Committed to making communications a tool for development

Though Siena Anstis is convinced that the media helps change the face of the world, the Concordia student didn’t wait to have her diploma in hand before taking action. Described as a talented, motivated, determined and inspiring young woman, Siena has already worked as a freelance journalist in Kosovo, Africa, Canada, Belgium and Denmark, while participating in school programs and humanitarian aid projects or independently. In her first year at university, she joined the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program, setting up an HIV-AIDS screening program in Uganda. She then went on to found In Their Shoes, an organization aimed at raising awareness among young Canadians of world poverty. Journalism and international development now go hand in hand for Siena who hopes to help bring to light social injustice so that other people get involved in the search for solutions.

Committed to making communications a tool for development

Siena Anstis is convinced that the media helps change the face of the world and that information and communications technologies (ICT) offer new and infinite opportunities for all those who wish to become socially committed. The Concordia student didn’t wait to have her diploma in hand before embarking of the path of humanitarian journalism. And what she has accomplished so far at the age of only 21 is more than impressive.

Described by those around her as a talented, motivated, determined and inspiring young woman, Siena has already worked as a freelance journalist in Kosovo, Africa, Canada, Belgium and Denmark, while participating in school programs and humanitarian aid projects or independently.

In summer 2009, she obtained an $8,000 grant from the Canadian International Development Agency to work as a freelance journalist in East Africa. She is also working in Nairobi as an Aga Khan Foundation International Development Management fellow.

The daughter of a Canadian diplomat, Siena was alerted to the issues of poverty, international conflict and the fight for human rights at a very early age. In her first year at Concordia University, she joined the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program, setting up an HIV-AIDS screening program in Uganda. She then went on to found In Their Shoes, an organization aimed at raising awareness among young Canadians of world poverty and the defence of human rights.

October 2007, when she attended a two-day conference on Uganda, was a turning point for Siena. “It was the first event I covered as a journalist and it strengthened my interest in world issues. From that moment on, I decided I wanted to be a media professional and support international development.”

Ever since, for Siena, journalism and international development have gone hand in hand. “I want to raise awareness of conflict situations so that people choose to get involved in the search for solutions. I want to be a source of inspiration for people living with the aftermath of war and in poverty so that they too decide to make a difference in their community.”

In this respect, she believes that ICT, and in particular the Internet, could play a pivotal role. In 2008, she experienced her first decisive moment while helping women in the Women of Uganda Network to create a blog allowing them to talk about the realities of their lives.

According to Concordia sociology and anthropology professor Sima Aprahamian, “Siena has a sound understanding of how the media can raise public awareness of poverty but also of how it can help citizens all over the world improve their own living conditions.”

In the next few months, in addition to undertaking a Master’s degree in international development at the University of Amsterdam, Siena hopes to continue in the same vein by helping humanitarian organizations take full advantage of the media and the possibilities offered by the Web.

“I am convinced that ICT could enable developing countries to step out of the shadows and develop economically. Everyone should be given the opportunity to express themselves openly on their vision of their community’s development. Internet is definitely the best way of being heard.”

Committed to helping others at all times

When she took the scout oath at the age of 12, Elise Bruneau made a promise to help others at all times and adhere to the principles of duty unto others in her daily life. The linguistics student at the Université de Montréal has chosen to express her commitment by learning from others and setting up useful projects that get people involved. Elise has always been a proud member of the scout movement and four years ago she founded a group of guides (girl scouts aged 12 to 17) at Île-Bizard, with the goal of giving back to young people what she had previously received. Setting herself apart thanks to her candidness, generosity, availability, perseverance and efficiency, Élise even received the prestigious Ordre du Scout and Guide du Baussant, the program’s highest honour. A woman of action, she not only gives of her time, she gives of herself, generously and without counting the hours.

Committed to helping others at all times

When she took the scout oath at the age of 12, Elise Bruneau made a promise to help others at all times and adhere to the principles of duty unto others in her daily life. She didn’t take this commitment lightly because, ten years later, the linguistics student at the Université de Montréal is still a proud member of the scout movement and community involvement is part of her everyday life.

