The GardeFeu organization

For fire artists
By fire artists

GardeFeu is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 in Montreal, QC, Canada.

Its primary function is to promote safe practices in fire arts and raise awareness among fire artists of the legal issues surrounding this practice.

GardeFeu is self-financed by fire artists and receives no public funding. Nearly 75% of the organization’s expenses are related to insurance costs, and the vast majority of staff are volunteers.

GardeFeu teaches the safest practices in fire arts at its training evenings and via private instructors covering Quebec, Ontario and the Maritime provinces.

GardeFeu offers a weekly safe training environment in Montreal from April to October, and a professional artist certification system covering all of Canada.

All our fire activities are carried out with the permission of the owner of the premises, an authorization from the local fire department and appropriate insurance.

Learning – Training – Certification

Achievements

Canada's first legal fire arts training open to all

On November 28, 2016, GardeFeu organized the very first legal fire art training open to artists of all levels, in collaboration with Clowns Sans Frontières, PurFX and La TOHU. This first in Canada history was the fruit of several years’ work and would become the weekly rendez-vous for many artists.

First amateur artist to enter the world of fire art in a totally legal manner

Did you know that in the past, many Montreal fire artists had to train in secret, often in unsanitary conditions?

By organizing its training sessions, GardeFeu has been able to offer a legal and safe gateway for up-and-coming fire artists. This artist, in the photograph above, is the very first to enter the world of fire arts legally and safely thanks to our events, it was on June 14, 2017.

Two human lives saved

In 2019 GardeFeu began offering CPR training to its members via the Profan 2.0 program in association with Méta d’âme. To date, GardeFeu artists have saved the lives of two citizens.

Fire performers trained in the GardeFeu protocol

Fire artists trained in the last year

Active fire artists

Certified professional artists

* Figures in date of July 23th 2026

Mission

To develop and teach the best safety standards in fire arts in accordance with local regulations.

Enable fire artists and troops of all levels to develop safely and help them reach their full potential.

To be the legal gateway for anyone wishing to learn the arts of fire, regardless of their social condition.

Support community organizations helping vulnerable populations.

Vision

A society where fire performers can develop safely and make a living from their arts while contributing to their community.

Staff

Board

Pres,sec, instructrice poïs, VACS

Christina Ap

DG, VP, trésorier, formateur

Patrick Lagacé

Administratrice, instructrice staff (double, dragon)

Valérie Lavallée

Outreach team

Marketing

Audrey Gauthier

Instagram expert

Ella Rozylo

Safety course instructors team

The safety course is the first step into the world of fire

Instructeur, Trois-Rivières, QC

Dereck Gosselin

Instructor, Nampa, AB

Doug Thompson

Instructrice, Trois-Rivières, QC

Marie-Line d’Été

Instructeur, Montréal, QC

Pascal Duguay Gosselin

Instructeur, Montréal, QC

Samuel Létourneau

Instructor, Toronto, ON

Scarlet Black

Instructrice, Montréal, QC (fouet)

Sonia Legault

Instructor, Nampa, AB

Susan Thompson

Instructor, Windsor Junction, NS

Taylor Thain

Workshop team

This is where artists learn new techniques and movements, usually without fire

Instructrice Hula Hoop

Caroline Mosel

Instructrice éventails

Céclie Demers

Pres,sec, instructrice poïs, VACS

Christina Ap

Intervenant VACS, instructeur fishtail

Dominique Archambault

Coordonatrice des ateliers

Marylin Dubois

Instructrice staff

Ozalee Beauchamps

Instructrice, Montréal, QC (fouet)

Sonia Legault

Administratrice, instructrice staff (double, dragon)

Valérie Lavallée

Supervisors for open practice

Open practice sessions are conducted under supervision in a safe environment

Superviseur

Daniel Plouffe

Superviseur

Omar salvando Rivera Ponce

VACS committee and support

Prevention of Sexual Violence and Social Support for fire artists

Intervenant VACS, Instructeur poïs

Alexandre Miller

Pres,sec, instructrice poïs, VACS

Christina Ap

Intervenant VACS, instructeur fishtail

Dominique Archambault

Technicienne en éducation spécialisée

Kassie Raymond

A Message from the Founder

Until recently, it was virtually impossible for a fire artist to practice legally in Montreal. Fire artists of all levels—even those performing at major Montreal festivals in front of thousands of spectators—had to practice and rehearse clandestinely in places that were often unsafe.

This need for safe and legal training is at the very heart of GardeFeu. Created by fire artists, for fire artists, in collaboration with the Montreal Fire Department and our partners, GardeFeu is now a cornerstone in the world of fire arts. We organized the first open-to-all, legal fire art training session in Quebec’s history, and we have every reason to be very proud of it!

We have become the safe and legal gateway to the world of fire arts.

This status further underscores the importance of our work on the GardeFeu protocol, the quality of our training programs, and the availability of our workshops to support artists. We are also committed to promoting local artists by showcasing their talents. Not to mention the importance of amplifying the voice of the fire arts within the circus community and the political sphere.

These goals would be impossible to achieve without the help of a team of dedicated volunteers whom I consider simply invaluable. The challenges ahead are many, but so exciting!

The fire arts can finally step out of the shadows and sparkle as they do so well!

Patrick Lagacé

The GardeFeu organization

For fire artistsBy fire artists

Achievements

Canada's first legal fire arts training open to all

First amateur artist to enter the world of fire art in a totally legal manner

Did you know that in the past, many Montreal fire artists had to train in secret, often in unsanitary conditions?

Two human lives saved

Fire performers trained in the GardeFeu protocol

Fire artists trained in the last year

Active fire artists

Certified professional artists

Mission

Vision

Staff

Board

Outreach team

Safety course instructors team

Workshop team

Supervisors for open practice

VACS committee and support

A Message from the Founder

Until recently, it was virtually impossible for a fire artist to practice legally in Montreal. Fire artists of all levels—even those performing at major Montreal festivals in front of thousands of spectators—had to practice and rehearse clandestinely in places that were often unsafe.

For fire artists
By fire artists