ABOUT US

Get acquainted with the École de cirque de Québec

Welcome to the École de cirque de Québec (ÉCQ), here to share the circus of today and create the circus of tomorrow.

The ÉCQ is a non-profit organization that offers professional and recreational training in the circus arts. It caters to a clientele of young Quebec and international artists, as well as the residents of Quebec City, particularly those living in the Limoilou area.

The short tale of a great school

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Established in 1995, the ÉCQ began its journey in the gymnasium of the Centre Louis-Jolliet before moving to the Pavillon de la jeunesse at ExpoCité. Finally, in 2003, it found its definitive home in the former Saint-Esprit Church, located in the heart of Vieux-Limoilou. 

In 2010, faithful to its reputation as a powerhouse in the growth of circus arts in Quebec City and across provincial and national borders, the school undertook a major expansion of its facilities to meet the growing needs of the contemporary circus community.

By honouring the heritage of the former Saint-Esprit Church and adding modern improvements, the facility has become a unique and inspiring place to share and learn circus arts—one the community truly values.

As of today, the École de cirque de Québec is the only public professional circus school in Canada, which also offers a wide range of recreational activities.

The values that drive us

Respect

Respect

Respect is the foundation of everything we do and every decision we make. The needs, opinions and expectations of our students, staff, volunteers, customers and partners are always taken into account.

OPEN-MINDEDNESS

OPEN-MINDEDNESS

Being open-minded means staying curious, adaptable and ready to learn. It’s the willingness to grow and evolve, whether by expanding our skills or adjusting to new realities, all while honouring the unique culture of the school.

RIGOUR

RIGOUR

Rigour is the foundation of everything we do. It reflects our commitment to quality, our dedication to doing things right and our drive to constantly improve. It also plays a key role in shaping and maintaining the school’s professional reputation.

AUTONOMY

AUTONOMY

Autonomy is essential for both personal growth and artistic development. As students gain independence, they become more confident in their creative expression and better equipped to understand their own boundaries and capabilities.

ENTHUSIASM

ENTHUSIASM

Enthusiasm is the lifeblood behind every circus artist. It’s contagious, and it’s what fuels our passion and uplifts those around us. But most importantly, it makes for a more creative outlook on life.

CREATIVITY

CREATIVITY

Creativity helps us face challenges, imagine new ideas and build strong connections. It’s at the core of innovation.

SURPASSING YOURSELF

SURPASSING YOURSELF

Surpassing your limits is essential in the circus world. It’s how artists grow, improve and reach their full potential.

acrobatie vélo

Our mission

The ÉCQ’s mission is threefold.

Artistic aspect
Support new generations of contemporary circus artists, as well as professional artists and the circus industry.

Educational aspect
Offer a range of professional and recreational training activities to the various audiences interested in learning the circus arts.

Community aspect
Work with specialists to create workshops that support personal growth through the circus arts for different groups, including children and teens with special needs (such as autism or learning difficulties).

Psychological and sexual harassment prevention policy 

Everyone who comes to the École de cirque de Québec (ÉCQ), whether to study, visit or stay, is entitled to feel safe, respected and protected, both physically and emotionally. The ÉCQ team is committed to creating a healthy, welcoming environment, free from any form of abuse, harassment or violence, as well as supporting anyone at the school who might need help. This policy follows the laws in place in Quebec and Canada, as well as our student and employee handbooks.