“I experience renewed pleasure every time I learn from others and when I set up useful projects that get people involved. For me, community involvement is a way of life,” she says. “I believe that volunteer work and community activities are an integral part of the education required in order to become complete and informed citizens.”

Elise’s desire to serve others stems directly from her participation in the scout movement. “I am lucky to have been surrounded by people willing to give of their time and energy to pass on the merits of volunteer work.” Ever since she joined the movement, she has been steadfastly involved both at school and in her community (Red Cross, first aid services in college, Katimavik program, university student association, teaching assistant, etc.).

Elise has always been an exemplary member of the scout movement. In 2004, at the age of 17, she even received the prestigious Ordre du Scout and Guide du Baussant, the highest honour for progress made in the Adventurers Association of Baden-Powell.

“To be honoured with the Guide du Baussants scouts must, among other things, have exhibited the scout spirit, been charitable towards others and shown their leadership abilities,” points out Robert Le Bouthillier, chief scout of the Clan 11e des Godillots, of which Élise is currently a member as a senior guide.

According to Mr. Le Bouthillier, Elise has always set herself apart thanks to her candidness, generosity, availability, perseverance and efficiency. “As a woman of action with a concern for seeing the movement continue its work towards educating young people, Élise not only gives of her time, she gives of herself, generously and without counting the hours.”

“I feel I have to give young people all that I have received in terms of experience,” Elise asserts. It was for this reason that she decided to found a group of guides (girl scouts aged 12 to 17) four years ago at Île-Bizard. During the first year, while simultaneously pursuing her college studies, she set up the new group, and then organized and hosted meetings, a winter camp and a summer camp. But more importantly, she taught a dozen or so young girls all about scouting techniques. She also recruited assistants, supervised the assignment of duties and thus ensured the new group had solid foundations.

Four years later, Elise is still chieftain of the group and spends more than ten hours a week with the young girl guides. “I am convinced that I contribute to the development of citizens who know how to interact with their community.” The positive effects are definitely already manifest in the Île-Bizard community: the girls get involved at school, sing for senior citizens, baby-sit, spend time working at the food and clothes bank and so forth.

“Scouting is not just a way of preparing for life, it is also a tool for building a united and sound community,” believes Elise, who will be undertaking a Master’s degree in speech therapy next year.

Committed to promoting equal opportunities for all>

Dave DesRosiers, a psycho-education student at UQTR, has always been an ardent defender of social commitment. A discreet student but an eternal optimist and grand idealist, Dave decided as soon as he entered high school that he would be part of the solution rather than become preoccupied with the problem. He began as a simple volunteer during a fund-raising campaign to help refugees in Nicaragua following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, but today is at the helm of an innovative project at UQTR, the PREP-Québec (Partage des ressources des Étudiants en psychoéducation de Québec). The project was established in the Québec City area and is a way of pooling community resources so as to offer services to people experiencing difficulties. The setting up of ecological infrastructures at the Trois-Saumons summer camp and a humanitarian trip to Brazil also eloquently bear witness to the extent of Dave’s commitment.

Committed to promoting equal opportunities for all

“Sometimes, small ideas and big dreams can end up going a long way and lead to fine achievements.” This is a statement of fact that Dave DesRosiers, a psycho-education student at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, can now easily validate when he looks back at everything he has done since he decided to get involved back in high school.

A discreet student but an eternal optimist and grand idealist, Dave has always cherished hundreds of projects. And, with his deep concern for the development of his community, he realized at an early age that in order to be able to bring about change and improve the world he lives in, it is always better to be part of the solution rather than become preoccupied with the problem.

He began as a simple volunteer during a fund-raising campaign to help refugees in Nicaragua following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, but today is at the helm of an innovative project at UQTR, the PREP-Québec (Partage des ressources des Étudiants en psychoÉducation de Québec), a project that was established in the Québec City area.

This platform for pooling the projects, tools, knowledge and skills of students enrolled in the psycho-education program is a way of putting their research and the know-how they have acquired to a common use and at the service of the region’s community organizations. “The impressive work carried out by Mr. DesRosiers since spring 2008 and his rigour and sense of commitment have already produced highly promising results because already two collaborative projects have been launched in under a year,” Caroline Couture and JoÎl Tremblay, respectively director and professor of the psycho-education baccalaureate program, both agree.

