Gatineau to host Quebec's biggest high-school improv event
Tashi Farmilo
More than 400 high-school students from across Quebec will converge in Gatineau from February 20 to 22, for the fourth edition of the Rendez-vous Improvincial (RVI), the largest non-competitive improvisation event of its kind in the province. Organized by ACLAM in partnership with Dimension sportive et culturelle Gatineau-Ottawa, the event will take place at École secondaire Mont-Bleu.
RVI offers a distinctive model focused on collaboration and building skill rather than competition. Designed to alleviate performance pressure, the gathering allows young improvisers to participate in workshops, performances, and discussions with professionals from six major improv schools. Attendees are encouraged to experiment with new techniques learned during the event in a setting where performance is divorced from competition.
The event also places a strong emphasis on mentorship and community. Participants will not only attend performances by seasoned professionals such as Frédéric Barbusci and Salomé Corbo but may also share the stage with them. The presence of established artists in an accessible environment provides a formative experience for students, many of whom view improvisation as a means of self-expression and personal growth.
Antoine Lacasse, head of the Improvincial Network, underlined the symbolic importance of this access: “What’s magical about this event is that young people share the stage with improvisers they've seen perform on the biggest stages. It's an almost surreal and incredibly meaningful experience.”
ACLAM, the event’s main organizing body, views RVI as a complement to existing improv leagues and tournaments across the province. Hélène Martin, the organization’s director, emphasized that RVI offers a “safe and friendly environment” where students can thrive outside the pressures of competition. The initiative aligns with ACLAM’s broader mission to support academic motivation and promote Francophone culture through the performing arts.
Workshops will also be offered for coaches and educators, reinforcing the network of support for improvisation programs in schools. Teachers from a variety of backgrounds will have the chance to share best practices and learn from each other, fostering a more unified and collaborative culture around the art form. Jean Chapleau, a coach from École secondaire le Boisé who attended last year’s RVI, described the experience as a reminder that “no one is truly alone in improv.”
The event is part of a year-round slate of Improvincial programming, which includes training sessions, roundtables, and educational tools to support teachers and coaches throughout Quebec.
Organizers are currently seeking volunteers from the Outaouais region to support the logistics of the event. Roles include welcoming participants, managing space setup, assisting with food service, leading activities, and capturing the event through photography. Applications can be submitted via ACLAM’s website: https://www.aclam.ca/improvincial/rendez-vous-improvincial/devenir-benevole/
The Rendez-vous Improvincial is made possible with the support of École secondaire Mont-Bleu, Dimension sportive et culturelle Gatineau-Ottawa, and a wide network of partners including the Government of Quebec, the Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais, the Théâtre de la LNI, and other cultural and educational institutions. Dimension sportive et culturelle (DSC) Gatineau-Ottawa, which manages the Outaouais Secondary Improvisation Circuit (CISO), also plays a central role in the organization. DSC supports extracurricular cultural and sports programming in schools across the region, providing opportunities for more than 5,000 young people annually.
High schools interested in participating in the 2026 RVI must register by January 23 at www.aclam.ca/improvincial.