Reimbursement for training-related expenses

1. Be a member of En Piste in the “Performing Artists” or “Trainers, Coaches, or Instructors” categories.

Membership dues must have been paid at the time the expense is incurred. For example: If I pay the membership fee on February 12, I cannot be reimbursed for an expense incurred on February 11.

2. Live in the province of Quebec and submit proof of residence with the form.

3. The expense must be incurred in Quebec, must be related to training, and must be an eligible expense (see below for more details).
   
   
4. For each request, please fill out the form correctly via the member portal (see below for more details).

All expenses must be incurred in the province of Quebec and be related to training.

Eligible expenses under this program are:

• Training classes, group or individual instruction in a circus discipline or a related discipline such as dance, yoga, Pilates, etc.;

• The admission fee for a studio session for training or open practice;

• Circus workshops and courses, as well as memberships at a training facility;

• Fees for hiring a private coach or trainer;
  
  
• Fees for the technical staff required to ensure the safety of the training session, such as a spotter, puller, etc.

The following expenses are not reimbursable:

• Expenses incurred prior to payment of the annual En Piste membership fee;

• Expenses incurred outside of Quebec;

• Online training courses;

• Medical expenses or costs related to a physical fitness evaluation;

• The cost of renting a studio to create a show;

• The purchase or rental of training equipment;

• Travel, lodging, and living expenses;

• Expenses related to the creation, rehearsal, production, or public performance of a act or show (e.g., hiring an artistic director to develop an act);

• No voluntary contributions will be refunded;

• Fees for all training courses offered by En Piste (both group and customized courses); Expenses covered by another grant or program (programs from Services Québec, the CALQ, the CAM, or other funding agencies).

An individual may receive up to $300 per quarter, not to exceed $650 per year (from January 1 to December 31). Taxes are included in these amounts.

E.g., $300 in the first quarter, $300 in the second quarter, $50 in the third quarter, $0 in the fourth quarter; taxes included.

The available budget is allocated on a quarterly basis to allow for reimbursements throughout the year. The budget for 2026 is $70,000, or $17,500 per quarter.

During the year, the consortium may adjust the eligibility thresholds for reimbursements based on available financial resources and the number of applications.

*Please note that the following are the designated supervised training facilities: Ecole de cirque de Québec, Manivelle, Ecole nationale de cirque, TOHU, Cirque Hors Piste, Cirque Eloize, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, and Le Monastère. These venues are part of the agreement between the CALQ and the CNESST to ensure that artists are covered by the CNESST during training sessions outside of their employment contracts. Learn more.

Requests are processed in this order:

1. People who did not receive a refund during the year.
2. The remaining applications will be processed chronologically, that is, in the order in which they are received, until the quarterly budget is exhausted.

Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis. At the end of each quarter, the application form will be available for a period of 10 days.

*The date to be considered is the payment date (not the date the invoice was received, nor the date of service).

For example: If I paid for my annual gym membership on January 2, I can request a refund between April 1 and April 10.

For example: If I paid for a training course on May 15 that takes place on September 20, I can request a refund between July 1 and July 10. The request will be denied if it is submitted in October.

All requests must be submitted through the member portal (the tab is not yet visible). Requests submitted by email will not be processed.

The number of applications is very high, and the administrative burden is significant. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will therefore be rejected. We recommend that you read the following instructions carefully:

How to fill out the form correctly:

• File names: Each file must be named using the first and last name of the person making the request. Example: LastName_FirstName_GymInvoice

• Proof of residence: For your first application of the year, you must submit a recent proof of residence in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format.
  The following forms of proof of residence are accepted: a bill from an Internet service provider, cable TV provider, or telephone service provider; a bill from an energy provider (heating, electricity); a valid Quebec driver’s license; a municipal or school tax bill; or home insurance.

• Facture : les factures doivent être envoyées au format PDF. Une seule facture peut être envoyée par formulaire. Les documents où plusieurs factures sont fusionnées ne seront pas acceptés. Voici les éléments qui doivent apparaître sur la facture :   
  
  
  • Name: The invoice must be in the name of the person making the request (invoices in the name of a company are not eligible).
    
    
  • Taxes: If the supplier charges GST/QST, the tax numbers must appear on the invoice.
    
    
  • Service: The invoice must specify which service was provided (e.g., rental, fees, subscription, etc.).

• Proof of payment: Invoices must be accompanied by proof of payment. The proof of payment must include your name and the supplier’s name. Exception: If the word “paid” appears on the invoice, you do not need to send proof of payment.
  Examples of proof of payment: screenshot of the Interac e-Transfer, bank statement (highlight the payment).