For Dave, a healthy balance between mind, body and the environment is a concept that goes far beyond words. Though PREP-Québec allows students to pool community resources so as to offer services to people experiencing difficulties in the Québec City region, the setting up of ecological infrastructures at the Camp Trois-Saumons, a summer camp where he has worked for several years, is just as important.

The project, which he initiated voluntarily, has helped raise awareness among his co-workers, as well as among the numerous children and parents who visit the recreational tourist site, of the importance of the little eco-friendly gestures that everyone can make. Today, the summer camp has a comprehensive composting and recycling program and is seen as a paragon for eco-responsible camps in the province. “Dave is an extraordinary individual who, thanks to his actions, has helped improve Québec society. He is someone who is not afraid of giving of his own time,” states camp director Nicolas Clusiault.

The sound balance between committed and successful student, involved citizen, his achievements, the choices he’s made and the role he plans to play in tomorrow’s society is omnipresent in Dave’s everyday life. His humanitarian trip to Brazil last August where he worked with the Sao Goncalo community in the company of eight other young people also bears witness to his need to play an active part in bringing about change.

Whether it’s setting up or simply participating in projects, Dave gets steadfastly involved so as to help things progress. “Being a citizen is perhaps simply giving everyone the same chance to benefit from a common good and a respected life,” he surmises.

Committed to bringing the media and citizens closer together in developing countries

Nikki Bozinoff became aware of her talent as a communicator at an early age and quickly realized that it was a duty to communicate ideas and arguments. With her steadfast belief that taking volunteer action is not short-term involvement but rather a way of life, the arts and sciences student at McGill University was a member of the Adolescent for Community Teamwork organization and even editor-in-chief of the student newspaper when she was in high school. She is involved with The McGill Daily and was nominated to the editorial staff as well as holding the position of editor. As an active member of the executive committee of the McGill Global AIDS Coalition since 2007, she has participated in various fundraising activities and truly put her leadership skills to the test when she organized a week of activities aimed at reminding students that AIDS still exists.

Committed to bringing the media and citizens closer together in developing countries

Nikki Bozinoff became aware of her talent as a communicator at an early age and quickly realized that it was a duty to communicate ideas and arguments. “I firmly believe in social journalism, in the contribution of communities and in the development of democracy by giving all citizens the power to communicate,” the arts and sciences student at McGill University emphatically asserts.

When she was only 13 or 14 years old, Nikki Bozinoff sent her first letter to the editor of the Toronto Star. “It was in the context of a public forum informing citizens on how to take part in critical debates and I spoke of the place that should be granted to young people. At the time, I was asserting something that I still believe in today: that taking volunteer action is not short-term involvement, it is a way of life.”

Ever since, Nikki has always exhibited her potential and a steadfast desire to play a part in change. For example, at high school where she was enrolled in a French immersion program, Nikki was a member of the Adolescent for Community Teamwork organization and was even editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. Moreover, one of the first things she did upon entering McGill was to get involved with The McGill Daily. After writing articles for all, or nearly all, of the paper’s sections, she was nominated to the editorial staff and also held the position of editor. In 2009, she won first prize in the category Solution-Oriented Writing of the prestigious Canadian University Press’ John H. McDonald student journalism awards.

First and foremost, Nikki is deeply affected by the inequalities of world health and has been an active member of the executive committee of the McGill Global AIDS Coalition since 2007. As well as participating in various fundraising activities, she put her leadership skills to the test above all when she organized a week of activities aimed at reminding students that AIDS still exists. Among other things, she supervised all communications aspects, and also organized a debate between different guest panellists who were invited to discuss AIDS in East Africa On two occasions, Nikki has come face to face with the health problems of Africa. The first was when she participated in a three-month training course in Africa with 40 other students, and the second during an internship in Ethiopia as research assistant for the BBC, helping produce special reports.

“In Montréal, I was able to see the influence that the media can assert on the population and how it can serve as an information and prevention tool in terms of health. This is what motivates me to do my share in helping developing countries capitalize on the media,” she confides.