Team

Tim Roberts
Tim Roberts

Executive director and interim Higher Education director

Nancy Lessard
Nancy Lessard

Recreational sector director

Patrice Dubé
Patrice Dubé

Operations director and workplace health and safety committee president

Sonia Lessard
Sonia Lessard

Executive assistant

Olivier Lépine
Olivier Lépine

Higher Education director

Caroline Franc
Caroline Franc

Acrobatic coordinator and Higher Education assistant director

Danielle Barbeau
Danielle Barbeau

Stage training coordinator

Anne Lepage
Anne Lepage

Swinging trapeze, artistic consultant, aerial disciplines

Fanny Laneuville-Castonguay
Fanny Laneuville-Castonguay

High School Circus Studies coordinator

Beatrice Pelletier
Beatrice Pelletier

Administrative assistant

Sarah-Maude Morin Boulais
Sarah-Maude Morin Boulais

Physical preparation

Marie-Kim Bernard
Marie-Kim Bernard

Student life coordinator

Mohamed Ahchoune
Mohamed Ahchoune

Balancing acts, Chinese pole, straps, handstands, acrobatics

Danielle Barbeau
Danielle Barbeau

Stage training coordinator

Jasmin Blouin
Jasmin Blouin

Juggling

Yannick Bouchard
Yannick Bouchard

German wheel, handstands, acrobatics

Louis Bourgeault
Louis Bourgeault

Artist profession

Valérie Boutin
Valérie Boutin

Acting, artistic consultant

Louis-Marc Bruneau-Dumoulin
Louis-Marc Bruneau-Dumoulin

Artistic consultant

Francis Caron
Francis Caron

Cyr wheel, trampo-wall, trampoline, aerial disciplines

Caroline Franc
Caroline Franc

Trampoline

Simon Giraldo
Simon Giraldo

Acrobatics, balancing acts

Andrée-Anne Hamel
Andrée-Anne Hamel

Flexibility, Pilates, artistic consultant, ballet dancing

Nicolette Hazewinkel
Nicolette Hazewinkel

Juggling, tightwire, artistic consultant

Geneviève Kérouac
Geneviève Kérouac

Artistic consultant, clown

Céline Khandjian
Céline Khandjian

Contemporary dance, artistic consultant

Fanny Laneuville-Castonguay
Fanny Laneuville-Castonguay

Acrobatics, balancing acts, trapeze duet 

Valérie Lavoie
Valérie Lavoie

Flexibility, acrobatics

Anne Lepage
Anne Lepage

Swinging trapeze, artistic consultant, aerial disciplines

Kenneth Lindemann
Kenneth Lindemann

Balancing acts, straps, aerial tripod, aerial rope, silks

Marc-Olivier Morin
Marc-Olivier Morin

Acrobatic bicycle, handstands

Jacques Palardy-Dion
Jacques Palardy-Dion

Aerial cradle, trampoline, trampo-wall

Jocelyn Paré
Jocelyn Paré

Acting

Guillaume Pépin
Guillaume Pépin

Acting

Maxime Perron
Maxime Perron

Artistic consultant, acting, “En scène” directing class

Jorge Petit
Jorge Petit

Juggling/handling

Cynthia Pigeon
Cynthia Pigeon

Ballet dancing, movement

Véronique Provencher
Véronique Provencher

Juggling/handling

Chloé St-Jean Richard
Chloé St-Jean Richard

German wheel, aerial disciplines, acrobatics

Samantha Clavet
Samantha Clavet

Silks, aerial rope, artistic consultant

Maude Duval
Maude Duval

Balancing acts, handstands

Rachel Gauthier
Rachel Gauthier

Aerial disciplines

 Alexandre Gillis
Alexandre Gillis

Handstands, Chinese rings

Camille Langlois
Camille Langlois

Hula-hoop

Sarah-Maude Morin Boulais
Sarah-Maude Morin Boulais

Physical preparation

Alexia Stephens
Alexia Stephens

Dance

Julie Tremblay
Julie Tremblay

Music, voice

Yannick Bouchard
Yannick Bouchard

German wheel, handstands, acrobatics

Jacques Palardy-Dion
Jacques Palardy-Dion

Flying trapeze coordinator

Marc-André Gunville
Marc-André Gunville

Adapted circus coordinator

Shawn Barbeau
Shawn Barbeau

Group workshops coordinator

Gaetan Verette
Gaetan Verette

Supervisor

Patrice Dubé
Patrice Dubé

Head rigger

Nada Simard
Nada Simard

Financial controller

Robin Pueyo
Robin Pueyo

Communications coordinator

Philippe Gauthier
Philippe Gauthier

IT and multimedia coordinator and data privacy protection coordinator

Pierre Larois
Pierre Larois

Rigger

Andrée Josée Milot
Andrée Josée Milot

Production coordinator

Ghislain Cormier
Ghislain Cormier

Building manager

Martha Cecilia Alzate
Martha Cecilia Alzate

Accounting technician

Maxime Lapointe
Maxime Lapointe

Accounting technician

Réception
Reception

Jocelyn Tremblay
Jocelyn Tremblay

President

Sylvie Lemieux
Sylvie Lemieux

Vice-president

Louis Martel
Louis Martel

Secretary

Philippe Morin
Philippe Morin

Treasurer

Nathalie Blanchette
Nathalie Blanchette

Director

Guy Tremblay

Director

Jessika Munger
Jessika Munger

Director

Lucie Demers
Lucie Demers

Director

Marie-Claude Dussault
Marie-Claude Dussault

President

Guy Tremblay
Guy Tremblay

Director

Daniel Boivin
Daniel Boivin

Treasurer

Josée Tremblay

Secretary

Frédéric Gingras
Frédéric Gingras

Director

Annual reports

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