation of every citizen.
"In the Armed Forces, there's an adage that says: 'One Man One Kit.' It's not your buddy who's going to carry your water and your rations, it's you, it's your job," believes Eric Lemay, who is based in Victoriaville. For him, everyone should "be self-sufficient, independent, and ensure their own safety while public safety organizations coordinate priorities in the event of a significant disruption."
After spending 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, he launched Plan B Solutions, a website that offers equipment. The item he sells the most: the "resilience kit." This emergency kit, which has a lifespan of 25 years, includes food, a water purifier, a makeshift shelter, a wood-burning cooking device, first aid and hygiene items, an efficient phone charging set, means to signal one's presence, stay warm, transport water... Its price: around $2000.
AN EVACUATION ROUTE
Having the right equipment is not enough; one must know how to use it and make do with what nature provides. Mathieu, a 35-year-old survivalist living in Trois-Rivières, launched the website Québec Survie Urbaine in 2015 to share his advice. "My experience in the French airborne forces, my paramedic experience, and my passion for the outdoors mean that I have a pretty solid foundation in the field," he says.
"Ten medical resources you can obtain from nature," "Why and how to store water," "Learn to build a shelter," "Which firearms for survivalism"... On his site, Mathieu covers all aspects of survival.
He advises everyone to have an evacuation plan with at least four destinations, one for each cardinal direction. The Quebec Ministry of Public Security also advises this, recommending that you make an evacuation plan for your home.
"Plan a route to leave your neighborhood. Have an alternate route in case some roads are impassable."
— Le ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec
A BAG FOR EACH TRIP
What does Mathieu fear? "On a small scale, a prolonged power outage, floods, or a snowstorm that would force me to stay put until things calm down." During his travels, whether going to the grocery store, to work, or on vacation, he always carries his 6 kg Get Home Bag on his back. Inside, there's everything needed to
make a shelter, start a fire, obtain water and food, something for self-defense, call for help, and provide first aid.
These precautions are similar to those recommended by the authorities. Indeed, the Ministry of Public Safety advises everyone to have an emergency kit at home. "It should contain enough items to allow your family to survive for the first three days of a disaster [...] until help arrives or essential services are restored," the Ministry indicates.
To raise awareness among the general public, Mathieu has just published an e-book on survival. He is also considering offering a two-day urban survival training course in Mauricie. "Crime rates are increasing, the global economy is worsening, and natural disasters are becoming more frequent," he believes. "Today, everyone needs to know how to cope with a situation where the governments in place are no longer there to support their citizens."
THE CASE OF WEAPONS
The Facebook group "Survivalistes Francophones Armes et couteaux" (Francophone Survivalists Weapons and Knives) has more than 3,600 members. Benoît and Mathieu have weapons, but both refuse to have them photographed. And for good reason: weapons are a taboo subject for the community, which fears being caricatured and stigmatized. For them, it is a means of hunting and defending themselves in case of riots, excesses, or attacks.
GROWING COMMUNITY
Since its inception, survivalism has evolved in line with collective fears. The community today is very diverse. While in the United States it is an extreme practice, here, most survivalists are closer to the land.
How many are there, like them, anticipating a disaster? It's hard to say. On social media, survivalists interact, share their concerns, and ways to address them. On Facebook, the group "Survivalisme – Québec – Survie" has more than 2,700 members. "Today, survivalism has largely moved beyond the stage of being a mere epiphenomenon; it is turning into a real trend, affecting an increasing part of society," explains Bertrand Vidal in his book "Survivalisme," the result of an investigation that began in December 2012.
The term "survivalism" appeared in the 1960s, coined by Kurt Saxon. "He was a libertarian who adhered to the American Nazi Party, the Church of Scientology, the Church of Satan. He used the term 'survivalism' to describe the lifestyle of the pioneers of the American Far West, but also an approach to survival to prepare, to survive the threat of the warming of the Cold War in the 60s and 70s."
The term resurfaced at the end of the 2000s, during the financial crisis.
"The image of the survivalist as depicted by these early authors, that of a loner in khaki fatigues, secluded in a bunker or a cabin deep in the woods, surrounded by canned goods and ammunition, is now outdated."
— excerpt from "Survivalisme" by Bertrand Vidal
"Indeed, the financial crisis that began in 2007 has profoundly transformed the movement," indicates Bertrand Vidal.
BACK TO NATURE
Throughout his investigation, the sociologist realized that survivalists are found in developed countries, not in underdeveloped areas or war zones. "Putting oneself in the shoes of a survivor of a hypothetical end of the world is indeed a pastime of the privileged, a leisure activity of the well-off," writes Bertrand Vidal.
But the "end of the world" scenario is no longer really current. He notes that now, for many, it is about getting closer to ancestral practices, to the land, to the rediscovery of tradition. "Clearly reactionary and xenophobic at its origin, the societal critique carried by survivalism has softened over the years, and now resonates with many contemporary concerns, including ecological sensitivity," he indicates. Food autonomy, energy independence, sustainability, permaculture: ecologists also share these concerns, he observes.
The sociologist speaks of a highly protean movement that will embrace the fears of the moment and adapt according to the local context. The Quebec survivalist will have concerns that are quite different from those of someone from the south of France, for example. And each will be a survivalist on their own scale, according to their means and beliefs.
Today, the community remains difficult to approach. "There is a culture of secrecy, of anonymity," explains the sociologist. Survivalists often use a pseudonym on social networks. There would almost be a double life: the life as it is accepted by society, and the life of the survivalist who comes to hide a bit like the ant in its burrow, who must not say where its reserves are located."
**All translations are made from the original article written in French.