Nikki fully masters the ins and outs of the written press but she has also signed up as a volunteer at the CKUT radio station in Montréal so as to get a better understanding of this medium and subsequently be able to turn it to her advantage. At the station, she helps produce the Health on Earth program.

“I know Nikki well enough to confirm that she has exceptional skills for making connections, pinpointing problems and prompting others to get involved in resolving critical situations. In short, she is brimming with talent,” maintains McGill professor Claudia Mitchell.

Committed to helping women here and elsewhere

Joan Christiansen has always promoted greater equality between the sexes, better living conditions for women and ongoing respect for human rights and is an activist who stands out for her audacity and creativity. While enrolled in multidisciplinary studies at McGill, Joan founded the Women Without Borders organization in 2006 so as to draw attention within the McGill student community to the condition of women here and elsewhere. By organizing activities such as a committee of women involved in politics, a conference about women in the sciences, testimonials and training workshops, the organization strives to depict women as people of action who don’t hesitate to get involved. Inspired by her passage at the UN as part of the Commission on the Status of Women, Joan is currently studying law at York University.

Committed to helping women here and elsewhere

In March 2009, as part of the Commission on the Status of Women, Joan Christiansen was given the chance, if only for a short moment, to sit in Canada’s seat in the general assembly hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, “It is a chair I would like to occupy again one day,” asserts Joan, who dreams of being part of the Canadian delegation to the UN.

She has no doubt in her mind that the international organization can play a part in improving the quality of life of people all over the world. She has already begun campaigning for world leaders to use the agreements, treaties and resolutions adopted by UN member states as a source of inspiration for their national regulations.

“International agreements could be applied locally. They could even take precedence over the laws in effect if this is what leaders were to decide,” she asserts. Joan even plans to continue her education in international law so as to help integrate the principles defined by the UN into the national legislation of different countries. In fall 2009, she began pursuing studies at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.

She hopes in this way to be able to promote greater equality between the sexes, better living conditions for women and ongoing respect for human rights, three issues that she feels very strongly about and on which she already has in-depth knowledge. “For a number of years now, Joan has been working relentlessly towards informing her peers at McGill University of the problems faced by women the world over,” points out Marguerite Deslauriers, director of the McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women.

Moreover, in September 2006, Joan founded the Women Without Borders organization so as to draw attention within the McGill student community to the condition of women here and elsewhere. In doing so, she hopes to develop a new kind of female solidarity. “Our organisation doesn’t want to depict women as victims just waiting to be helped, but instead as people of action who are not afraid of getting involved in their community in order to bring about change,” asserts Joan, who still holds the position of president of the organization.

Women Without Borders regularly organizes events that aim to do just this: a committee of women involved in politics, a conference about women in the sciences, testimonials from women who have experienced conflicts, workshops on women in leadership and so forth. “The success of these events can be largely attributed to Joan’s outstanding professionalism, her abilities as a speaker and her organizational skills,” maintains Mrs. Delauriers.

“Women Without Borders has distinguished itself on our campus as a group of committed young women who play an active role in changing the world by focusing on cooperation between women from all walks of life,” adds Sarah Flatto, external affairs vice-president for the International Relations Students’ Association of McGill.

“Moreover, I am impressed by Joan’s great maturity. She has ideals she strives to attain while showing an exemplary sense of ethics. And she has accomplished much more than most of her peers in improving our society, at both the local and international levels,” she adds.

Committed to rallying the community towards attaining success

One man’s well-being is another man’s joy. And for Pierre-Olivier Dufresne this motto is at the very heart of his commitment. A keen defender of students’ rights, Pierre-Olivier, while a kinesiology student at Université Laval, got involved among other things with the student committee and successfully carried out a project to improve his faculty’s computing equipment and library. Spurred on by his ability to defend certain issues, he accepted the position of president of the Fonds d’investissement Étudiant multidisciplinaire and took advantage of the opportunity to reorient his studies toward medicine while continuing to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Since then, he has coordinated the reorganization of the student coffee shop’s common areas and administration and has become a volunteer with Motivaction-jeunesse, accompanying youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds on downhill skiing outings.

