Personare draws its inspiration from the Latin Per sonare, meaning “to sound through.” Our mission is simple: to let history speak through the people and characters who helped shape our region.
Through guided tours, historical interpreters, storytellers and custom projects, we bring local heritage to life in a way that is engaging, human and accessible for visitors, students and communities alike.
Behind Personare is a team of passionate individuals united by a shared goal: to bring history and heritage to life in a clear, participatory and human way. Coming from backgrounds in historical interpretation and the spoken arts, we combine our experience and expertise to create experiences that truly connect with people.
Through guided tours, events, training sessions and the development of cultural projects, each member of the team contributes in their own way to making history vibrant and accessible.
What brings us together above all is the joy of sharing knowledge and stories. Together, we strive to spark curiosity, encourage encounters and help people discover — or rediscover — the heritage that surrounds us.
Jean-Philippe Marcotte has been working for more than twenty years in the field of historical interpretation and public history. Passionate about heritage and knowledge sharing, he has travelled throughout Quebec to animate events, interpret historical sites and share history with audiences from all walks of life.
As Director of Personare, he develops projects that highlight local history and cultural heritage through guided tours, audio guides, events and immersive experiences. His approach is based on a simple conviction: history should be alive, accessible and meaningful for those who discover it.
What particularly motivates him in his work is seeing “the light in people’s eyes” when a historical concept suddenly becomes clear. A graduate in tourism from Collège Laflèche, he also taught in the college’s tourism department for nearly 18 years.
Rémi Francoeur has been active in the world of improvisation and street arts since 2008. As an interactive performer and physical theatre artist, he takes part in cultural events across Eastern Canada, exploring theatrical forms where the audience becomes an integral part of the experience.
With a strong background in clowning, he has taken on a wide range of roles and collaborations in diverse settings, including therapeutic clowning, drama education, stilt performances, storytelling, fire juggling, hosting and historical interpretation. Passionate about human connection, he is particularly drawn to theatrical contexts where the audience plays an active role in the unfolding of the story.
Valérie Deschamps is a storyteller and women’s heritage specialist who skillfully weaves together history and the spoken arts. Trained in radio broadcasting and holding a bachelor’s degree in history, she is dedicated to bringing forward the voices of the past—particularly those of women, too often left unheard.
A former feminist columnist with ICI Radio-Canada Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec, she continues this work through her storytelling performances, lectures and podcast projects, including TeamMadame. As a narrator and host, she lends her voice to a variety of projects and also offers training in public speaking and podcasting, helping others develop the confidence and skills to share their own voice.
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