Montreal, May 24, 2024 – The Montreal organization dedicated since 2011 to social circus intervention, Cirque Hors Piste, has seen its approach, based on circus arts as a social intervention tool, recognized with an Honourable Mention awarded as part of the Awards of Excellence of the Health and Social Services Network. This honourable mention was awarded in the category Contribution to the Development of Autonomous Community Action.
First Recognition
“We are very proud of this Honourable Mention,” explained General Manager Karine Lavoie, “as this is the first time that Cirque Hors Piste’s commitment to creating a positive impact on youth experiencing homelessness or extreme precarity has been recognized in this way. It is a validation of the alternative social circus approach as a response to the needs of the more than 700 young people reached and supported annually, and of its effects on their individual and collective development.”
Creating New Relationships with Society
The work of Cirque Hors Piste is to establish supportive relationships with these hard-to-reach young people who have experienced rejection and live on the margins. According to Board Chair Sandhia Vadlamudy, it is important to offer individuals the opportunity to experiment, act, create, and reflect, and to support them as they try to find their place in the community. “Social circus allows for the development of social skills (lifeskills) such as communication, motivation, and perseverance,” she states. “By experiencing positive group interactions, our young people improve their self-esteem and autonomy. It’s wonderful to witness!”
Acknowledgements
Cirque Hors Piste extends its warmest thanks to its entire team, partners, collaborators, and participants who have contributed to its development and successes over the past years. Receiving this award allows us to continue our actions with confidence and with the desire to keep the young people we work with at the heart of our mission, our decisions, and our values.
About Cirque Hors Piste
Cirque Hors Piste (CHP) is a Montreal organization dedicated to social circus intervention, located in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, with which it benefits from a unique partnership. With this community embeddedness, the organization uses circus arts to offer marginalized young adults or those at risk of exclusion an alternative path of personal development, with social support that allows them to progress and flourish as citizens. www.cirquehorspiste.com
About the Awards of Excellence
The Awards of Excellence in the Health and Social Services Network, now in their 40th edition, aim to recognize and celebrate exceptional initiatives that contribute to improving the health and well-being of communities across Quebec. The awards recognize organizations whose contributions have distinguished themselves over the years in the development of autonomous community action, particularly in identifying and responding to the needs of marginalized and vulnerable individuals, often distant or disaffiliated from the health and social services network (RSSS). In addition to having recognized expertise, these organizations succeed in developing and making services and activities accessible to the population while fostering social transformation in their respective communities.
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For information and interviews:
Nathalie Roy,
Media Relations
nathalie.roy@bell.net
(514) 889-3622
Resources:
Chair: Sandhia Vadlamudy
General Manager: Karine Lavoie
Website: cirquehorspiste.com
Social Media: @cirquehorspiste