Committed to rallying the community towards attaining success

One man’s well-being is another man’s joy. For Pierre-Olivier Dufresne, a medical student at Université Laval, this motto is at the very heart of his commitment. With what essentially began as a somewhat ordinary idea aimed at improving the food courts in his university pavilion, he came to realize that thanks to a simple yet concrete gesture, he could rally people together, use his leadership skills and, more importantly, bring about change and improve everyone’s quality of life.

When he entered the faculty of medicine and learned of the existence of the Fonds d’investissement Étudiant multidisciplinaire in his faculty, Pierre-Olivier decided to get involved in the student committee so as to assert the rights, and above all, the needs of kinesiology students. Convinced that academic success hinges on the quality of the educational material available, as a member of the committee he argued in favour of the improvement of his faculty’s computing equipment and library so that less affluent students would have access to high quality material.

“He got steadfastly involved in defending the particularities of his field of study at a meeting where all medical programs were represented. (…) His determination to get certain requests for financing accepted despite his program’s very limited budget allowances paid off,” recounts executive director of the faculty of medicine Carole Nadeau.

Spurred on by his victory and aware of his ability to defend certain issues, he agreed to take on the position of president of the Fonds and reoriented his career towards medicine while continuing to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

Though this decision entailed a number of sacrifices, he continued to get involved. For example, his faculty’s student coffee shop was experiencing difficulties in regard to the installations and management. Major restructuring was essential so he therefore rallied together a team to help him get the administration of the coffee shop back on track and ensure democratic management practices that would be beneficial to all.

And then, because the well-being of some is a joy for others, and because he still had some free time between classes and his academic grades were more than satisfactory and, above all, because physical fitness and teaching are two of his main passions, he became a volunteer with Motivaction-jeunesse, accompanying youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds on downhill skiing outings.

Pierre-Olivier also organizes ultimate Frisbee activities for adults who lack physical activity in his neighbourhood. And he takes advantage of this opportunity to analyse the athletes’ movements when they fall and is going to use this information for an upcoming project, a cooperative of medical professionals specializing in falls among the elderly, a current and increasingly widespread problem.

“Over the past five years, Université Laval has given itself the mission of giving the teaching of the health sciences a new image by focusing on a new inter-professional approach in the field. Pierre-Olivier’s leadership and commitment are perfectly in line with this approach,” points out Nathalie Houle, coordinator of the Réseau de collaboration sur les pratiques interprofessionnelles.

“I am a citizen who wants to see everyone benefit from my knowledge and skills and my head is brimming with ideas for attaining this goal,” Pierre-Olivier asserts.

Committed to being at the service of his community

A trained journalist, Jean-Guillaume had a promising career ahead of him upon graduating from UQAM in 2005. After cooperating on numerous projects, including the launch of the student newspaper L’Esprit simple, he became involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montréal organization where his encounter with his “little brother Emmanuel” would turn his life around and prompt him to go back to school and pursue studies in education. Since then, Jean-Guillaume has been a member of the departmental student association as representative and president, and went on to become vice-president of the education faculty’s student association, helping to totally revamp the association’s image. An energetic, committed and determined student, he created the Grande Dictée Éric-Fournier, named in tribute to a fellow student who passed away well before his time. Convinced of the importance of social commitment, he is considered a leader of the pack.

Committed to being at the service of his community

Sometimes certain events or people completely change a course that had previously been all mapped out and you end up taking unexpected paths to reach your destination. Jean-Guillaume Dumont, a baccalaureate student in pre-school education at the Université du Québec à Montréal, one day encountered a little guy who was to pave the way towards a new objective.

A trained journalist, Jean-Guillaume had a promising career ahead of him upon graduating from university in 2005. As well as working freelance for such prestigious newspapers and magazines as Le Devoir and L’Actualité, he occupied the post of assistant director of radio at Radio-Canada. Moreover, throughout the years he spent studying journalism, he was involved in a number of projects and, among other things, launched L’Esprit simple, a UQAM student newspaper.

It was during this same period that, convinced of the importance of social commitment, Jean-Guillaume decided to give of his time to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montréal organization. His “little brother Emmanuel” opened his eyes to new realities that in turn helped him better understand the impact of the social and emotional environment on a person’s childhood. It was then that, spurred on by a new calling in life, he decided to go back to school and pursue studies in education with the firm intention of making a difference.

