HorizonCosmopolite Team
Stéfane Charette

Stéfane Charette has been promoting international cultural immersion for the past nine years, since 1997, although his interest in the field began much earlier. With a distinctively global outlook on life, he is committed to helping erode national boundaries. "As today's world becomes increasingly interdependent," explains Mr. Charette, "an experience abroad is essential for anybody who wants to succeed in a global environment".

He participated in the Canada World Youth program, going on exchange in British Columbia/India. Mr. Charette continue to be involved with the CWY organization and use the network it has provided as a basis for developing contacts across Canada.

Now that traveling has become easy and largely accessible, students are finding that it is as important a learning experience as the education they receive in their regular academic curriculum. It is precisely this line of thought that prompted Mr. Charette to spend a year studying in Turkey at the Middle East Technical University. "In a skills-based working world," explains Mr. Charette, "the ability to adapt to new circumstances and situations is an indispensable asset. Not only have my studies abroad sharpened my cultural integration skills but they have allowed me to build a solid foundation in cross-cultural relations".

M. Stéfane Charette has traveled to Central and South America, Europe, Alaska, West Africa and the Middle East on various volunteer projects. Graduated of UQAM in Political Science and International Relations, Stefane reside in Montreal and is active in his community. HorizonCosmopolite was found in 1997, and since that, the organization has been successfully expanding.

Jonathan Paquet

Jonathan Paquet is the cofounder of HorizonCosmopolite with Stefane Charette, and holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from L'Université du Québec à Montréal. Jonathan participated in the Canada World Youth program (Ontario - Indonesia 1992-1993) in addition to two Chantiers Jeunesse internships in Kuujjuaq and Belarus. Over the past years, Jonathan organized and led the HorizonCosmopolite youth programs in partnership with the Canadian Government (CIDA and DFAIT). He was responsible for crafting the public image of HorizonCosmopolite and travelled throughout Quebec raising awareness on HorizonCosmopolite programs. After 11 years at the helm of HorizonCosmopolite, Jonathan decided in 2008 to explore new horizons.

Jonathan Paquet was active at HorizonCosmopolite until 2008.

Marie-Pierre Fortin

Marie-Pierre Fortin received her B.A. in Tourism Management from the University of Québec in Montreal (UQÀM) in 2002. She is passionate about traveling and has been involved in the travel and tourism industry for the last five years. She was the coordinator of the travel office at Ste-Foy Cegep and held the same title while at UQÀM. She also worked for the university's Office of the Chair of Tourism while finishing her studies, where she organized numerous events that gathered influential members of the tourism industry. She speaks French, English, and Spanish. Marie-Pierre joined HorizonCosmopolite team in May 2002 and since then she took part in several missions in Latin America, Africa and Asia. She is the internationa; programs coordinator for both indinidual and group projects. Since January 1st 2006, Marie-Pierre is actively involved with the management team at HorizonCosmopolite.

Kim Mailhot

Kim has a college certificate in computer graphic design as well as a certificate in advertising from the University of Montreal. She received her B.A in Cultural Animation and Research at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM). She has traveled throughout Western Europe, Central and South America, Mexico and Thailand. Kim speaks French, English, and Spanish.




Gilles-Philippe Pagé

Gilles-Philippe has always been fascinated by other cultures. Inspired by a profound desire to understand the world, he joined various cross-cultural exchange programs and traveled to various countries of Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In 2006, he graduated from the International Development Studies program at the University of Toronto. The interdisciplinary IDS program offered him the unique opportunity to participate in a one year oversea work placement experience as international cooperant in El Salvador with CUSO. While finishing is degree, Gilles-Philippe also collaborated with Greenpeace. As program coordinator, he was responsible for opening and managing the Quebec city office and staff. In September 2006, he decided to join Peace Brigades International in Colombia where he was contributing to the development and implementation of protection programs for human rights defenders in the context of an armed conflict.

Since august 2008, Gilles-Philippe works with HorizonCosmopolite as program coordinator for Africa and Asia.