To begin, he intended to start making a difference at his university. As a member of the departmental student association, he designed a new Internet site, providing his fellow students with access to comprehensive information that is all easily available at a single address. Then, as president of the association, he worked towards forging a sense of belonging and reworked the association’s structure while recruiting a new team. As vice-president of the education faculty’s student association, he helped totally revamp the association’s image from A to Z: Internet site, logo, communications tools and promotional material.

“He is an energetic, committed and determined student and a leader of the pack. He knows how to defend and advocate his ideas. Thanks to his commitment, Jean-Guillaume helps bring greater visibility to our program within the faculty,” asserts professor and program director Sylvie Viola.

Then, as a way of paying tribute to a fellow student who passed away well before his time, he created the Grande Dictée Éric-Fournier, an online dictation aimed at helping teachers improve their knowledge of the French language and give them a taste for perfecting their writing skills.

Recipient of UQAM’s “Project of the Year” award in 2008, he obtained the support of Druide informatique, the company behind the correction software Antidote used to ensure reliable, top quality answers on the Internet site offering the online dictations.

While cooperating on all these projects, Jean-Guillaume still found time to participate in Parlement jeunesse – where he received the honourable mention of “Male recruit” – as well as working to help the city of Montréal obtain the 2010 convention of the International Federation of Medical Students Association. “I have discovered the joys of being socially active and the personal satisfaction that I get from my achievements. I have gone beyond the point of no return, I can no longer turn back and sit around doing nothing,” the finalist concludes.

Committed to …going beyond all frontiers

It took a great deal of courage and determination when Ben Liu, a student in interactive multimedia design and artistic production at UQAT, decided to leave his native country of China to come and study in Québec. With no knowledge of the French language, Ben Liu was confident that his extensive artistic background would help him easily integrate. Having tried his hand at drawing, painting, theatre, cinema, dance, singing and media arts, Ben chose to become a volunteer at the DocuMenteur festival and at an emerging music festival in his area. He then presented his cinematic productions at an international film festival where they drew attention and were acknowledged. He also helped create and produce a children’s stage play entitled Bascule, has shared his experiences in Québec by contributing to a Chinese magazine and established an e-magazine in which he recounts stories about his homeland here in Québec.

Committed to …going beyond all frontiers

It goes without saying that there are no longer any borders and that we now all live in a global world. But when it comes to leaving your native country of China and moving to Rouyn-Noranda to pursue your studies, it takes not only courage but a great deal of determination! Ben Liu, a baccalaureate student in interactive multimedia design and artistic production at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, has both these attributes. But more importantly, he cultivates a vision of life and openness to the world that enables him to cross cultural barriers.

When he arrived in Canada, Ben Liu already had an extensive artistic background. Among other things, he had tried his hand at drawing, painting, theatre, cinema, dance, singing and media arts. It was therefore quite natural for him to decide to volunteer at the DocuMenteur festival and at an emerging music festival in his area.

This passion for the arts helped Ben integrate into the community and learn and practice French. “I see myself as a clumsy little bird. There’s an expression in Chinese that says that slow birds must make more effort to learn to fly,” he explains. When you consider that, not even three years ago, Ben didn’t speak a word of French, it’s easy to grasp the proverb’s full meaning.

He then went on to present his cinematic productions at an international film festival where his creations drew attention and were acknowledged. He thus obtained a scholarship, outstanding visibility in the media and his passport to Les rendez-vous du cinéma québécois event in Montréal. “He is a well-known and recognized figure in our community. For a foreign student, he has made amazing headway,” says university head Johanne Jean.

He has also helped create and produce a children’s stage play entitled Bascule. As assistant artistic director of the theatre company, he is able to make good use of his numerous talents while developing a new technical vocabulary in which he is not yet proficient.

In addition to studying and continuing to perfect his French, Ben wants to share the Québec he is discovering with his compatriots. He was offered the chance to contribute to a Chinese magazine called “1626” and as both artist and writer he created a character, a panda named Benda, which he uses to represent Québécois when comparing the two cultures in his stories. His articles talk of Québec, his life here, his travels and Québec culture. And then, when he became aware of Québécois’ lack of understanding of Chinese culture, he created an e-magazine here in Québec and, thanks to this medium, gave himself a platform for exhibiting his photos and recounting stories about his homeland. Along the same lines, he also gives language classes to professors at UQAT.

When Ben Liu chose to study in Québec, he did so to learn a new language, embrace another culture and adopt a different lifestyle, all this because he dreams of one day becoming a cultural ambassador. He doesn’t know just yet what form this dream will take but he is sure of one thing and that’s that he wants to use his artistic abilities to build bridges between China and other countries. “Each and every one of us has the duty to act as a good citizen, a good international citizen. As a citizen of the world, I have to contribute to the progress of the place where I live and where I work.”

Committed to developing art therapy

Jonathan Morier, a student at the Université du Québec à Montréal, has two coinciding passions: theatre and psychology. When he arrived in Montréal at the age of 21 toting only a college degree in musical theatre, Jonathan Morier had already set his sights on the performing arts. Jonathan’s interest in psychology however prompted him to enrol in psychology in 2007. Involved among other things with the Society of Saint-Vincent de Paul in Montréal, Jonathan has presented more than 40 theatrical performances on the subject of student dropout and offered musical performances at senior citizens homes. He also gives of his time to Assistance d’enfants en difficulté as a “grand ami” and has developed a special friendship with a young boy. With his sense of initiative, patience and modesty in everything he undertakes, he also founded, with two of his friends, the theatre company La Compagniterie.

Committed to developing art therapy

Jonathan Morier, a student at the Université du Québec à Montréal, has two coinciding passions: theatre and psychology, two passions that could at first glance seem completely different but at closer range are in many respects not that far apart. And as he likes to point out, “the things I discover by exploring various aspects of this shifting reality enable me to gain a different perspective on human beings and the society they have built.”

When he arrived in Montréal at the age of 21 toting only a college degree in musical theatre, Jonathan Morier had already set his sights on the performing arts. And despite the fact that it’s not always easy for a young actor to carve out a place for himself in this field, Jonathan seized every opportunity, made every effort and was thus able to take part in numerous projects.

Then, despite his increasing success, Jonathan’s interest in psychology prompted him to enrol in a graduate program in psychology in 2007. According to Jonathan, the decision would enable him to “fulfil his need to heal the heart and soul of others through theatre and the mind through psychology.” Ever since, this combination, though it may seem unusual, is a source of inspiration that has led to innovative projects. His two passions have thus allowed him to focus his energy on helping relationships.

Involved among other things with the Society of Saint-Vincent de Paul in Montréal, Jonathan has presented more than 40 theatrical performances on the subject of student dropout at underprivileged schools on the Island of Montréal. And because young people are not the only ones in need of human kindness, he also offers musical performances at senior citizens homes.

He also gives of his time to Assistance d’enfants en difficulté, an organization co-founded by renowned paediatrician Dr. Gilles Julien. Thanks to its “Grands amis” program, he has developed a special friendship with a young boy experiencing special difficulties. Every week, the two friends take part in activities together and the young boy even had the chance to meet singer-songwriter Pierre Lapointe when Jonathan participated in one of his concerts. “Jonathan sets himself apart through his patience and spirit of initiative. He has proven to be a positive role model, guide and confidant for his young friend,” asserts Geneviève Houle, who is in charge of the program.

Jonathan describes himself as an organized person and is not afraid of challenges, managing to reconcile his studies, the theatre, social involvement, his friends and his love life. “I am ambitious but humble enough to call on the help of others.”

It was this humility that led him to found, with two of his friends, La Compagniterie, a theatre company which obtained a grant from the Fondation du maire de Montréal pour la jeunesse for their performance entitled Vole si bas.

Where will these two passions lead him next? It is hard to say but for Jonathan one thing is certain, young people will always be at the heart of his concerns and theatre at the heart of his actions. Art therapy or artistic psychology? “I continue to forge ahead, combining the two disciplines that fascinate me and, though they may seem poles apart, I have the feeling they are increasingly compatible,” the artist points out.